Margery Kempe
Margery Kempe was an English Christian mystic and pilgrim whose dictated Book of Margery Kempe is among the earliest autobiographies in English.
The Book of Margery Kempe: A dictated account of Margery Kempe’s spiritual experiences, travels, and conflicts, composed in the fifteenth century. It preserves the experiences and distinctive voice for which Kempe is known.
Jerusalem pilgrimage: A Christian journey to Jerusalem, especially to sites associated with the life and death of Jesus. Kempe’s journey to Jerusalem was among the major pilgrimages recorded in her book.
Robert Spryngolde: A priest and scribe who helped record The Book of Margery Kempe. He wrote down the book’s later portion after Kempe’s earlier scribe died.
Women and religious authority in medieval Europe: The ways medieval women claimed, exercised, and negotiated authority within Christian institutions and communities. Kempe’s visions and public speech pressed against limits on women’s religious roles.
Medieval Christian mysticism: Christian spiritual traditions centered on direct experience of God, contemplation, and divine union in the medieval period. Kempe’s visions and intense devotion belong to this broad tradition.
Rome pilgrimage: A Christian journey to Rome, a major center of pilgrimage and the papacy. Her travels included Rome, where she visited churches and sacred sites.
The first scribe of The Book of Margery Kempe: An unnamed priest who recorded the earlier portion of Kempe’s dictated book. His work began the written record of Kempe’s orally narrated life.
Oral composition: The creation of a text through spoken performance or dictation rather than direct writing by its author. Kempe dictated her account, complicating ideas of individual authorship and literary voice.
Christian pilgrimage: A journey to a sacred place undertaken as an act of Christian devotion. Pilgrimage shaped Kempe’s travels to holy sites across Europe and the eastern Mediterranean.
Mystical tears: Tears interpreted as an expression of religious devotion, spiritual sorrow, or divine grace. Kempe’s loud, frequent weeping made her devotion conspicuous and provoked mixed responses.