‘For he was lively in his mother’s womb … yet dead born’: Medieval Frameworks for Grieving Pregnancy Loss

Medieval Literatures Seminar

Hosted by the Centre for Medieval Studies and the Department of English and Related Literature, University of York

My research focuses on pregnancy loss in late medieval English literature and culture. This subject is often dealt with piecemeal: a footnote in a history of pregnancy; a sad anecdote in a discussion of motherhood. Yet, for many medieval (and modern) women, pregnancy loss is not a brief interruption in a journey to motherhood. In my talk, I will argue that medieval responses to pregnancy loss are remarkably rich, compassionate and engaging. My analyses of medieval representations of pregnancy loss allow me to re-think familiar ideas about medieval England, and to offer potential therapeutic models for contemporary pregnancy loss treatment. 

Please register on Eventbrite to attend in-person. 

Please register on Zoom to attend online.

This seminar will not be recorded and there will be no online Q&A following the seminar. 

Image: Mater Dolorosa by the Workshop of Dieric Bouts, Netherlandish c. 1410-75, from the Chicago institute of arts