Ancrene Wisse
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Ancrene Wisse (also Ancrene Riwle) or Guide for Anchoresses is a monastic rule (or manual) for anchoresses, written in the early 13th century. It is written in an early middle English dialect known as 'AB-language'. This is the sigla of MSS Bodley 34 and Corpus Christi 402. Bodley MS 34 contains the final revision of Ancrene Wisse. Corpus Christi MS 402 contains Ancrene Wisse together with a set of texts that have become known as the "Katherine Group": 'Katerine', 'Margerete', 'Iuliene', 'Hali Meidhad' and 'Sawles Warde'. AB-language was described by J.R.R. Tolkien as "a faithful transcript of some dialect...or a 'standard' language based on one' in use in the West Midlands in the 13th century."
There are eleven manuscript versions in existence containing all or part of the text in its original English, there are also four versions in Anglo-Norman French, and a further four Latin translations. The oldest manuscript in English is kept at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
The title 'Ancrene Riwle' has been decisively repudiated by Yoko Wada in an essay included in her own edition of articles, 'A Companion to Ancrene Wisse' (D.S.Brewer, 2003).
[edit] Editions
- J. R. R. Tolkien, N. R. Ker, The English Text of the Ancrene Riwle (Ancrene Wisse, Corpus Christi College Cambridge MS 402), ISBN 0-19-722249-8
- Arne Zettersten, Bernhard Diensberg The English Text of the Ancrene Riwle, The 'Vernon' Text, ISBN 0-19-722314-1
[edit] References
- J. R. R. Tolkien, Ancrene Wisse and Hali Meiðhad (1929).
