Alchemy and Exemplary Poetry in Middle English Literature

Viac o knihe

This book delves into the roles and metaphorical concepts of alchemy in fourteenth- and fifteenth-century Middle English poetry, linking them to the exempla tradition in late medieval English literature. These poetic narratives serve as exemplary models that address the complexities of medieval English alchemical practice. The analysis begins with the relationship between alchemical narratives and exemplum in the works of Gower and Chaucer, then extends to lesser-known anonymous poems and recipes from the fifteenth century. Key discussions include alchemical dialogues involving Morienus and Merlin, Albertus Magnus and the Queen of Elves, and an alchemical adaptation of John Lydgate's poem "The Churl and the Bird." The book investigates how the concept of exemplarity is essential for understanding poetic narratives involving alchemy and encourages readers to reassess their perceptions of science and narrative within medieval English poetry. The structure includes an introduction to alchemy and exemplarity, a brief history of alchemy, analyses of Gower's "Confessio Amantis," Chaucer's "Canon's Yeoman's Tale," Lydgate's work, and fifteenth-century alchemical dialogues, concluding with insights drawn from these explorations.