A select concordance of some 400 middle English texts : a study of Wycliffite discourse with particular discussion of the issues of contemporary poverty, pious practice, substantive law, and anticlerical style

Ringer, Laurie

Abstract

The first part of this thesis, which is closely connected to the second part and reliant on the concordance data therein, considers a selection of vocabulary data from heterodox texts associated with the range of positions often referred to as Wycliffite or Lollard. As the more flagrantly heretical statements, for example on dominion, translation, pilgrimage, or transubstantiation, have already received much scholarly attention, this study also seeks evidence of Lollardy in vocabulary that is less commonly associated with the heresy. This vocabulary, which forms the basis of the four chapters, is clearly linked to Wyclif, and reveals Lollardy both in the more and in the less vituperative texts. Following the Introduction, the concordance results frame the four supporting chapters, showing the extent to which less obvious topics such as Chapter 1's Contemporary Poverty, Chapter 2's Pious Practice, Chapter 3's Substantive Law, and Chapter 4's Anticlerical Style are Lollard concerns, whereas there is statistically less representation of the more notorious vocabulary. This apparently innocuous vocabulary often links back to Wyclif, reveals misconceptions about the heresy, and functions as alternative doorways into more notorious heretical positions. The second part of this thesis presents the first publication, in Lollard studies, of a concordance, designed to provide quantitative data both for the present study and to supplement further qualitative examination of Lollard discourse. This Select Concordance of 395 headwords is drawn from 432 of the vernacular texts generally treated as having Lollard affinities. All concordanced texts treat at least one, if not more, of the four chapter areas. As the Conclusion states, the Select Concordance encourages consideration of issues thought heretofore to be less than heretical and hints at what else these Lollard texts might impart about their heterodoxy and about their connections to John Wyclif

Citation

Ringer, L. (2007). A select concordance of some 400 middle English texts : a study of Wycliffite discourse with particular discussion of the issues of contemporary poverty, pious practice, substantive law, and anticlerical style. (Thesis). University of Hull. Retrieved from https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4217127

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Sep 30, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 23, 2023
• Keywords: English
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4217127
• Additional Information: Department of English, The University of Hull
• Award Date: Aug 1, 2007