Vernacular Literatures

This essay provides an overview of the development of medieval vernacular literature from manuscript to print in Northern Europe, covering France, Germany, the British Isles, the Low Countries, Ireland, and the Nordic territories. It sets out the evolution of genres including epic, sagas, chansons de geste, romances, and Arthurian literature, including discussion of key motifs and themes, such as courtly love. Finally, the study explores the development of scholarly enquiry into vernacular literatures from the late eighteenth century onwards, covering edition, critical evaluation, and theoretical and practical approaches, before setting out the most recent trends in scholarship and discussing key desiderata moving forwards.