Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index


  • Record Number: 8406
  • Author(s)/Creator(s): McCracken , Peggy.
  • Contributor(s):
  • Title: Engendering Sacrifice: Blood, Lineage, and Infanticide in Old French Literature [The author analyzes the theme of infanticide in Chretien de Troyes' "Philomena," "Ami et Amile," accounts of Abraham and Isaac, and "Jourdain de Blaye." The author argues that the child's death takes on a different meaning according to the gender of the sacrificer. When the father kills the child, the blood is paternal blood and represents a sacrifice for loyalty or for God. When the mother kills the child, the blood is maternal, associated with the impurities of childbirth, and is done only as an act of revenge. Title note supplied by Feminae.].
  • Source: Speculum 77, 1 (January 2002): Pages 55 - 75.
  • Description:
  • Article Type: Journal Article
  • Subject (See Also): Blood in Literature Fathers in Literature Gender in Literature Infanticide in Literature Literature- Verse Mothers in Literature Patriarchy in Literature Sacrifice in Literature
  • Award Note:
  • Geographic Area: France
  • Century: 12-13
  • Primary Evidence:
  • Illustrations:
  • Table:
  • Abstract:
  • Related Resources:
  • Author's Affiliation: University of Michigan
  • Conference Info: - , -
  • Year of Publication: 2002.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN/ISBN: 00387134