Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index

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Record Number: 10046 Author(s)/Creator(s): Szarmach , Paul E. Contributor(s): Title: Aelfric and the Problem of Women [Annual Meeting of the Modern Language Association of America, San Diego, December 27-30, 1994, Session 686] Source: Old English Newsletter 28, 3 (Spring 1995): Description: Article Type: Conference Paper Abstract Subject (See Also): Ælfric, Abbot of Eynsham Æthelthryth of Ely, Queen of Northumbria, Saint Helena, Saint Literature- Verse Award Note: Geographic Area: British Isles Century: 10-11 Primary Evidence: Illustrations: Table: Abstract: While it might still be possible in some quarters to ask "Can there be a subject duller than Old English Prose?", the last decade has doubtlessly shown considerably more critical and scholarly interest in this large area of Old English literature. Part of this increased activity derives from a set of questions proposed by feminist scholars of all intellectual persuasions who need more texts than the slender corpus of Old English poetry might allow to establish the grounding of their analysis. The large and central question, both specifically within Anglo-Saxon studies and generally without, is "Did women have it better then?" There are, how- ever, many other major new questions about the reality and representation of women and how to approach such issues as the idea of gender in an early medieval context. This paper seeks to extend the developing conjunction of Old English prose and women's/gender studies by focusing on key issues of the representation of the feminine in Œlfric and specifically two figures: Œoeloryo [Audrey] and Helena, mother of Constantine. I seek to bring forward to Old English studies a major theme now heard at conferences: if you want to do (literary) history, know your theory; if you want to do theory, know your (literary) history - or at least how to read historically. For the story of Œoeloryo, feminist concern for power and the body con- fers another possible and credible reading; for the story of Helena, an applied formalism and intertextual source study invest an understanding for another depiction of female agency. Old English prose and current theory have much to offer to each other [Reproduced by permission of Robert Schicler, the “Abstracts of Papers in Anglo-Saxon Studies” editor, and the editors of the “Old English Newsletter.”]. Related Resources: Author's Affiliation: Western Michigan University Conference Info: - , - Year of Publication: 1995. Language: English ISSN/ISBN: 00301973

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