Magic and the Supernatural in Medieval English Romance
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Saunders, Corinne, PUBLISHER: Boydell & Brewer, The world of medieval romance is one in which magic and the marvellous' are constantly present: in otherwordly encounters, in the strange adventures experienced by questing knights, the experience of the uncanny, and unexplained magical objects - rings, potions, amulets, and the famous green girdle in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. This study (the first full-length treatment of the topic) considers romance in the context of medieval understandings of, and distinction between, magic, enchantment, the demonic, marvel and miracle. Chapters cover medieval attitudes to magic; the marvellous; natural and healing magic; enchanters and enchantresses; the world of Faery; and black magic. Professor Corinne Saunders teaches in the Department of English, University of Durham.