Course DescriptionTexts
Course Requirements
Written Assignments
Web links
Schedule:
September
October
November
December
Office Hours: Tuesday 11:00-12:00; Wednesday 1:00-2:30
745 Commonwealth Ave.
Room 641
(617) 358-0186
dklepper@bu.edu
Course Description
Texts
Course Requirements
Written Assignments
Web links
Schedule:
September
October
November
December
Course Description: The Bible was of such importance to medieval Europeans that scarcely any aspect of life remained untouched by its influence. Turning to primary source readings as well as modern scholarship, this course will consider the place of Sacred Scripture in medieval European religion and culture. Subjects to explore will include: varieties of Biblical exegesis; learned and lay interaction with the text; issues of control and dissent, including the emergence of vernacular (non-Latin) Bibles and vernacular theology in Latin Christendom; Christian, Jewish and Muslim debate; and Biblical motifs and imagery in literature, drama, art, and political thought.
Required Texts:
The Bible. Depending on long-term interests, students should choose from
the Oxford Study Bible (general Christian NRSV), JPS edition of the Tanakh
( Jewish Scripture: this would obviously need to be supplemented with a print
or on line version of the Christian Bible. also available on
line), or the Douay-Rheims translation of the Vulgate Version (for students
interested in further medieval studies; also available online)
G. Dahan, The Christian Polemic against the Jews in the Middle Ages
C. W. Hollister, Medieval Europe: A Short History
William Langland, Piers Plowman: A new translation of the B-text, tr.
A.V.C. Schmidt
Lesley Smith, Medieval Exegesis in Translation: Medieval Commentaries on
the Book of Ruth
R.N. Swanson, Religious Devotion in Medieval Europe 1215-1515
D. Turner, Eros and Allegory: Medieval Exegesis of the Song of Songs
Recommended Reference: G. W. H. Lampe,
ed., Cambridge History of the Bible, vol. 2. The West from the Fathers to
the Reformation [abbreviated as CHB below]
Also: A set of readings available in a digital coursepack, a set of readings on reserve in the School of Theology Library, and a number of internet documents linked to the syllabus.
Please bring all reading materials to class on the day(s) they are assigned.
Course Requirements: All reading is to be completed before the class for which it is assigned. Students are expected to attend and participate in every class. Written work will include a midterm, two four to five page papers based on the regular course readings, and a final exam. The grading for the course will be as follows: 10 % for class participation, 20% for the midterm, 20% for each of the two papers, and 30% for the final exam. Please note that students must complete all written work in order to receive a passing grade for the class.
Graduate Students: Graduate students will
also be responsible for a supplemental reading list, as indicated below. In
lieu of the the mid-term and final exam, graduate students will write one 15-20
page essay on a subject chosen in consultation with the professor and will make
an oral presentation to the class on their subject. Graduate students will also
have a weekly discussion meeting outside of the regular class hours.
Plagiarism Policy
Important note for all students: Many of
the course readings make frequent references to passages from the Bible. Medieval
scholars knew the Bible by heart, and one or two words from a passage could
bring an entire narrative before them. As many of us don't possess the same
kind of knowledge of the text, students should do their reading with a copy
of the Bible at hand (or the computer version nearby); class lecture and discussion
will assume a familiarity with all passages cited in the readings.
Written Assignments
Paper I
Paper II
Final Paper Guidelines for Graduate and Theology Students
Web Links:
Douay-Rheims translation
of the Vulgate Bible
Tanakh
Search multiple versions of the Christian Bible, including the medieval Vulgate,
the King James Version, RSV, and more with Bible Browser (Brown University)
The Ecole Chronology
Project is extremely useful for sorting out historical context
Jim O'Donnell's Augustine
Page is a must-visit: valuable information and further reading for all levels,
and entertaining as well!
Jay Treat's Internet Resources
for the Study of Judaism and Christianity (U Penn)
Professor Eliezer Segal maintains a helpful introduction to the Mikra'ot Gedolot
(Rabbinic Bible) at Calgary University in Canada
Professor Felix Just, SJ has a very helpful glossary
for NT studies which is largely applicable to Bible studies in general
Catholic Encyclopedia
On Line for medieval Church and Christianity
Medieval On line Reference Book Guide to Medieval
Terms [this is a fairly large file -146 kb]
Labyrinth web guide to medieval studies
The Lollard Society maintains a site with much
information on Lollardy, English Bibles, and the controversy over vernacular
access to Scripture
View the
Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Library of Congress
When cynicism sets in, be sure to consult Prof. Frans van Liere's response to
the question, "Was the Medieval
Church Corrupt?"
