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Transforming Talk : The Problem with Gossip in Late Medieval England /

In recent decades, scholars have shown an increasing interest in gossip's social, psychological, and literary functions. The first book-length study of medieval gossip, Transforming Talk shifts the current debate and argues that gossip functions primarily as a transformative discourse, influenc...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Phillips, Susan E., 1970-
Format: Electronic eBook
Language:Inglés
Published: University Park, Pa. : Pennsylvania State University Press, 2007.
Series:Book collections on Project MUSE.
Subjects:
Online Access:Texto completo
Description
Summary:In recent decades, scholars have shown an increasing interest in gossip's social, psychological, and literary functions. The first book-length study of medieval gossip, Transforming Talk shifts the current debate and argues that gossip functions primarily as a transformative discourse, influencing not only social interactions but also literary and religious practices. Known as "jangling" in Middle English, gossip was believed to corrupt parishioners, disturb the peace, and cause civil and spiritual unrest. But gossip was also a productive cultural force; it reconfigured pastoral practice, catalyzed narrative experimentation, and restructured social and familial relationships. Transforming Talk will appeal to a diverse audience, including scholars interested in late medieval culture, religion, and society; Chaucer; and women in the Middle Ages
Physical Description:1 online resource (248 pages): illustrations
ISBN:9780271034843