Hermits, hagiography, and popular culture : a comparative study of Durham Cathedral Priory's hermits in the twelfth century
This thesis investigates the social and religious roles of two twelfth-century hermits connected to Durham Cathedral Priory, Godric of Finchale and Bartholomew of Farne, within the general context of twelfth-century western European eremiticism. Chapter One is a general discussion of the historiography of eleventh and twelfth-century hermits, and introduces the main hagiographic materials to be discussed. Chapter Two discusses the context of monasticism and eremiticism in northern England, and analyses the Vitae of Gothic and Bartholomew, particularly in terms of the problem of authority and asceticism. Chapter Three begins the discussion of the miracle cults at Farne and Finchale, raising the problem of popular interest in hermits and holy sites. Chapter Four continues this discussion by considering the large group of animal miracles at Farne and Finchale. Through comparison with the hagiographic tradition of such stories from their inception in Late Antiquity to the twelfth century, the chapter considers the relationship between popular and educated clerical elements in the Durham stories. Chapter Five considers the hagiographic theme of the eremitical diet, and the hermit in the wilderness, mainly through
Alexander, Dominic David
History
Hermits, hagiography, and popular culture : a comparative study of Durham Cathedral Priory's hermits in the twelfth century. This thesis investigates the social and religious roles of two twelfth-century hermits connected to Durham Cathedral Priory, Godric of Finchale and Bartholomew of Farne, within the general context of twelfth-century western European eremiticism. Chapter One is a general discussion of the historiography of eleventh and twelfth-century hermits, and introduces the main hagiographic materials to be discussed. Chapter Two discusses the context of monasticism and eremiticism in northern England, and analyses the Vitae of Gothic and Bartholomew, particularly in terms of the problem of authority and asceticism. Chapter Three begins the discussion of the miracle cults at Farne and Finchale, raising the problem of popular interest in hermits and holy sites. Chapter Four continues this discussion by considering the large group of animal miracles at Farne and Finchale. Through comparison with the hagiographic tradition of such stories from their inception in Late Antiquity to the twelfth century, the chapter considers the relationship between popular and educated clerical elements in the Durham stories. Chapter Five considers the hagiographic theme of the eremitical diet, and the hermit in the wilderness, mainly through
hagiography popular_culture comparative_study durham cathedral priory investigate social_religious role twelfth_century hermit connect durham cathedral priory within general_context twelfth_century western_european general_discussion historiography eleventh twelfth_century hermit introduces main material discuss two_discus context monasticism northern_england analyse vitae particularly term problem authority asceticism begin_discussion miracle cult raise_problem popular interest hermit holy site continue discussion consider large_group animal miracle comparison tradition story inception late_antiquity considers_relationship popular educate clerical element durham story five_considers theme diet hermit wilderness mainly