IMC 2014: Sessions

Session 1209: Imperium sine fine: Empire, Faith, and Eternity in Chaucer and His World

Sponsor:	Medieval Research Centre, University of Leicester
Organiser:	Anne Marie D'Arcy, School of English, University of Leicester
Moderator/Chair:	Natalie Jones, Department of English Language & Literature, University College London
Paper 1209-a	The Knight's Last Crusade and the Date of the General Prologue (Language: English) Anne Marie D'Arcy, School of English, University of Leicester Index terms: Crusades, Islamic and Arabic Studies, Language and Literature - Middle English, Military History
Paper 1209-b	Chaucer, Islam, and Rome in the Man of Law's Tale (Language: English) Shazia Jagot, School of English, University of Leicester Index terms: Crusades, Islamic and Arabic Studies, Language and Literature - Middle English, Theology
Abstract	This session explores how the idea of a divinely ordained empire, extending to the end of the earth, influenced the portrayal of Islam in the work of Chaucer and the English literary tradition which preceded him. It examines how Chaucer not only interrogates stereotypical depictions of 'mawmettrie', enshrined in Middle English romance, but also questions the 'encrees of Cristes lawe deere' to a mandate of limitless dominion, yet upholds the crusading ideal exemplified by his knight, almost to the end of the 14th century.