Poetry and exegesis in premodern Latin Christianity : the encounter between classical and Christian strategies of interpretation

by Willemien Otten (Editor)

Other authorsKarla Pollmann (Editor)
Ebook, 2007

Status

Available

Call number

871/.02

Collection

Publication

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2007.

Description

This volume investigates various exegetical possibilities in Christian Latin poetry during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. In the Latin West poetry was mainly associated with the powerful pagan tradition of writers like Vergil and Ovid, and by many poetry was considered to tell lies and provide mere entertainment potentially corrupting the soul. Therefore, Christians initially had reservations about this genre and believed it to be incompatible with Christian worship, literacy and intellectual activity. In practice, however, forms of specifically Christian poetry developed from the end of the third century onwards; theoretical reconciliations were developed around 400 A.D. This collection examines specimens of Christian poetry from Juvencus (the first biblical epicist shortly after 300) up to the thirteenth century. Its particular usefulness lies in the combination of literary theory and hermeneutics, close readings of the texts and new readings on a sound philological basis.… (more)

Language

Original language

English

Physical description

xi, 360 p.; 25 cm

Pages

xi; 360

ISBN

9789004160699

Local notes

I. THEORY
H. Westra, Augustine and Poetic Exegesis
M. Vessey, Quid facit cum Horatio Hieronymus? Christian Latin Poetry and Scriptural Poetics
M.B. Pranger, Time and the Integrity of Poetry. Ambrose and Augustine

II. INDIVIDUAL AUTHORS AND WORKS
R. P.H. Green, The Evangeliorum Libri of Juvencus: Exegesis by Stealth
J. den Boeft, Cantatur ad delectationem. Ambrose’s lyric poetry
J. Clarke, Technological Innovation and Poetical Exegesis: The Glass Lamp in Prudentius’ Cathemerinon 5
R. Chiappiniello, The Carmen ad uxorem and the genre of the epithalamium
M. Hoffmann, Principles of Structure and Unity in Latin Biblical Epic
A. Arweiler, Interpreting cultural change: Semiotics and exegesis in Dracontius’ De laudibus Dei
Ch.O. Tommasi, Exegesis by Distorting Pagan Myths in Corippus’ Epic Poetry
M. Herren, Reflections on the Meaning of the Ecloga Theoduli: Where is the Authorial Voice?
K. Smolak, Epic Poetry as Exegesis: ‘The Song of the Good War’ (Eupolemius)
W. Otten, The Poetology of Biblical Tragedy in Abelard’s Planctus

III. OVERVIEWS, COMPARISONS
A.A.R. Bastiaensen, Biblical Poetry in Latin Liturgical Texts
H. Müller, The Saint as Preacher. Remarks on a Rare Motif in Late Antique and Medieval Poetry
K. Pollmann, Poetry and Suffering: Metrical Paraphrases of Eucherius of Lyons’ Passio Acaunensium Martyrum
G. Dinkova-Bruun, Biblical Versifications from Late Antiquity to the Middle of the Thirteenth Century: History or Allegory?
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