Binding in Nature
Anglo-Saxon conceptions of the natural world were to a great extent characterized by all that was alien to humanity, and, because of this, depictions of nature commonly demonstrate fear and defensiveness.¹ From literary references to the natural world, Jennifer Neville concludes that “the Anglo-Saxo...
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Published in | Weaving Words and Binding Bodies pp. 95 - 119 |
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Main Author | |
Format | Book Chapter |
Language | English |
Published |
Toronto
University of Toronto Press
07.04.2016
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Anglo-Saxon conceptions of the natural world were to a great extent characterized by all that was alien to humanity, and, because of this, depictions of nature commonly demonstrate fear and defensiveness.¹ From literary references to the natural world, Jennifer Neville concludes that “the Anglo-Saxons viewed their society both as a necessary defence for individuals and as a fragile structure always under attack, one that required a God-like founder and defender to maintain it.”² This defensiveness feeds into the Anglo-Saxon tendency to value things only in relation to what they can do for humanity (as seen in Part I’s discussion of |
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ISBN: | 9781442637221 1442637226 |
DOI: | 10.3138/9781442624894-008 |