Tuesday, September 4 Introduction
Thursday, September 6 In the Beginning: Establishing Sacred Text
Reading: J. Bowley, "A Library of Tradition: The Beginnings of the Bible," Living Traditions of the Bible, 7-33 [coursepack]
Tuesday, September 11 The Medieval World: A Crash Course
Readings: E. Barnavi, Historical Atlas of the Jewish People, pp. 56-57; 62-63 68-69; 78-79; 98-113; C. Warren Hollister, Medieval Europe, A Short History, pp. 56-74; 156-224; 272-314 [coursepack]
Additional Graduate Reading: J. Van Engen, "The Christian Middle Ages as an Historiographical Problem," American Historical Review 91 (1986), 519-52 (access on line via JSTOR)
Thursday, September 13 Jerome and the Latin Bible
Readings: CHB, 80-101; Jerome, On the Best Method of Translating; Preface to the Four Gospels and Preface to the Book of Job
Tuesday, September 18 [Virtual Class] The Augustinian Legacy: Letter and Spirit
Readings: CHB,155-183; St. Augustine, "On Christian Doctrine," Preface and Book II
Additional Graduate Reading: St. Augustine, "Confessions." If you already know the "Confessions" well, you should go on and read the introduction and first chapter of Brian Stock, After Augustine. The Meditative Reader and the Text. [reserve]
Thursday,
September 20 The Bible in Monastic Culture: Lectio Divina
Readings: CHB, 183-197; J. LeClercq, OSB, The Love of Learning and the Desire for God, 11-24; 71-88 [reserve]; William of St. Thierry on Lectio Divina ; St. Gregory the Great, Moralia in Job.
Tuesday, September 25 The Bible in the Schools
Readings: CHB, 197-220; Hugh of St. Victor, The Didascalicon of Hugh of St. Victor,, Jerome Taylor, trans., 43-45; 121-151 [coursepack] List of theological books at Paris, 1271
Additional Graduate Reading: B. Smalley, The Study of the Bible in the Middle Ages [reserve]
Thursday, September 27 [Virtual Class] The Bible in the Yeshivot (Jewish Academies)
Tuesday, October 2 Exegetical Methods: The Four Senses of Scripture and PARDES NO CLASS but do the readings as I will presume you have read them when we come back together on October 4th. If you have questions or comments about the material, post them on the class discussion board.Readings: CHB, 252-279, E. Kanarfogel, Jewish Education and Society in the High Middle Ages, 66-85; M. Saperstein, ed., Jewish Preaching 1200-1800. An Anthology, 111-123; J. Marcus, The Jew in the Medieval World, 374-78 [coursepack]
Readings:: D. Turner, Eros and Allegory: Medieval Exegesis of the Song of Songs, 341-355 [class handout]; excerpts from Michael Signer, How the Bible Has been interpreted in Jewish Tradition; "Song of Songs," JPS and Douai-Rheims translations of the text (also known as "Song of Solomon" or "Canticle of Canticles" in some Bibles)
Additional Graduate Reading: D. Turner, Eros and Allegory: Medieval Exegesis of the Song of Songs, 17-45 ; F. Talmage, "Apples of Gold: The Inner Meaning of Sacred Texts in Medieval Judaism," Jewish Spirituality I, 313-355 [reserve]
Thursday, October 4 Allegorical Reading of the Text--The Song of Songs
Readings: Bernard of Clairvaux, Excerpts from Sermon on the Song of Songs; Hadewijch of Brabant, "Poems in Stanzas" [class handout] Richard of St. Victor, "On the Four Degrees of Passionate Charity;" [class handout] ; D. Matt, ed., trans., Zohar: The Book of Enlightenment , 43-45 [coursepack]; Midrash Rabah on the Song's "ointments"; Zohar on "the kiss;" Bernard of Clairvaux on "the kiss"
Tuesday, October 9 NO CLASS: MONDAY CLASS SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 11 Literal-Historical Bible Exegesis I
Readings: Rashi, Commentary on Genesis Chapter 1: 1-19 [class handout]
Tuesday, October 16 Literal-Historical Bible Exegesis II
Readings: L. Smith, Medieval Exegesis in Translation: Medieval Commentaries on the Book of Ruth, pp.ix-xxi; 1-5; 11-30; 41-45; 57-67; D. Turner, Eros and Allegory, 381-409 [class handout-this is Nicholas of Lyra on the Song of Songs]
