Katherine Group

As Katherine Group five Middle English texts are referred to, which were written in the early 13th century by an unknown author in a dialect of the West Midlands. The lyrics deal with the issue of virginity and are addressed to religious hermit inside.

For Katherine Group include the sermon Hali Meiðhad (Eng. Holy virginity ), the allegory Sawles Warde (Eng. care of the soul), as well as the biographies of three holy virgin martyrs, Seinte Juliene ( Juliana of Nicomedia ), Seinte Margaret ( Margaret of Antioch ) and Seinte Katherine ( Catherine ).

Narrated, all five texts in the manuscript Bodley 34 and up to Hali Meiðhad in manuscript Royal 17 A XXVII. Sawles Warde, Seinte Katherine and Hali Meiðhad are also included in the manuscript Cotton Titus D XVIII.

J.R.R. Tolkien and the Katherine Group

JRR Tolkien employed in the course of his academic career several times with the texts of the Katherine Group. In Holy Maiden Hood (1923 ), Some Contributions to Middle- English Lexicography and The Devil's Coach Horses (both 1925), he dealt with Hali Meiðhad, in Ancrene Wisse and Hali Meiðhad (1929 ) with the common language of Katherine Group and Ancrene Wisse, and in " Iþþlen " in Sawles Warde (1947 ) with a word from Sawles Warde.