"Ancrene Wisse and Hali Meiðhad" is a 1929 essay by

J. R. R. Tolkien John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (, ; 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''. From 1925 to 1945, Tolkien was the Rawlins ...

on the thirteenth century

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English p ...

treatise ''

Ancrene Wisse ''Ancrene Wisse'' (also known as the ''Ancrene Riwle'' or ''Guide for Anchoresses'') is an anonymous monastic rule (or manual) for female anchoresses written in the early 13th century. The work consists of eight parts: divine service, keeping the ...

'' ("The Anchoresses' Rule") and on the tract on

virginity Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...

'' Hali Meiðhad'' ("Holy Maidenhood"). The essay has been called "the most perfect of Tolkien's academic pieces". Tolkien and Ker later (in 1962) edited a volume of the text for the

Early English Text Society The Early English Text Society (EETS) is a text publication society founded in 1864 which is dedicated to the editing and publication of early English texts, especially those only available in manuscript. Most of its volumes contain editions of ...

.J. R. R. Tolkien, N. R. Ker, eds. (1962) ''The English Text of the Ancrene Riwle (Ancrene Wisse, Corpus Christi College Cambridge MS 402)''. (Early English Text Society; 249). Oxford U. P.

References

1929 essays Essays about literature Essays by J. R. R. Tolkien Middle English Works about philology Works about the Middle Ages Works originally published in British magazines {{lit-essay-stub