ADAM1 was the first man. There are two stories of his creation. The first tells that God created man in his image, male and female together (Genesis 1: 27), and Adam is not named in this version. The second tells that God created Adam from the dust of the ground, breathed into his nostrils, and he became a living soul (Genesis 2: 7). The commandment not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is given to Adam (Genesis 2: 7-17). Isidore explains that man is named hom*o because he is made of humus or earth (Etym VII.vi.4). Alys of Bath uses the term "the mark of Adam" to refer to male human beings, WBP 695-696. God made Eve for Adam's comfort, MerchT 1325-1332. Adam fell through gluttony, PardT 505-511; gluttony is the first sin (Jerome, Epistola adversus Jovinianum [Letter Against Jovinian] II.15, [PL 23: 305-306]). God made Adam but said that it was not good for him to be alone, Mel 1103-1105. A short stanza on Adam begins the Monk's series of tragedies, MkT 2007-2014. The Nun's Priest, following the tradition of Biblical exegesis, says that woman's counsel caused Adam's loss of Paradise, NPT 3256-3259. Sin entered the world through Adam when he broke God's commandment, ParsT 320-324. Adam and Eve were in a state of innocence when they were naked in Paradise, ParsT 325. Adam represents reason consenting to the delights of the flesh, ParsT 330-335. Since all people have the same parents, Adam and Eve, they should trust each other, ParsT 515-517. The first state conducive to love is the state of innocence, such as Adam's before he fell, ParsT 680-682. The sin of Adam and Eve is gluttony, ParsT 818-821. God made woman from Adam's rib so that she is his companion or "felawe," ParsT 925-929. The Dreamer invokes God, who made Adam, HF II.970. Behind the God of Love, the Dreamer sees such a procession of women that he had not thought possible since God made Adam out of earth, LGWF 282-289. The poet prays to Mary, the bright Lady who has been merciful to the seed of Adam, ABC 181-184. [Caym: Eva]
Adam occurs once initially, PardT 575; eight times in medial positions, MkT 2007, 2112; NPT 3258; PardT 508; WBP 696; MerchT 1325; ABC 182; LGW F 286; once in final rhyming position, HF II.970; and in the prose of the Parson's Tale.
