Weather and the Question of Human Agency in Medieval Texts
Location
Memorial Ballroom, Hall Campus Center
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Presentation Type
Oral presentation
Entry Number
106
Start Date
4-16-2026 10:45 AM
End Date
4-16-2026 11:00 AM
School
School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department
English
Keywords
Weather, agency, medieval, ecocentric, anthropocentric, fate
Abstract
Examining the representations of the weather in the medieval texts The Wanderer and Tristran and Isolt reveals the ways in which people from the Middle Ages saw themselves in relation to nature. People have always lived with nature, and medieval people were questioning their own agency and importance in relation to the natural world while destructive storms threatened their survival. In The Wanderer, the speaker questions the free will he has over his own fate while traversing harsh winter climates. Tristran and Isolt struggle to maintain agency over their own relationship, as storms and winds create barriers between them. In both texts, the weather events that take place revolve around the actions and emotions of the protagonists, centering the natural world around humans. However, they also contribute power to the environment that gives it control over people. These medieval texts focus on humanity while also giving power to the environment in order to answer the question of human agency in the natural world. By balancing the agency of humanity and nature, medieval people discover their ability to maintain free will while facing threatening weather conditions.
Primary Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Elizabeth Sharrett Dr. Aubrey Plourde Dr. Elza Tiner
Primary Faculty Mentor(s) Department
English English Latin
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Weather and the Question of Human Agency in Medieval Texts
Memorial Ballroom, Hall Campus Center
Examining the representations of the weather in the medieval texts The Wanderer and Tristran and Isolt reveals the ways in which people from the Middle Ages saw themselves in relation to nature. People have always lived with nature, and medieval people were questioning their own agency and importance in relation to the natural world while destructive storms threatened their survival. In The Wanderer, the speaker questions the free will he has over his own fate while traversing harsh winter climates. Tristran and Isolt struggle to maintain agency over their own relationship, as storms and winds create barriers between them. In both texts, the weather events that take place revolve around the actions and emotions of the protagonists, centering the natural world around humans. However, they also contribute power to the environment that gives it control over people. These medieval texts focus on humanity while also giving power to the environment in order to answer the question of human agency in the natural world. By balancing the agency of humanity and nature, medieval people discover their ability to maintain free will while facing threatening weather conditions.