Language, Self and Love: Hermeneutics in Richard Rolle and the Commentaries of the Song of Songs

Language, Self and Love offers a unique insight into the development of the language of interiority in the medieval literature inspired by the Song of Songs and its commentaries. It traces the evolution of a medieval identity in the process of self-fashioning and, in showing the importance of mystical writing for understanding medieval subjectivity, suggests that the 'self' is not the early modern invention it is often claimed to be. Denis Renevey discusses the correspondences between the discourse of love in the Song of Songs and the language of mysticism in the writings of William of St Thierry and Richard Rolle, where the self is described in its attempts at establishing a direct relationship with God. He also shows how the textual strategies offered in mystical writing for the use of female recipients engage with questions of misogyny and the relationship between Latin and vernacular cultures. Contents 8 Acknowledgements 10 Abbreviations 13 Introduction 14 PART ONE: Hermeneutics and Language of Love in the Twelfth Century 20 1 Language Theory in the Twelfth Century 22 2 Hermeneutics and Degrees of Love 35 3 Discovering the Self through Love in the Writings of William of St Thierry 54 PART TWO: Self and Tradition: Richard Rolle and the Commentary Tradition of the Song of Songs 74 Prologue 76 4 From Interpres to Auctor: New Contexts for the Vocabulary of Love 79 5 Love of God and Lovers of the World: Self and Audience in Contra amatores mundi 116 6 Hermeneutics and Degrees of Love in the Epistles 135 Afterword 164 Notes 168 Bibliography 225 Index 236 A 236 B 236 C 236 D 237 E 237 H 237 I 237 J 237 K 238 L 238 M 238 N 238 O 239 P 239 Q 239 R 239 S 240 T 240 U 240 V 240 W 240 Z 241 Hermeneutics And Language Of Love In The Twelfth Century : Language Theory In The Twelfth Century -- Hermeneutics And Degrees Of Love -- Discovering The Self Through Love In The Writings Of William Of St Thierry. Self And Tradition: Richard Rolle And The Commentary Tradition Of The Song Of Songs : From Interpres To Auctor: New Contextsa For The Vocabulary Of Love -- Love Of God And Lovers Of The World: Self And Audience In Contra Amatores Mundi -- Hermeneutics And Degrees Of Love In The Epistles. Denis Renevey. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [212]-222) And Index. Introduction Chapter 1 Richard of St Victor and language theory Chapter 2 Hermeneutics and degrees of love Chapter 3 Discovering the self through love Chapter 4 Rolle, misogyny and mysticism Chapter 5 Love of God and lovers of the world Chapter 6 Hermeneutics and degrees of love in the epistles Conclusion Bibliography Index Annotation. Astudiaeth hynod ddiddorol o gyfriniaeth ac ysbrydolrwydd mewn llenyddiaeth ganoloesol, yn benodol yng ngweithiau Richard Rolle a William St. Thierry, a'r modd y mae esboniadau ar y testun beiblaidd 'Cân y Caniadau' yn ceisio dehongli cariad rhwng Duw a'r unigolyn Explores the development of the language of interiority in the medieval literature. The book discusses the correspondences between the discourse of love in the Song of Songs and the language of mysticism in the writings of William of St Thierry and Richard Rolle.