The Canterbury Fails Kentish Hymn
Jan 29, 2022
Dive into the world of a Kentish hymn and its fascinating liturgical origins. The hosts break down the poem's 10th-century context, all the while enjoying a creative Trinitarian cocktail. They explore the uniqueness of the Kentish dialect and the role of monastic bilingualism. As they read through the hymn, they critique its blandness despite moments of striking imagery. The discussion also touches on the interplay between Latin and Old English, revealing how such hymns may foreshadow later masterpieces in English literature.
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Check Manuscript Context First
- When studying minor medieval texts, inspect manuscript context and glosses to infer audience and function.
- Use accompanying school texts to gauge whether a piece served educational or devotional purposes.
Dialect, Not Doctrine, Makes It Notable
- The poem's standout feature is its Kentish dialect, not unique theological content.
- Its subject matter is generic liturgical praise, making dialect the poem's chief scholarly interest.
Trinitarian Cocktail As Poem Companion
- David Coley invents a three-layered cocktail, 'Batter My Mouth Three Layered Shot', to mirror the Trinity in the hymn.
- He maps Old Grand-Dad to the Father, Frangelico to the Spirit, and crème de cassis to Christ's blood.