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Abstract:
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Medieval literature demonstrates that Christians of that era took their Bible seriously , particularly the Old Testament account of Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac . For them , the story was both fascinating and perplexing . Not only was Abraham one of the most revered figures , but he was also one of the most frustrating . He was admired for his ability to obey God's directive to sacrifice Isaac , but because he does so without displaying an ounce of emotion , that admiration is often coupled with irritation . How could a father as loving as Abraham remain expressionless and emotionless as he raised the knife to kill his son ? To explain why , Church fathers espoused various methods of exegesis . But for many , the Church's teachings proved less than satisfactory , as is indicated by medieval writers , particularly the dramatists , who seized upon the Abraham and Isaac story in an effort to explain not only Abraham's lack of emotion , but also Isaac's reaction , one the Bible conspicuously omits . Among these writers was Chaucer , who knew well the Abraham and Isaac story . His tales on religion and morality qualify as variations of the passage as presented not only in the Bible , but also in medieval drama . The Hugelyn episode in the Monk's Tale , the Prioress' Tale , the Physician's Tale , the Man of Law's Tale , and the Clerk's Tale each present children as sacrificial figures . Through them , Chaucer explores the issues of his day that the Abraham and Isaac story presents : silence , affective piety , gender , salvation , and death . The tales demonstrate that sacrifice is often necessary for restoring balance on a personal and societal level . And like the Abraham and Isaac story makes obvious , those who remain steadfast in their faith through their darkest hour are rewarded by God . |