The Medieval Classic: Twelfth-Century Latin Epic and the Virgilian Commentary Tradition [Hardcover]

The Medieval Classiccontributes to our understanding of ancient and medieval perceptions of Virgil's poem theAeneidwhile exploring the importance of commentaries in shaping poetic composition, imitation, and the history of allegorical literature.The Medieval Classicconsiders how ancient and medieval commentaries on theAeneidby Servius, Fulgentius, Bernard Silvestris, and others can give us new insights into four twelfth-century Latin epics -- theYliasby Joseph of Exeter, theAlexandreisby Walter of Ch?tillon, theAnticlaudianusby Alan of Lille, and theArchitreniusby John of Hauville.Justin Haynes argues that the most profound connections between medieval epic and theAeneidhave been overlooked because ancient and medieval interpretations, as preserved by the commentary tradition, were often radically different from modern ones. By explaining how to interpret theAeneid, these commentaries directly influenced the way in which medieval authors were inspired by the poem. At the same time, these commentaries allow us a greater awareness of the generic expectations held by medieval readers.Because two of the medieval epics considered here are allegorical narratives, this book offers new perspectives on the importance of commentaries in the development of allegorical literature. Thus,The Medieval Classiccontributes to our understanding of ancient and medieval perceptions of theAeneidwhile exploring the importance of commentaries in shaping poetic composition, imitation, and the history of allegorical literature.IntroductionChapter 1: Allegorical MimesisChapter 2: The Anticlaudianus as Virgilian AllegoryChapter 3: The Architrenius as Virgilian AllegoryChapter 4: History in the Ylias and AlexandreisChapter 5: Myth in the Ylias and AlexandreisChapter 6: Blurring the Lines between History and AllegoryConclusionJustin A. Haynes is Assistant Professor of Clal7