Date of Award
8-1997
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Medieval Studies
First Advisor
Dr. Otto Grundler
Second Advisor
Timothy C. Graham
Third Advisor
Paul A. Johnston Jr.
Fourth Advisor
Thomas N. Hall
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
The Old English prose homily on the phoenix, which is found in two manuscripts, Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 198 (eleventh century), and London, British Library, MS Cotton Vespasian D. xiv (twelfth century), is the subject of this thesis. The study addresses the homily's imagery, sources, and context.
Comparison of the homily with two of its closest analogues, the Old English verse Phoenix and its source, the Latin De ave phoenice attributed to Lactantius, reveals that, in spite of similarities, the homily was based upon neither; its source likely was an overtly Christian Latin text unknown to us today. In addition, there are interesting points of coincidence between the homily and the Greek Apocalypse of Baruch.
Evidence suggests that the homily was intended to be preached to a general, rather than a monastic, audience, perhaps on an occasion such as St. John's (Midsummer) Eve, June 23, or perhaps on various occasions, as needed.
Of special interest is a list of sins found in a conclusion added only to the CCCC 198 version of the homily. The author sets out to list eight principal sins but actually names eleven, including poisoning. The selection of sins suggests the influence of penitential texts.
Recommended Citation
Relf Hanavan, Patricia Relf, "The Old English Prose Homily on the Phoenix" (1997). Masters Theses. 3630.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/3630