Ancrene Wisse

Abstract

Judging from the significant number of copies that have survived, Ancrene Wisse (c. 1220–1230) was one of the most popular English works of the thirteenth century. The work was designed as a guide for religious recluses known as anchorites. Since it stands as an early example of Middle English from the West Midlands, Ancrene Wisse was of interest to early-20th-century philologists, including J. R. R. Tolkien. The work has attracted much attention as an early example of vernacular pastoralia—works designed to guide members of the Church through their religious lives. As one of the earliest surviving works of English literature addressed to women, Ancrene Wisse has also been the subject of feminist literary and historical analysis. As this brief survey suggests, the scholarship on Ancrene Wisse is vast, and this guide is intended to highlight some of the most influential and recent scholarship on the work.

Authors 1

1. Krista A Milne corresponding Aachen Assistant Professor

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Assistant Professor, English and French Medieval Literature, Universiteit Leiden