The functions of empathy in Anglo-Saxon England

Norcross, Katherine Rose

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Description

Title

The functions of empathy in Anglo-Saxon England

Author(s)

Norcross, Katherine Rose

Issue Date

2019-05-31

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Wright, Charles D

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Wright, Charles D

Committee Member(s)

• Trilling, Renee R
• Camargo, Martin
• Jorgensen, Alice

Department of Study

English

Discipline

English

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Date of Ingest

2019-11-26T20:49:01Z

Keyword(s)

Empathy, Old English, History of Emotions, Cognitive Linguistics

Abstract

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.

Graduation Semester

2019-08

Type of Resource

text

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

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2019 Katherine Norcross

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