Myth, Reality and Revelation: The Performance of Divine Power on Dartmoor

TY - JOUR

T1 - Myth, Reality and Revelation

T2 - The Performance of Divine Power on Dartmoor

AU - Harvey, David

AU - Parker, Joanne

PY - 2019/12

Y1 - 2019/12

N2 - This article explores the nexus between the folk heritage of an unusual archaeological site, an early modern account of ‘ball lightning’, and the literary construction of an affective atmosphere. It examines how a violent storm in October 1638 provided a symbolic reservoir for narrative accounts of both the performance of God’s power and the Devil’s trickery, thereby providing lessons for civil conduct alongside explanations of some unusual archaeological features. Tracing a biographical life history of how the storm has been remembered at different periods since the event, we chart how various narratives of landscape can unfold over several centuries.

AB - This article explores the nexus between the folk heritage of an unusual archaeological site, an early modern account of ‘ball lightning’, and the literary construction of an affective atmosphere. It examines how a violent storm in October 1638 provided a symbolic reservoir for narrative accounts of both the performance of God’s power and the Devil’s trickery, thereby providing lessons for civil conduct alongside explanations of some unusual archaeological features. Tracing a biographical life history of how the storm has been remembered at different periods since the event, we chart how various narratives of landscape can unfold over several centuries.

U2 - 10.1353/pgn.2019.0056

DO - 10.1353/pgn.2019.0056

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0313-6221

VL - 36

SP - 91

EP - 113

JO - Parergon

JF - Parergon

IS - 2

ER -