Mourning Beatrice: The Rhetoric of Threnody in the Vita nuova
Ronald L. Martínez
Mourning Beatrice: The Rhetoric of Threnody in the Vita nuova Ronald Martinez Charles Singleton emphasized for readers Dante’s prominence codicological metaphors (incipits, rubrics, paragraphs) transcription from “book memory” that is substance work, and characterization author as scribe such imply. 1 Subsequent critics have proposed various books might furnished models mix prose, verse, text analysis makes up libello, Bible to Boethius’ Consolatio philosophiae, 2 some cases identified precise exemplars division poems book, 3 by means which Dante extends authorial function a commentator [End Page 1] or expounder his own work. 4 At present time, importance, indeed necessity, situating specific context scholastic reading commentary, general late medieval understanding articulation may be taken demonstrated. Among this wealth material, only sporadic attention has been paid Biblical book draws on most explicitly nuova, Lamentations Jeremiah, Threni. 5 This relative neglect surprising contains prominent episodes formal mourning: an anonymous lady early Beatrice’s father, Beatrice—indeed, mourning one Duecento social rituals libello records fully. Yet extent lyrics draw topics funeral plaint (planctus, planh) common troubadours Italian vernacular poets understated editors, especially recently. 6 In paper, I propose Threni model intertext illuminates depth, breadth, detail commensurate with reliance throughout career writer. 7 milieu, however, scriptural 2] meant consultation glosses commentaries. Threni, like many other books, enjoyed rich tradition commentaries Carolingians Scholastics. 8 Several points about reception commentary are usefully established before discussing use nuova: poetic rhetorical treasury; its simultaneously lamenting both individual city; audience “pilgrims strangers” (Heb. 11.13); implicit dialectic lament future rejoicing underlies book. understands collection laments prophet Jeremiah describing destruction Jerusalem 586 BC Nebuchadnezzar. 9 written several metres (“metrice scriptae”) lamentative mode, additional ornament Hebrew alphabetic acrostic, preserved Latin versions, first four books. Beginning humanist revival 12th century, manner was remarked. Gilbert Universal (incorporated into Glossa ordinaria), thereafter principal commentaries, passages complaint invective were tabulated loci conquestionis 3] indignationis. 10 For Ciceronian manuals shaped rhetoric 13th centuries, these served amplify conclusion oration, when pity outrage forensic profitably excited advocate. 11 Moreover, tradition, application frequently involves recourse apostrophe, spoken fictive entity includes prosopopea, personification—figures also listed rhetoricians suited discursive amplificatio. 12 conspicuous apostrophe combined locus offered prosopoeic figure widowed (vidua), who enters scene 1.11–12, speaks verse paraphrased “O vos omnes qui transitis, attendite et videte, si est dolor sicut meus.” Threni...
Modern Language Notes