The functions of empathy in Anglo-Saxon England

This dissertation contributes to the fledgling field of medieval empathy studies by tracing the articulation of fellow-feeling in the literature and culture of Anglo-Saxon England across a broad corpus of anonymous homilies, saints’ lives, elegies, and heroic poems including Beowulf. The first three chapters identify cultural concepts and literary strategies that enabled Anglo-Saxon writers and readers to express and experience narrative empathy as well as cognitive linguistic strategies that enable modern critics to discern when texts invite shared emotions. These three chapters delineate cultural functions of literary fellow-feeling in relation to a wide range of Old English genres; the final two chapters develop these insights in detailed case studies. This project contributes to Anglo-Saxon and medieval studies by enlarging our understanding of narrative empathy and reading mentalities in Old English literature. Further, it contributes to empathy studies by highlighting culturally-specific functions of empathy not encompassed by contemporary theories.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2019

Author dc:creator

• Norcross, Katherine Rose

Contributors dc:contributor

• Wright, Charles D
• Trilling, Renee R
• Camargo, Martin
• Jorgensen, Alice

• Empathy, Old English, History of Emotions, Cognitive Linguistics

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2019 Katherine Norcross

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/105747

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/105747