Discussing some of the best-known Gothic novels of the late 18th and 19th centuries and exploring the features they have in common. Introduction Gothic is a literary genre, and a characteristically modern one. The word ‘genre’ comes from the Latin ‘genus’ which means ‘kind’. So to ask what genre a text belongs to is to[…]
Analyzing how historical, legendary, and mythological elements are woven through the text of Beowulf? Originally published by Newberry Digital Collections for the Classroom, 05.18.2018, Newberry Library, republished with permission for educational, non-commercial purposes. Introduction Although acknowledged as a foundational work of English literature, the complicated and allusive style of the longest epic poem in Old[…]
The conquest saw the Norman elite replace that of the Anglo-Saxons. By Mark CartwrightHistorian Introduction The Norman conquest of England, led by William the Conqueror (r. 1066-1087 CE) was achieved over a five-year period from 1066 CE to 1071 CE. Hard-fought battles, castle building, land redistribution, and scorched earth tactics ensured that the Normans were[…]
An accomplished diplomat, gifted military commander, and ruthless overlord. By Mark CartwrightHistorian Introduction William the Conqueror (c. 1027-1087 CE), also known as William, Duke of Normandy and William the Bastard, led the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 CE when he defeated and killed his rival Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings. Crowned King[…]
The toga has become the quintessential male garment of antiquity. By Mark CartwrightHistorian Introduction The toga was a garment worn by men who were citizens of Rome and which consisted of a single length of wool cloth cut in a semicircle and wrapped around the body of the wearer without any fastenings. The toga was[…]
Agamemnon received heroic worship from the establishment of the sanctuary at Amyklai along with his consort Kassandra, known locally as Alexandra. The Atrid Agamemnon received cult in two Peloponnesian towns, Mycenae and Amyklai, both of which claimed to have his grave. The conflicting reports about the location of his grave correspond to early variations in the literary[…]