IMC 2020: Sessions
Session 141: The Borders of Life and Death: The Supernatural World, I - The Medieval Undead
Monday 6 July 2020, 11.15-12.45
| Sponsor: | Wellcome Collection |
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| Organisers: | Joanne Edge, Department of History & Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge Jude Seal, Independent Scholar, York |
| Moderator/Chair: | Ruth Salter, Graduate Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Reading |
| Paper 141-a | 'Like man, like revenant': Gender Representations and Characteristics of Revenants in Historia rerum Anglicarum and Eyrbyggja saga (Language: English) Index terms: Gender Studies, Language and Literature - Scandinavian, Mentalities |
| Paper 141-b | The Pastoral Function of the Walking Corpse in the Sermons of John Mirk (Language: English) Index terms: Folk Studies, Mentalities, Sermons and Preaching |
| Paper 141-c | 'Ravens and dogs and bears, oh my!': Shape-Shifting Walking Dead in Medieval English Texts (Language: English) Index terms: Folk Studies, Hagiography, Mentalities |
| Abstract | In the records and narratives of the Middle Ages, death was not only of huge significance, but also not necessarily as permanent as one might otherwise believe. These sessions will explore the borders between life and death: how did medieval people (in a broad geographical and chronological range) navigate the uncertainties and liminal spaces between the living and the dead, and between being alive and being dead? In what ways did medieval people conceptualise near death experiences? How did people attempt to predict their own death or that of others? In what ways did the rituals around death represent a syncretism of cultures as religious conversions spread through populations? |