Date of Award
8-1996
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Medieval Studies
First Advisor
Dr. Rand Johnson
Second Advisor
Dr. Thomas Hall
Third Advisor
Dr. E. Rozanne Elder
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Campus Only
Abstract
Two, anonymous, pre-tenth-century, nativity sermons, Sermons 14 and 21, contained in the Chicago Newberry Library's Homiliarium (MS 1 in their collection) are the final two sermons in that homiliary which remain unidentified. The identification of the two sermons ( attribution, providence, and date) was then the focus of this study.
The process of identifying the works was separated into several disciplines. I chose to focus on palaeographical elements, language, and textual criticism, as well as comparison of my data with that of the few scholars who have worked with the collection as a whole. I also prepared what for now may be called preliminary "critical" latin editions of the two sermons. Neither sermon has been published before and few copies of each exist in original manuscripts.
There is more work to be done on this study, but a solid foundation has been formed, as well as a firm point from which to begin studies on the collection as a whole. The sermons do appear to have been copied in the ninth century, in southwestern France (quite possibly at Moissac). While attribution is still questionable, Sermon 14 has Pseudo-Isidorian elements; Sermon 21 may be an augustinian cento.
Recommended Citation
Martin, Michael Thomas, "Two Anonymous Pre-Tenth Century Nativity Sermons" (1996). Masters Theses. 3736.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/3736