Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Palgrave Macmillan
Book cover

Medieval Romance and the Construction of Heterosexuality

  • Book
  • © 2008
Download book PDF

Overview

Authors:
  1. Louise M. Sylvester
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Part of the book series: The New Middle Ages (TNMA)

Buy print copy

Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction

    • Louise M. Sylvester
    Pages 1-14
    Download chapter PDF

  3. Constructing The Heterosexual Contract

    • Louise M. Sylvester
    Pages 15-41
    Download chapter PDF

  4. Romance And Rape

    • Louise M. Sylvester
    Pages 43-65
    Download chapter PDF

  5. The Sadistic Hero

    • Louise M. Sylvester
    Pages 67-90
    Download chapter PDF

  6. Dynamics Of Consensual Heterosex

    • Louise M. Sylvester
    Pages 91-127
    Download chapter PDF

  7. Romance Debased

    • Louise M. Sylvester
    Pages 129-160
    Download chapter PDF

  8. Epilogue

    • Louise M. Sylvester
    Pages 161-163
    Download chapter PDF

  9. Back Matter

    Pages 165-202
    Download chapter PDF
Back to top

Keywords

About this book

This book interrogates our ideas about heterosexuality through examination of medieval romance narratives. Familiar configurations of romantic fiction such as male desire overwhelming feminine reluctance and the aloof masculine hero undone by love derive from this period. This book tests current theories of language and desire through stylistic analysis, examining transitivity choices and speech acts in sexual encounters and conversations in medieval romances. In the context of current preoccupations with gender and sexuality, and consent in rape cases, this study is of interest to scholars investigating language and sexuality as well as those researching and teaching medieval literature and culture.

Reviews

"This study makes a significant and needed contribution to Chaucer studies. It provides an attractive application of close linguistic analysis to discuss central medieval texts including Chaucer, in the context of current interests in gender and sexuality. Filled with precise and measurable observations - sometimes counter-intuitive- it lays down a marker for less textually observant theoretical approaches. It is written with verve and style, engages with issues of topical interest and encourages a sharp, intellectual approach to the text - not only of Chaucer, but of often neglected medieval romances." - Rosalind Field, Royal Holloway University of London

About the author

LOUISE M. SYLVESTER is Senior Lecturer in English at the University of Central England, Birmingham, UK. 

Bibliographic Information

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Back to top

Search

Navigation