This work offers an examination of religious texts written by twelve women over three centuries in two languages and three genres, showing the variety and complexity of gendered images available to medieval women. Moving beyond the categories of virgin, wife and widow, these religious texts created a spectrum of exemplary feminine life-paths based not on marital status, age, social rank, or profession, but instead founded on biblical figures, monastic divisions of labour, expected saintly behaviours, and even individual personality characteristics. This study contributes to discussions of genre and its influences on gender representation, as well as to scholarship on the complexities of gender relationships within literary works and historical contexts. This work will also serve to introduce a wider audience to a cycle of texts and an interrelated group of women authors previously available only to specialists in German and manuscript studies.
By:
Rebecca L.R. Garber Imprint: Routledge Country of Publication: United Kingdom Volume: v.10 Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
Spine: 24mm
Weight: 544g ISBN:9780415939539 ISBN 10: 0415939534 Series:Studies in Medieval History and Culture Pages: 314 Publication Date:08 November 2002 Audience:
College/higher education
,
General/trade
,
Professional & Vocational
,
Primary
,
ELT Advanced
Format:Hardback Publisher's Status: Active
