Eloquent Virgins from Thecla to Joan of Arc

261 Pages·2003·2.06 MB·English

by  Maud Burnett McInerney (auth.)

T H E N E W M I D D L E A G E S
E L O Q U E N T
V I R G I N S
F R OM T H E C L A
J OA N A R C
t o o f
By Maud Bur nett McIner ney
THE NEW MIDDLE AGES
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ELOQUENT VIRGINS FROM
THECLA TO JOAN OF ARC
Maud Burnett McInerney
Palgrave
macmillan
ELOQUENTVIRGINSFROMTHECLATOJOANOFARC
© Maud Burnett McInerney,2003
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2003 978-0-312-22350-2
All rights reserved.No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any
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First published 2003 by
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ISBN 978-1-349-62301-3 ISBN 978-1-137-06451-6 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-137-06451-6
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
McInerney,Maud Burnett.
Eloquent virgins from Thecla to Joan of Arc/Maud Burnett McInerney.
p.cm.—(New Middle Ages)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1.Virginity in literature.2.Literature,Medieval—History and
criticism.3.Classical literature—History and criticism.I.Title.II.Series.
PN682.V56M38 2003
809(cid:2).93353—dc21 2002032203
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Design by Newgen Imaging Systems (P) Ltd.,Chennai,India.
First edition:September,2003
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Matri,sorori,filiae:
Anne,Melissa,Lucy
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CONTENTS
List of Illustrations ix
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction Genuine Devotion,Imaginary Bodies 1
1. Strange Triangle:Tertullian,Perpetua,Thecla 15
2. Androgynous Virgins and the Threat of Rape in the
Fourth Century 47
3. From the Sublime to the Ridiculous in the
Works of Hrotsvitha 85
4. A Chorus ofVirgins:Hildegard’s Symphonia 111
5. Pelagius,Rupert,and the Problem of Male Virginity in
Hrotsvitha and Hildegard 143
6. Catherine and Margaret:Vernacular Virgins
and the Golden Legend 165
Epilogue Joan of Arc 195
Notes 213
Index 247
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Illustrations placed at the end of chapter 3
1. Le Mystère de Sainte-Reine 1999 performance.
By permission of the Amicale du Mystère
de Sainte-Reine,21150 Alise-Sainte-Reine,France.
2. Martyrdom of Thecla,from Mélanie van Viervliet de la
Sainte Famille,Vierges Martyres de la Primitive Église
(Paris:Casterman,1887).
3. Wolfgang Traut,illustration from Opera Hrosvite,
illustris virginis et monialis germane,gente saxonico orte,
nuper a Conrado Celte inventa [Impressum Norumbergae,
1501].By permission of Special Collections,University
of Missouri-Columbia Libraries.
4. The Virtues,from Hildegard of Bingen’s Scivias,
ed.Adelgundis Führkotter and A.Carlevaris,
Corpus christianorum:continuatio medievalis 43,2 vols.
(Turnhout:Brepols,1978).Made from a hand-colored
photo reproduction (1927–33) of the lost original.
Courtesy of Brepols Publishing,Turnhout,Belgium.
5. Detail from the Saint Barbara Tryptich,attributed to
the Master of the Saint Barbara Legend,ca.1465–75.
Philadelphia Museum of Art:purchased with the
W.P.Wilstach Fund,the George W.Elkins Fund,and
funds from the proceeds of the sale of deaccessioned
works of art.
6. Joan of Arc,by André Allar,Domrémy,France.
Author’s photo.