Siege of Thebes is a 4716-line poem written by John Lydgate between 1420 and 1422.[1] Lydgate composed the Siege of Thebes directly following his composition of Troy Book - which was patronized by King Henry V - and directly preceding his production of The Fall of Princes - which Humphrey Duke of Gloucester patronized during King Henry VI's regency.[1] The poem is particularly significant because it was written without an identifiable patron,[2] and most probably without patron or commission whatsoever.[1] Whatever the status of its patronage, the Siege of Thebes still managed to gain significant popularity, attested to by its 31 surviving manuscripts.[2] The poem is, in large part, a response to Geoffrey Chaucer'sThe Canterbury Tales. Lydgate's poem borrows The Canterbury Tales'pilgrimage-based framing device and is written as an additional tale in the cycle.[3] However, unlike Chaucer, Lydgate establishes himself as the narrator of the work, and recounts the siege of Thebes.[3] Lydgate's Siege of Thebes follows and expands upon the Theban Cycle, but makes significant additions to the source materials.
Although literary critics generally used to believe that the work was a poor imitation of Chaucer's work rather than a work warranting criticism in and of itself, in recent years the Siege of Thebes has undergone more extensive study and some scholars have come to conclude that the Siege of Thebes indeed merits study.[3] Apart from its complex Lancastrian and pacifist message,[4] the text situates Lydgate as both a follower and rival of Chaucer's poetic tradition, and re-examines the way medieval patronage affected the production of poetry.[3]
Source materialsedit
The plot of the Siege of Thebes was influenced by several sources, both classical and medieval.[5] Classically, the plot can be traced to Statius' epic, the Thebaid and Seneca'sOedipus. However, the plot was expanded on in the Middle Ages, most notably in the 12th century French romance, Le Roman de Thébes.[5] The plot of Lydgate's epic follows both of these sources, but integrates work from Boccaccio and the framing device used by Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales.[6] Lydgate also was influenced greatly by Martianus Capella'sDe nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii, Roman de Edipus, the Hystoire de Thebes, the Old Testament, and the New Testament.[7] However, the poem also contains original elements and expands upon its source materials thematically.[6]
Modern editionsedit
Only one rendition of the Siege of Thebes into modern English has been published - that by D.J. Favager: The Siege of Thebes: A Modern English Verse Rendition (Kindle 2018).
Referencesedit
^ abcKline, Daniel T. (1999). "Father Chaucer and the "Siege of Thebes": Literary Paternity, Aggressive Deference, and the Prologue to Lydgate's Oedipal Canterbury Tale". The Chaucer Review. 34 (2): 218. JSTOR 25096088.
^ abMeyer-Lee, Robert J. (2013). A Companion to 15th Century English Poetry. D. S. Brewer, Boydell & Brewer. p. 59.
^ abcdStraker, Scott-Morgan (2001). "Deference and Difference, Lydgate, Chaucer, and "Siege of Thebes"". The Review of English Studies. New Series. 52 (205): 1–2. JSTOR 3070488.
^Battles, Dominique (2004). The Medieval Tradition of Thebes: History and Narrative in the OF Roman de Thèbes, Boccaccio, Chaucer, and Lydgate. New York and London: Routledge. pp. xiii. ISBN0-203-50285-X – via Google Books.
^ ab"The Siege of Thebes: Introduction | Robbins Library Digital Projects". Retrieved 16 January 2017.
^ ab"John Lydgate | English writer". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
^"The Siege of Thebes: Introduction | Robbins Library Digital Projects". Retrieved 17 January 2017.
External linksedit
TEAMS edition of the poem, edited by Robert R. Edwards
October 27, 2023
siege, thebes, poem, siege, thebes, 4716, line, poem, written, john, lydgate, between, 1420, 1422, lydgate, composed, siege, thebes, directly, following, composition, troy, book, which, patronized, king, henry, directly, preceding, production, fall, princes, w. Siege of Thebes is a 4716 line poem written by John Lydgate between 1420 and 1422 1 Lydgate composed the Siege of Thebes directly following his composition of Troy Book which was patronized by King Henry V and directly preceding his production of The Fall of Princes which Humphrey Duke of Gloucester patronized during King Henry VI s regency 1 The poem is particularly significant because it was written without an identifiable patron 2 and most probably without patron or commission whatsoever 1 Whatever the status of its patronage the Siege of Thebes still managed to gain significant popularity attested to by its 31 surviving manuscripts 2 The poem is in large part a response to Geoffrey Chaucer s The Canterbury Tales Lydgate s poem borrows The Canterbury Tales pilgrimage based framing device and is written as an additional tale in the cycle 3 However unlike Chaucer Lydgate establishes himself as the narrator of the work and recounts the siege of Thebes 3 Lydgate s Siege of Thebes follows and expands upon the Theban Cycle but makes significant additions to the source materials Contents 1 Criticism 2 Source materials 3 Modern editions 4 References 5 External linksCriticism editAlthough literary critics generally used to believe that the work was a poor imitation of Chaucer s work rather than a work warranting criticism in and of itself in recent years the Siege of Thebes has undergone more extensive study and some scholars have come to conclude that the Siege of Thebes indeed merits study 3 Apart from its complex Lancastrian and pacifist message 4 the text situates Lydgate as both a follower and rival of Chaucer s poetic tradition and re examines the way medieval patronage affected the production of poetry 3 Source materials editThe plot of the Siege of Thebes was influenced by several sources both classical and medieval 5 Classically the plot can be traced to Statius epic the Thebaid and Seneca s Oedipus However the plot was expanded on in the Middle Ages most notably in the 12th century French romance Le Roman de Thebes 5 The plot of Lydgate s epic follows both of these sources but integrates work from Boccaccio and the framing device used by Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales 6 Lydgate also was influenced greatly by Martianus Capella s De nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii Roman de Edipus the Hystoire de Thebes the Old Testament and the New Testament 7 However the poem also contains original elements and expands upon its source materials thematically 6 Modern editions editOnly one rendition of the Siege of Thebes into modern English has been published that by D J Favager The Siege of Thebes A Modern English Verse Rendition Kindle 2018 References edit a b c Kline Daniel T 1999 Father Chaucer and the Siege of Thebes Literary Paternity Aggressive Deference and the Prologue to Lydgate s Oedipal Canterbury Tale The Chaucer Review 34 2 218 JSTOR 25096088 a b Meyer Lee Robert J 2013 A Companion to 15th Century English Poetry D S Brewer Boydell amp Brewer p 59 a b c d Straker Scott Morgan 2001 Deference and Difference Lydgate Chaucer and Siege of Thebes The Review of English Studies New Series 52 205 1 2 JSTOR 3070488 Battles Dominique 2004 The Medieval Tradition of Thebes History and Narrative in the OFRoman de Thebes Boccaccio Chaucer and Lydgate New York and London Routledge pp xiii ISBN 0 203 50285 X via Google Books a b The Siege of Thebes Introduction Robbins Library Digital Projects Retrieved 16 January 2017 a b John Lydgate English writer Encyclopedia Britannica Retrieved 16 January 2017 The Siege of Thebes Introduction Robbins Library Digital Projects Retrieved 17 January 2017 External links editTEAMS edition of the poem edited by Robert R Edwards Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Siege of Thebes poem amp oldid 1087519370, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
