UVa-Wise professor to present March 26 lecture on “Brut” and revival of English language

Associate Professor of English Ken Tiller will discuss Layamon’s “Brut” during a faculty colloquia presentation at 1 p.m. on March 26 in the Chapel of All Faiths at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise.

In his presentation, Tiller will introduce the enigmatic country priest and poet-historian and discuss his possible reasons for composing “Brut,” a 16,000-line verse history of Britain in English.

Tiller recently published a book on the subject, entitled ““Layamon's ‘Brut’ and the Anglo-Norman Vision of History.”

Appearing in late 12th-century England in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest, “Brut,” based loosely on the French “Roman de Brut” by the Anglo-Norman poet Wace, centers its English translation on repeated acts of conquest and colonization and the effects they have on the land, people and languages of Britain.

Examining Layamon’s translation in its context, when the English language was relegated to subordinate status, Tiller will examine the pivotal role Layamon’s translation plays in the revitalization of English consciousness and the English written language. Tiller will then discuss how Layamon subverts Anglo-Norman historians’ assumptions about their divine right to rule England and provides a pattern for the insular English to reassert their culture and language identity, paving the way for the rebirth of English literature.

Tiller has been a member of the UVa-Wise faculty since 1996. In addition to his work with “Brut,” he has published articles on Thomas Malory’s “Le Morte d’Arthur” and on the relationship between the English romance and English history.

The presentation is free and open to the public. UVa-Wise students will receive cultural credit for attendance.

For more information, contact the Office of College Relations at 276-328-0130.

Posted March 18, 2008