Medieval History
Over at Unlocked Wordhoard, on how to read allegory. Although Dr. Nokes limits his discussion to allegorical literature (literature explicitly intended to be read as allegory), I think his notes are much more broadly applicable to anything written in the Middle Ages (and much written before and after). Take my favorite teaching example from the late 11th century:
As Dr. Nokes says, read carefully. Lots of neat stuff there.
- Study: Charlemagne Was Very Tall, But Not Robust
According to a recently published study, the Carolingian Emperor Charlemagne (ca. 747?814) was taller than most of his subjects, but not overweight. The findings were reported in the July 2010 issue of Economics & Human Biology. A trio of scholars...
- Nokes On Beowulf Etc
Readers of the Great Nokes over at Unlocked Wordhoard (see our blogroll) has mentioned a piece he's written and published in the Old English Newsletter. I received my copy of OEN's latest last night and read Scott's article Beowulf: Prince...
- Ossetia's Medieval Troubles
Scott Nokes over at Unlocked Wordhoard justifiably drew attention to Jeff Spycek's recent post on the medieval roots of the current situation over Ossetia: http://www.quidplura.com/?p=209...
- Podcasts: (unlocked And) Reviewed!
Dr. Nokes now has a review of my "Podcasts on Medieval Texts." Thanks, Dr. Nokes. And if anyone else has any thoughts, comments, suggestions, please share them!...
- Exhibitions Of Holy Roman Emperors
The big exhibition organized to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the Council of Constance opened last weekend at Constance. One of the central figures of the exhibition is Emperor Sigismund, who was also the King of Hungary. However, Germany celebrates...
Medieval History
Dr. Nokes Pronounces
Over at Unlocked Wordhoard, on how to read allegory. Although Dr. Nokes limits his discussion to allegorical literature (literature explicitly intended to be read as allegory), I think his notes are much more broadly applicable to anything written in the Middle Ages (and much written before and after). Take my favorite teaching example from the late 11th century:
Emperor Henry IV tried to present himself as another Charlemagne but instead turned into another Roboam.Now, what does that mean? Lambert doesn't say but he knows that you (the reader) will get it. You'll hear "Charlemagne" and think "pious," "conqueror," "emperor," "Aachen," and remember the grandeur of his empire. But Lambert also knows that you'll hear "Roboam" and think "Israel," "dissension," "struggle," and "collapse." Roboam was the succesor of Solomon and the king who allowed a united Israel to splinter and ultimately collapse. Lambert's on the side of the papal reformers and he's making quite a statement about the emperor here -- masked, perhaps to us, but not to his contemporaries.
-- Lambert of Hersfeld, Libelli de institutione Herveldensis ecclesiae quae supersunt, ed. O. Holder-Egger, MGH SRG (Hannover, 1984), 38:353.
As Dr. Nokes says, read carefully. Lots of neat stuff there.
- Study: Charlemagne Was Very Tall, But Not Robust
According to a recently published study, the Carolingian Emperor Charlemagne (ca. 747?814) was taller than most of his subjects, but not overweight. The findings were reported in the July 2010 issue of Economics & Human Biology. A trio of scholars...
- Nokes On Beowulf Etc
Readers of the Great Nokes over at Unlocked Wordhoard (see our blogroll) has mentioned a piece he's written and published in the Old English Newsletter. I received my copy of OEN's latest last night and read Scott's article Beowulf: Prince...
- Ossetia's Medieval Troubles
Scott Nokes over at Unlocked Wordhoard justifiably drew attention to Jeff Spycek's recent post on the medieval roots of the current situation over Ossetia: http://www.quidplura.com/?p=209...
- Podcasts: (unlocked And) Reviewed!
Dr. Nokes now has a review of my "Podcasts on Medieval Texts." Thanks, Dr. Nokes. And if anyone else has any thoughts, comments, suggestions, please share them!...
- Exhibitions Of Holy Roman Emperors
The big exhibition organized to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the Council of Constance opened last weekend at Constance. One of the central figures of the exhibition is Emperor Sigismund, who was also the King of Hungary. However, Germany celebrates...