Medieval Literature for Children

Scholars once believed that childhood was alien to the Middle Ages. Too many children died. Life was too hard and too short to cherish youth. Only in recent years have historians looked beyond this general assumption to discover the significance children and childhood had for medieval culture. Based on material, cultural, and historical evidence, many now agree that medieval parents valued their children as children, not as "miniature adults." If so, what were medieval children reading? How does it function as children's literature? What does it tell us about childhood in the Middle Ages? Medieval Literature for Childrenis the first critical anthology of texts written for children during the Middle Ages. The volume includes selections from nearly 20 medieval text, accompanied by incisive critical introductions by an outstanding group of interdisciplinary scholars that illuminate the diversity, sophistication, and complexity of literature for medieval children and youth. The selection of originaltexts includes material written in Middle English, as well as translations from Latin, Old English, and medieval Welsh. The selections span a broad range of genres, from didactic literature to popular romance and drama, and include the "ABC of Aristotle", Aelfric'sColloquy, TheFablesof Avianus, Chaucer'sTreatise on the Astrolabe, TheEcloque of Theodulus,Sir Gowther,Occupation andIdleness, along with many others.

Daniel T. Kline is Assistant Professor of English at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.