Tearas Feollon: Tears and Weeping in Old English Literature

This contribution surveys the range of images weeping in Old English literature, concentrating particularly on due to suffering, grief and unhappiness, tears compunction, but examining other types as well, including supplicatory sympathetic (these latter are found prose not poetry). Taking account contemporary theory, study understands be a physical manifestation distress, also function social gesture, reflected circumstance that most is public rather than private. It noted saints do normally weep literature despite suffering they typically endure, traditional poetry seen appropriate for men, or at least men prime life. Some interesting instances English, however, episodes appear contradict problematize such expectations, illustrated by examination number relevant examples. The references cited this majority cases based Latin models, reflect wider Christian literary tradition early Middle Ages, being specific Anglo-Saxon England; but, both religious secular works, writers shown thoughtful imaginative their treatment deploy it forceful emotive effect.