História, hagiografia, romance…O retrato estratificado de Athelsan num Brut em prosa, em inglês medieval

Resumo

A fama e os feitos de Athelstan, considerado como o primeiro rei a governar toda a Inglaterra, levaram a que, durante a Idade Média, fosse exaltado na arte, na numismática, no romance, em narrativas de viagem e em crónicas. Na tradição do Brut em prosa, o seu retrato foca-se, maioritariamente, nas suas vitórias militares, de forma pouco elaborada. No entanto, o Brut em prosa abreviado, em inglês medieval, preservado na Biblioteca da Universidade de Edimburgo, MS. 184, e dois outros manuscritos, afastam-se desta linha na medida em que misturam elementos narrativos oriundos de relatos históricos, hagiografia e romance, a fim de retratar Athelstan como um herói inglês, e de o transmitir ao seu público do século XV, que, na altura, ainda podia ver relíquias concretas do reinado de Athelstan, dando-lhe assim uma oportunidade de ligação indireta à história romanceada da sua nação. O presente artigo identifica fontes e tradições nas quais o compilador deste Brut muito provavelmente se baseou e reflete sobre as suas implicações quanto à nossa compreensão deste manuscrito específico e à evolução e adaptação das crónicas de Brut, no final da Idade Média.

Referências bibliográficas

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Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Library, MS 184.

London, British Library, MS Harley 63.

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