Anonymous, South English Legendary

Tristan B. Taylor (University of Saskatchewan)

Ed. by Sebastian Sobecki, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.02: English Writing and Culture: High and Late Medieval, 1066-1485.
Vol. editors: Kate Ash-Irisarri (University of Edinburgh), Rory Critten (Université de Lausanne), David Fuller (University of Durham), Natalie Hanna (University of Liverpool), Hugh Magennis (Queen's University Belfast), Jamie McKinstry (University of Durham), Sarah Peverley (University of Liverpool), Sebastian Sobecki (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen)

Dates

First circulation or publication c. 1280

Places

England (Country of Origin; Publication/ performance)

Genres and Modes

Poetry (any)

Resources

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Introduction

The South English Legendary (commonly abbreviated as SEL) is a modern title for a popular collection of thirteenth-century sanctorale and temporale. Sanctorale and temporale refer to the fixed and movable feasts, respectively, in the liturgical calendar. The fixed feasts are those celebrations like Christmas and St. Patrick’s day that are celebrated on the same date each year, while the movable feasts, like Easter, are celebrated on an unfixed schedule. The SEL’s modern title denotes its geographical origin, language, and genre. The collection originated in the southwest midlands, is composed in the Middle English vernacular, and contains the legends of the fixed and movable feasts of the liturgical calendar. Legendaries like the SEL performed an essential function for

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2082 words

Citation: Taylor, Tristan B.. "South English Legendary". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 20 August 2021 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=39420, accessed 25 April 2024.]

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