Wulfstan's Influence and Historical Reception

Discussion of Wulfstan's lasting influence, imitation by later preachers, and place in medieval homiletic tradition.

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Episode notes

Hungry Like The Wolf. In this episode, we read a sermon from 11th-century bishop Wulfstan. The main themes in the Sermon of the Wolf to the English (also often referred to by its Latin title, Sermo Lupi ad Anglos) are corruption and sin. These themes are apparent as Wulfstan chastises the English people for their corruption and warns of God's anger and wrath, which is sure to come: "Understand also well that the Devil has now led this nation astray for very many years." He sees that the devil has played a huge part in influencing the English to sin ("Wulfstan"). Wulfstan also strongly believes that the people need to repent, as God is extremely upset and disappointed by the people's actions on Earth.

SHOW NOTES:

Sermon: https://pressbooks.pub/earlybritishlit/chapter/wulfstan-sermon-of-the-wolf-to-the-english/

Guarding the Threshold — A mythic grammar for moral clarity: https://substack.com/home/post/p-186785245

The Disappearance of Childhood by Neil Postman https://amzn.to/3MiDzHr

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