Poems Without Names

Poems Without Names: The English Lyric, 1200–1500 is an in-depth exploration of the Middle English lyric tradition, offering a study of anonymous poems written between 1200 and 1500. This anthology is interwoven with 86 full-text poems chosen to illustrate the structural and stylistic coherence of Middle English verse. The book delves into the anonymous and communal nature of these works, emphasizing their practical and public purpose rather than personal expression. Organized around ten thematic categories, including love poems, feast songs, Marian hymns, and morality verses, the collection reflects the oral and rhetorical foundations of the lyric tradition. The book investigates the shared stylistic elements—such as alliteration, rhyme, and metaphor—that bind these diverse poems into a unified literary tradition, creating a poetic "grammar" that transcends individual authorship.

With a focus on the functional and social aspects of these works, the study also addresses their historical and educational contexts. It highlights the role of medieval rhetorical instruction and the influence of religious and moral values on the style and purpose of the poems. By analyzing the public and communal intentions behind these verses, Poems Without Names sheds light on a poetic tradition that remains foundational to English literature. The text bridges the medieval past with modern appreciation, making these historically significant yet often overlooked works accessible to contemporary readers while underscoring their lasting influence on the English lyric form.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1970.