Torture And Brutality In Medieval Literature: N... Apr 2026

In (2012), Larissa Tracy challenges the popular myth that the Middle Ages were a time of sadistic and unprovoked torment . Her central argument is that literary depictions of torture were not mirrors of actual historical practice but were instead complex rhetorical tools used to critique authority and define national boundaries. Core Argument: Torture as "Othering"

The book asserts that medieval authors used torture as an to negotiate cultural anxieties. By portraying brutal practices as something done only by the barbarian "Other" —such as pagans, foreigners, or tyrants—authors defined their own nations as civilized and just in opposition to that cruelty. Key Themes & Chapter Summaries Torture and Brutality in Medieval Literature: N...

Provide a list of the she uses as case studies In (2012), Larissa Tracy challenges the popular myth

: Investigates the fabliaux and other humorous texts where pain and castration were used as public displays of power for comedic effect. Critical Takeaway By portraying brutal practices as something done only