Technology of Medieval Romantic Literature

Technology of Medieval Romantic Literature

Medieval romantic literature developed a “techno-mythology” sub-genre in response to and inspired by engineering advances absorbed from contact with the East that were transforming Western Europe in the Middle Ages. In the realm of fictional literature, this Medieval brand of science fiction in literature mingled components ostensibly based upon observation of the possibilities of real technology in the Middle Ages with the ever-present suspicion of a demonological, astral, or otherwise magical operating agent. The profusion of various automata in Medieval literature reflects a widespread popularity of automata in Medieval Western European culture, and its analysis illustrates a perceptible psychological shift by a later age from earlier centuries. This medieval literary genre, with its scope of living or otherwise invested statues and vessels will be explored in a selection of the automata in fiction and fables from the French Medieval romances. The “techno-mythology” itself becomes symptomatic of a period of both intellectual transition as well as reflection upon the activities, pursuits, and understanding of phenomena which persisted on the fringes of possibility. Where else than fictional literature could the Western mind continue to explore the pursuit of the ancients to identify, contain, and manipulate the sidereal forces of the cosmos, natural and divine alike; where else could more perfect robot-servant or demonic-bronze knight be most easily brought to life than within the infinite arena of legend and fable? Nevertheless, however fantastically embellished these automata became in the fantasy of the writers of Medieval fancy, for their audiences, the wonders they described would have seemed all-too-possible, confirmed by even the briefest exposure to the splendid automata which characterized Europe's most splendid courts of the age. In the centuries where the hours were struck in most European centers by mechanical jacquemart-men or marked by mechanical roosters, it was not a great leap of the imagination to insert mechanical characters into legends and other flights of the imagination.

Techno-Mythology and Early Science Fiction

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What you will learn

• Students will become familiar with a selection of Medieval Romantic Literature with technological themes and ideas.
• Students will examine how fact and fiction intermingled in a variety of Medieval manuscript case studies.
• Students will be able to recognize common themes and motifs in Medieval "Science Fiction."

Rating: 4.5

Level: All Levels

Duration: 1 hour

Instructor: Dr. Lily Filson