The Most Interesting Man in Medieval Studies: Redux

As a sort of holiday gift to all our readers (that is, if you consider medieval jokes gifts and not afflictions), I decided to revisit a post I composed a little over a year ago. I realized that our most interesting man was sorely in need of some new accolades, and so I've provided the newest top ten below. Please add to the mayhem in the comments -- the more the merrier! I'm convinced we can't have enough of these.

And so, without further ado, I wish you all a happy holiday season and give you:


The Most Interesting Man in Medieval Studies . . . Redux. 

1. The MLA recently awarded him a prize for his translation of Piers Plowman   . . . into flawless Dothraki.

2.  Flashmobs the world over have popularized his interpretive dance of “The Complaint” (also known as "Hoccleve Style").

3. Students refer to any uncertainty on his part as “The Cloud of Unknowing.”*

4. He once travelled from the Syria to Northumberland by rudderless boat . . . just to see what it would feel like.

5. When he registers for a conference, he does so twice: once for himself, and once for his beard.

6. When he sleeps, Langland has a dream vision . . . about him.

7. Conferences are held annually to unpack his stirring analysis of Scandinavian rune sticks.

8.  His lectures on the absence of stirrups in Merovingian Francia regularly move audiences to tears.

9. He lulls his children to sleep at night by reading to them . . . from the 13th century Rolls of Parliament.

10. To protest Greenblatt’s most recent book, he will host an open bar at Kalamazoo 2013. Drinks will be shaken, not swerved.

*Many thanks to Kristi for the idea behind this one! 

He is . . . The Most Interesting Man in Medieval Studies

Inspired the fantastic entry on this blog, I decided that Medieval Studies is long overdue its own "Most Interesting Man." And so, without further ado:

1. He can write Middle English verse, in Old Norse.
   
   
2. His essays review his peers.
   
   
3. His beard has its own British Library research pass, and festschrifts are often published in its honor.
   
   
4. He once taught a horse to transcribe medieval manuscripts.
   
   
5. His lectures on Anglo-Saxon morphemes regularly move audiences to tears.
   
   
6. He found Prester John, and Prester John had a letter . . . for him.
   
   
7. He once read Piers Plowman backwards, just to see what it would feel like.
   
   
8. He's been known to cure narcolepsy by reciting passages from Lydgate.
   
   
9. Each year at Kalamazoo, no less than five panel discussions are devoted to his reading of Chaucer.
   
   
10. When he sleeps, Vikings have dreams about him.