Introducing the Medieval Ass - Couverture souple

Smithies, Kathryn L.

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 178683622X ISBN 13 : 9781786836229

Editeur : University of Wales Press, 2020

Synopsis

Introducing the Medieval Ass presents a lucid, accessible, and comprehensive picture of the ass's enormous socio-economic and cultural significance in the Middle Ages and beyond. In the Middle Ages, the ass became synonymous with human idiocy, a comic figure representing foolish peasants, students too dull to learn, and their asinine teachers. This trope of foolishness was so prevalent that by the eighteenth century the word 'ass' had been replaced by 'donkey'. Economically, the medieval ass was a vital, utilitarian beast of burden, rather like today's ubiquitous white van; culturally, however, the medieval ass enjoyed a rich, paradoxical reputation. Its hard work was praised, but its obstinacy condemned. It exemplified the good Christian, humbly bearing Christ to Jerusalem, but also represented Sloth, a mortal sin. Its potent sexual reputation - one literary ass had sex with a woman - was simultaneously linked to sterility and, to this day, 'ass' and 'ars*' remain culturally-connected homophones.

A propos du livre

À propos de l'auteur

Kathryn Smithies is a medieval historian, and research and teaching associate in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: University of Wales Press
• Date d'édition: 2020
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 178683622X
• ISBN 13: 9781786836229
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 128
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible