King Ăthelstan in the English, Continental and Scandinavian traditions of the tenth to the thirteenth centuries
Using close textual analysis, this thesis has identified similarities and differences in the ways in which the Anglo-Saxon king, Ăthelstan, is depicted in narrative sources from England, the Continent and Scandinavia during the tenth to the thirteenth centuries; how historical, cultural, and literary contexts influenced their writers and their patrons and how literary analysis might contribute further to historical understandings of Ăthelstan and his reign. Central to my analysis are the concepts of the sources as textual and visual narratives, deriving contemporary meaning from their intertextuality with other sources and fulfilling a function of recording and creating social memories for their own time and for the future. The thesis does not argue for the historical veracity of any one version over another but for the individual narrative âvoicesâ to be heard and understood as part of their own historical, national and contemporary backgrounds. Based on my literary analysis of the texts I have questioned some generally held historical interpretations, suggested some alternative interpretations of my own and identified further areas for research. The thesis demonstrates that there are similarities but
Smith, Angela Marion
King Ăthelstan in the English, Continental and Scandinavian traditions of the tenth to the thirteenth centuries. Using close textual analysis, this thesis has identified similarities and differences in the ways in which the Anglo-Saxon king, Ăthelstan, is depicted in narrative sources from England, the Continent and Scandinavia during the tenth to the thirteenth centuries; how historical, cultural, and literary contexts influenced their writers and their patrons and how literary analysis might contribute further to historical understandings of Ăthelstan and his reign. Central to my analysis are the concepts of the sources as textual and visual narratives, deriving contemporary meaning from their intertextuality with other sources and fulfilling a function of recording and creating social memories for their own time and for the future. The thesis does not argue for the historical veracity of any one version over another but for the individual narrative âvoicesâ to be heard and understood as part of their own historical, national and contemporary backgrounds. Based on my literary analysis of the texts I have questioned some generally held historical interpretations, suggested some alternative interpretations of my own and identified further areas for research. The thesis demonstrates that there are similarities but
king english continental scandinavian tradition using close_textual analysis identify similarity_difference way anglo_saxon king depict narrative_source england continent scandinavia historical cultural literary_context influence writer patron literary_analysis might_contribute historical understanding reign central analysis concept source textual_visual narrative derive contemporary meaning intertextuality source fulfil function record create social memory time future argue historical veracity version another individual narrative voice heard understood part historical national contemporary background based literary_analysis text question_generally hold historical interpretation suggest_alternative interpretation identify area research demonstrates similarity