Literature and Heresy in the Age of Chaucer

This book restores the Wycliffie heresy to its proper place as the most significant context for late medieval English writing.

Andrew Cole (Author)

9780521179836, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 24 November 2011

322 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.43 kg

'… Cole's treatment is stimulating …' The Journal of Ecclesiastical History

After the late fourteenth century, English literature was fundamentally shaped by the heresy of John Wyclif and his followers. This study demonstrates how Geoffrey Chaucer, William Langland, John Clanvowe, Margery Kempe, Thomas Hoccleve and John Lydgate, far from eschewing Wycliffism out of fear of censorship or partisan distaste, viewed Wycliffite ideas as a distinctly new intellectual resource. Andrew Cole offers a complete historical account of the first official condemnation of Wycliffism – the Blackfriars council of 1382 - and the fullest study of 'lollardy' as a social and literary construct. Drawing on literary criticism, history, theology and law, he presents not only a fresh perspective on late medieval literature, but also an invaluable rethinking of the Wycliffite heresy. Literature and Heresy restores Wycliffism to its proper place as the most significant context for late medieval English writing, and thus for the origins of English literary history.

Preface
Part I. The Invention of Heresy: 1. The Blackfriars Council, London, 1382
Part II. The Late Fourteenth Century: Canonizing Wycliffism: 2. The invention of 'Lollardy': William Langland
3. The reinvention of 'Lollardy': William Langland and his contemporaries
4. Geoffrey Chaucer's Wycliffite text
Part III. The Early Fifteenth Century: Heretics and Eucharists: 5. Thomas Hoccleve's heretics
6. John Lydgate's Eucharists
Part IV. Feeling Wycliffite: 7. Margery Kempe's 'Lollard' affects
Part V. Epilogue: 8. Heresy, Wycliffism and English literary history
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: History of religion [HRAX], Religion: general [HRA], Literary studies: classical, early & medieval [DSBB]