Defining and Defending the Middle Ages with C. S. Lewis
The scholarly writings of C. S. Lewis (1898–1963) have both inspired the study of the Middle Ages and confirmed the relevance to the humanities that medieval literary texts can have for the present. He was aware that the straitjacket implied by periodisation can blind us to the universal values pres...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Humanities |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/9/2/51 |
| _version_ | 1827714773324660736 |
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| author | Brian Murdoch |
| author_facet | Brian Murdoch |
| author_sort | Brian Murdoch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The scholarly writings of C. S. Lewis (1898–1963) have both inspired the study of the Middle Ages and confirmed the relevance to the humanities that medieval literary texts can have for the present. He was aware that the straitjacket implied by periodisation can blind us to the universal values presented in medieval literature. Qualitative assumptions made about the (usually undefined) Middle Ages include an alienating remoteness, and also a general ignorance, especially of science and technology. Lewis drew attention to the knowledge of astronomy, for example, and pointed out that medieval technical skills in architecture, agriculture and medicine are important for us to be aware about. Three medieval works illustrate this universality with respect to technical skills (the <i>Völundarkviða</i>); identity and the self (the <i>Hildebrandslied</i>); and the popular love-song (the courtly love-lyric). Lewis cautioned against pejorative terms like ‘Dark Ages’, noted problems of perspective in assessing <i>all</i> pre-modern literature, and showed that earlier works have a continuing value and relevance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:04:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-82eff29dbee040fd80bd435a740b6d01 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0787 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:04:17Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities |
| spelling | doaj.art-82eff29dbee040fd80bd435a740b6d012023-11-20T04:12:55ZengMDPI AGHumanities2076-07872020-06-01925110.3390/h9020051Defining and Defending the Middle Ages with C. S. LewisBrian Murdoch0School of Humanities, University of Stirling, Stirling FK95NQ, Scotland, UKThe scholarly writings of C. S. Lewis (1898–1963) have both inspired the study of the Middle Ages and confirmed the relevance to the humanities that medieval literary texts can have for the present. He was aware that the straitjacket implied by periodisation can blind us to the universal values presented in medieval literature. Qualitative assumptions made about the (usually undefined) Middle Ages include an alienating remoteness, and also a general ignorance, especially of science and technology. Lewis drew attention to the knowledge of astronomy, for example, and pointed out that medieval technical skills in architecture, agriculture and medicine are important for us to be aware about. Three medieval works illustrate this universality with respect to technical skills (the <i>Völundarkviða</i>); identity and the self (the <i>Hildebrandslied</i>); and the popular love-song (the courtly love-lyric). Lewis cautioned against pejorative terms like ‘Dark Ages’, noted problems of perspective in assessing <i>all</i> pre-modern literature, and showed that earlier works have a continuing value and relevance.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/9/2/51C. S. Lewisperiodisationthe Middle Agesmedieval studiesqualitative judgementuniversal themes |
| spellingShingle | Brian Murdoch Defining and Defending the Middle Ages with C. S. Lewis Humanities C. S. Lewis periodisation the Middle Ages medieval studies qualitative judgement universal themes |
| title | Defining and Defending the Middle Ages with C. S. Lewis |
| title_full | Defining and Defending the Middle Ages with C. S. Lewis |
| title_fullStr | Defining and Defending the Middle Ages with C. S. Lewis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Defining and Defending the Middle Ages with C. S. Lewis |
| title_short | Defining and Defending the Middle Ages with C. S. Lewis |
| title_sort | defining and defending the middle ages with c s lewis |
| topic | C. S. Lewis periodisation the Middle Ages medieval studies qualitative judgement universal themes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/9/2/51 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT brianmurdoch defininganddefendingthemiddleageswithcslewis |