Romancing the Anchorhold: Romance Motives in Ancrene Wisse, “Guide for Anchoresses”

Sweeping economic and social developments in the twelfth century gave rise to a series of intellectual spiritual changes which laid emphasis on exploring cultivating self via personal experience refining one’s virtues, became pivot romance genre. In religious sphere, such tendencies emergence new forms life. One these was anchoritism, striving replicate vita apostolica first followers Christ. Ancrene Wisse composed provide guidance originally three sisters from one noble family who devoted their lives God as anchoresses. The text guide typically uses secular imagery, including motifs, for ends. This article discusses motifs can be discerned assesses function. It concentrates comparing topos lady bower with symbolic space anchorhold considers issue permeability its borders terms genres anchoritic romance. also comments active/passive role anchoress, roles receiver an initiator action.