Three Purgatory Poems

The Gast of Gy, Sir Owain, The Vision of Tundale

Edited by Edward E. Foster

Book cover: Three Purgatory Poems

Extent: 312 pages

Publisher: Medieval Institute Publications

Subjects: Literary Studies, Medieval Studies

Series: TEAMS Middle English Texts Series

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(July 2004)

ISBN: 9781580440820

7.01 x 10 inches

Price: $24.95

Out of stock

PDF (Published)

(July 2004)

ISBN: 9781580444002

Price: $20.00

Though our modern understanding of the medieval doctrine of Purgatory is generally shaped by its presentation by Dante in the Divine Comedy, there is a lengthy history of speculation about the nature of such a place of purgation. Through these fourteenth-century Middle English poems, readers can experience something of the controversies that surfaced and resurfaced even after Aquinas had articulated his doctrine of the Communion of Saints. The Gast of Gy, as Foster notes, puts a human face on the doctrine of Purgatory, not only in the amiable, logical, and patient person of the Gast of Gy himself, . . . but also in the careful and cautious dialogue between the Gast and the Pryor who questions him. Sir Owain and The Vision of Tundale present two accounts of the purgatorial journeys of living individuals who are offered a chance to see the torments they have brought upon themselves by their less-than-perfect lives along with the opportunity to return and amend those lives. All three poems were quite popular, as was the doctrine of Purgatory itself. And why not? As Foster notes in his general introduction, it the doctrine of Purgatory had everything: adventure and adversity, suffering and excitement, and, most importantly, a profound theological warning wrapped in the joyful solace of communion with the departed and hope for our own sinful selves.

Acknowledgments General Introduction General Bibliography Standard Abbreviations Three Purgatory Poems The Gast of Gy Introduction Select Bibliography Text Explanatory Notes Textual Notes Sir Owain Introduction Select Bibliography Text Explanatory Notes Textual Notes The Vision of Tundale Introduction Select Bibliography Text Explanatory Notes Textual Notes Glossary, Acknowledgments
General Introduction
General Bibliography
Standard Abbreviations

Three Purgatory Poems
The Gast of Gy

Introduction
Select Bibliography
Text
Explanatory Notes
Textual Notes

Sir Owain
Introduction
Select Bibliography
Text
Explanatory Notes
Textual Notes

The Vision of Tundale
Introduction
Select Bibliography
Text
Explanatory Notes
Textual Notes

Glossary
  • Edited by Edward E. Foster