Women and sanctity : lives of the female saints written in English from Cynewulf to the Katherine Group
An important concern in these Lives is the conflict between the flesh and the spirit. Virginity in particular plays a central part. The first part of this study examines the background to these concerns. The discussion is based on works by the Fathers, particularly St Augustine, and by English writers (Bede, Aldhelm and Ălfric). Illustrations are taken from the Old English Lives. The following areas are covered: the disobedience of the flesh, of which sexual lust was one symptom; the Christian view of virginity as a means of recovering the obedience of the flesh and restoring the harmonious relationship between man and God lost by the fall; the qualities, physical and spiritual, required of a virgin; the powers attributed to virginity in the Lives of virgin saints. The last part of the section discusses the reasons for the greater emphasis given to virginity in women than in men, and examines the degree to which such reasons influenced the Lives produced in England before the Conquest. The second part consists of studies, in the light of the foregoing, of the following Old English Lives; Cynewulf's Juliana; Eugenia; Euphrosyne; Margaret; Mary of Egypt. Part three traces developments in spirituality and changes
Roy, Gopa
Philosophy
Women and sanctity : lives of the female saints written in English from Cynewulf to the Katherine Group. An important concern in these Lives is the conflict between the flesh and the spirit. Virginity in particular plays a central part. The first part of this study examines the background to these concerns. The discussion is based on works by the Fathers, particularly St Augustine, and by English writers (Bede, Aldhelm and Ălfric). Illustrations are taken from the Old English Lives. The following areas are covered: the disobedience of the flesh, of which sexual lust was one symptom; the Christian view of virginity as a means of recovering the obedience of the flesh and restoring the harmonious relationship between man and God lost by the fall; the qualities, physical and spiritual, required of a virgin; the powers attributed to virginity in the Lives of virgin saints. The last part of the section discusses the reasons for the greater emphasis given to virginity in women than in men, and examines the degree to which such reasons influenced the Lives produced in England before the Conquest. The second part consists of studies, in the light of the foregoing, of the following Old English Lives; Cynewulf's Juliana; Eugenia; Euphrosyne; Margaret; Mary of Egypt. Part three traces developments in spirituality and changes
women sanctity life female saint write_english group important concern lives conflict flesh spirit particular play central part first_part study examine background concern discussion base work fathers particularly augustine english writer bede take old_english lives follow area_cover flesh sexual symptom christian view mean recover obedience flesh restore harmonious relationship man god lose fall quality physical spiritual required virgin power attribute lives virgin saint last_part section_discuss reason great_emphasis give woman_men examines degree reason influence lives produce england conquest second_part consist study light follow old_english lives mary egypt part_three trace developments spirituality change