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IMC 2003: Sessions

Session 1118: Writing the World: Textual Authority and Medieval Society

Wednesday 16 July 2003, 11.15-12.45

Sponsor:Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Bristol
Organiser:Robert A. Rouse, Institute for Medieval Studies, University of Nottingham
Moderator/Chair:Paul R. Dryburgh, ISMA Centre, University of Reading
Paper 1118-aChaucer Writing London in the 1380's
(Language: English)
Malte Urban, Department of English Literature, University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Paper 1118-bBooks and Bones: Medieval Historiography and Arthurian Discovery in the Middle Ages
(Language: English)
Cory James Rushton, Department of English, University of Bristol
Index terms: Historiography - Medieval, Language and Literature - Comparative, Language and Literature - Middle English, Language and Literature - French/ Occitan
Paper 1118-cTextual Geography: Writing England in Medieval Romance
(Language: English)
Robert A. Rouse, Institute for Medieval Studies, University of Nottingham
Index terms: Historiography - Medieval, Language and Literature - Middle English, Literacy and Orality, Medievalism and Antiquarianism
Abstract

This session considers the uses to which the power of textual authority is put in medieval society. Weaving together three different manifestations of the use of textual authority in the Middle Ages this session seeks to draw attention to the numerous ways in which textual authority was created and changed through the interaction of texts with the world of the 'real'. In particular the session examines the question of the invention of imaginary histories for the purpose of authorising certain intellectual or historigraphical positions.