The Farced Epistle as Dramatic Form in the Twelfth Century Renaissance
Ethel Dunn
The Farced Epistle as Dramatic Form in the Twelfth Century Renaissance E. Catherine Dunn seminal book twentieth-century medieval studies was Charles Homer Haskins' ofthe Century.1 It a major challenge to cataclysmic theory of history that had underlain terms 'medieval' and 'Renaissance' renowned study Italian quattrocento Jakob Burckhardt written 1 860, dominated field European historical scholarship for nearly seventy years.2 In place Burckhardtian view sudden violent break with Middle Ages, Haskins offered French renaissance twelfth thirteenth centuries Classical Latin basis culture ancient Rome turn provided groundwork larger more dynamic renewal intellectual artistic life fifteenth century Italy. work served catalyst American movement developed 1940's History Ideas—a immensely influential here decades.3 1977, fifty years after appearance book, Harvard University sponsored symposium celebrating attainment ofthis anniversary reconsidering his achievement light scholarly completed during five decades 1927. essays published 1982 affirmed central thesis volume, resting high on Classicism Rome. However , these tended, almost spite oftheir announced position reassess this classicism non-Roman phenomenon. seems papers again were expressing an uneasiness boundaries perspective, limited academic law, philosophy, science therefore inadequate creative flowering imaginative literature endeavor. achievements slighted by him included Provençal troubadour lyrics, northern 363 364Comparative Drama romances, liturgical paraliturgical drama.4 Parallel implicit challenges there have been direct attacks Erwin Panofsky, Maria Menocal, others. who wrote various articles topic, produced monograph 1960, Renascences Western Art,5 which he viewed twelfth-century gathering bits pieces from classical antiquity (a salvaging flotsam jetsam) without grasp Roman or Graeco-Roman holistic concept . Panofsky's itself suffer limitation its perspective graphic art thus fail account vernacular literature. decade following another approach problem asserted Semitic center learning—i.e., Arabic Jewish translating adapting Greek rather than texts natural sciences.6 scope whole debate is overwhelming breadth complexity. Nevertheless, I would like offer about one genre literary musical composition may throw nature renaissance. am drawing upon some previous theories but complementing expanding them. My interest little-known activity monastic cathedral liturgies reveal features tradition way different those observed Haskins. This writing "farced epistles"—i.e., troped lections—as last phase great troping movement. originated Carolingian era came new prominence farced epistle composition, adorning readings Matins Mass particularly dramatic way.7 lections be paradigmatic other activities well. advisable consider term "renaissance," even though favored it title text. editors symposium, Robert Benson Giles Constable, preferred renovatio, they attribute...
Comparative Drama