Joseph’s Amazement: Reconciling Suspense in St. Robert Southwell’s Poetry

In an article for Church Life Journal, Emily Ransom discusses the poetry of St. Robert Southwell and the historical disorientation experienced by people during the English Reformation. Ransom uses the poet's work to explore themes of suspense and religious upheaval.

To help students understand the era, Ransom suggests imagining life at the start of Henry VIII's reign in 1510. She describes a world where most people were illiterate tradespeople whose lives centered on the parish church, weekly Mass, and the rhythms of the liturgical calendar.