Jews and Judaizing as Pathologies in the Anglo-Saxon Imagination: Toward a Theory of Early Somatic Anti-Judaism (original) (raw)
2020, The Old English Anonymous Homily: Sources, Composition, and Variation., eds. Susan Irvine and Winfried Rudolf
AI-generated Abstract
The analysis presented explores the deeply rooted anti-Judaism reflected in the Anglo-Saxon interpretation of Jewish practices, particularly as seen in the Vercelli Book's homily VII. By tracing the philological connections to John Chrysostom's writings, the work argues that the representation of Jews is part of a broader rhetorical framework aligning ideals of masculinity with 'Christian' identities while demonizing 'Jewish' characteristics through themes of effeminacy and moral decay. This reflection not only contextualizes the historical prejudices against Jews but also sheds light on the gendered dimensions of societal attitudes during the period.
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