Words, Stones, and Herbs: The Healing Word in Medieval and Early Modern England

Description: Surveys medical metaphors and the rise of English vernacular writing to trace diminution of belief in the "intrinsic healing quality" of words. As the healing power "evaporates," we find the separation of material and immaterial things, healing and piety, physician and priest, body and soul. Bishop examines Lollard vernacular works, "Piers Plowman," CYT, and other works for evidence of a growing separation of verbalization and material effect and traces the outgrowths of this separation in early modern literature. She argues that CYT asserts the dangers of translation and reading as well as alchemy.