Apocalyptic thought in late medieval England, c. 1350 to c. 1425
This thesis examines how apocalyptic thought was understood, interpreted and portrayed in late-medieval England. Apocalypticism in this area and time has been under explored compared to on the continent, where responses to anxieties regarding the end of time resulted in violence. In addressing this...
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| Format: | Thesis (University of Nottingham only) |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
2024
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/77262/ |
| Summary: | This thesis examines how apocalyptic thought was understood, interpreted and portrayed in late-medieval England. Apocalypticism in this area and time has been under explored compared to on the continent, where responses to anxieties regarding the end of time resulted in violence. In addressing this historiographical gap, this thesis draws on a multitude of source materials, including biblical commentaries, prophecies, illuminations, wall paintings, stonework, and stained glass. The thesis considers a series of case studies which reveal a variety of experiences and engagements with apocalyptic thought.
The first chapter examines the Westminster Apocalypse to see how the apocalypse was portrayed within the Latin commentary tradition and how it may have been understood by its aristocratic audience. The second chapter discusses three prophetic texts to examine how prophecy intersected with apocalyptic thought, particularly among the clergy. The third chapter traces the circulation of the Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius throughout late medieval England, assessing how it was adapted for new and varying audiences. The final chapter considers a range of visual material about the end of the world, providing a glimpse into how communities, particularly poorer, uneducated and illiterate ones, engaged with apocalyptic thought.
This research shows that apocalyptic thought involved both the reshaping of older texts for new audiences and the creation of new materials. Such creations often provided a means for people to examine the world around them, as well as a way of improving their chance of reaching salvation. This thesis also demonstrates that the end of the world often intersected with how people viewed contemporary politics, religion and societal issues. In turn, it provided a basis in which individuals could understand their place in the history of both England and Christianity. |
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