Thursday, October 18 Jews and Christians: Exegesis and Interaction
Readings: H. Hailperin, Rashi and the Christian Scholars, 103-134 [coursepack]
Additional Graduate Reading: A. Grabois, "The Hebraica Veritas and Jewish-Christian Intellectual Relations in the Twelfth Century" Speculum 50 (1975), 613-634 (access on line via JSTOR)
midterm due
Tuesday, October 23 Jews, Christians, and Muslims: Exegesis and Polemic
Readings:: G. Dahan, The Christian Polemic against the Jews in the Middle Ages; H. Lazarus-Yafeh, Intertwined Worlds, 3-49 [reserve]; Gilbert Crispin, Disputation of a Jew with a Christian about the Christian Faith (11th. century)
FILM: THE DISPUTATION
Thursday, October 25 Mirroring the Text: The Bible as Political and Social Model
Readings: B. Tierney, The Crisis of Church and State 1050-1300, 33-42 [coursepack]; II Maccabees ; Talmud on Martyrdom and martyrs; First Crusade Martyrs
Additional Graduate Reading: E. Kantorowicz, The King’s Two Bodies, pp. 42-86 [excerpt on reserve]
Tuesday, October 30 Prophecy and Visions of the End
Readings: NT, The Apocalypse of St. John (Revelation); B. McGinn, ed., trans., "Joachim of Fiore," Apocalyptic Spirituality, 97-148 [reserve]
Additional Graduate Reading: Robert Lerner, "Ecstatic Dissent," Speculum Vol. 67 (January 1992) 33-57 (access on line via JSTOR)
Thursday, November 1 Visions of the End and Historicizing the Present
Readings:: Thomas of Celano, Two Lives of St. Francis; B. McGinn, ed., trans., "Franciscan Spirituals," Apocalyptic Spirituality, 149-181 [reserve]; Peter Olivi's Apocalypse Commentary; also look at Giotto's Images from the Upper Church at Assisi;
Tuesday, November 6 Lay Piety, Vernacular Bibles and Vernacular Theology in Latin Christendom
Readings: CHB, 362-387; Swanson, Religious Devotion, intro and chapter 2; B. McGinn, "Meister Eckhart and the Beguines in the Context of Vernacular Theology," Meister Eckhart and the Beguine Mystics, B. McGinn, ed., 1-14 [coursepack]
Thursday, November 8 Vernacular Bibles, Lay Piety and Heresy in Latin Christendom
Readings: CHB, 362-415;Swanson, Religious Devotion, chapter 3; E. Peters, ed., Heresy and Authority in Medieval Europe, 139-163 [coursepack]; The Conversion of Waldo; Condemnation of the Lollards, 1382
Additional Graduate Reading: P. Biller and A. Hudson, eds., Heresy and Literacy, 1000-1530 [reserve]
Tuesday, November 13 Visualizing the Narrative: The Bible in Medieval Art
Readings: CHB, 280-337; Margot Fassler, "Liturgy and Sacred History in the 12th c. Tympana at Chartres" Art Bulletin 75 (1993), 499-520 [coursepack]; Images of Chartres Cathedral
Thursday, November 15 Visualizing the Narrative: The Bible in Medieval Art
Readings:: J. Gutmann, Hebrew Manuscript Painting, 8-33
[reserve]
Central European University's Medieval Manuscript Manual
Class meets at The Boston Public Library Rare Book Room, Copley SquareTuesday, November 20 Biblical Text in the Public Forum: Sermons
Readings: F. Mormando, The Preacher's Demons: Bernardino of Siena and the Social Underworld of Early Renaissance Italy, 1-40; M. Saperstein, Jewish Preaching 1200-1800: An Anthology, 137-155 [coursepack]
Additional Graduate Reading: K. Jansen,, The Making of the Magdalen: Preaching and Popular Devotion in the Later Middle Ages [reserve]
Thursday, November 22 NO CLASS
Tuesday, November 27 Enacting the Text: The Bible in Medieval Drama
Readings:: R. Beadle, and P. King, eds., York Mystery Plays: a selection in modern spelling, ix-xxx; 8-14; 48-58; 223-250; 267-279 [reserve]
View fantastic images from a 14th-century manuscript of the French mystery play, "The Day of Judgement"Additional Graduate Reading: C. Davidson, From Creation to Doom: the York Cycle of Mystery Plays [reserve]
FILM: YORK MYSTERY PLAYS: THE ANNUNCIATION AND JOSEPH'S TROUBLE ABOUT MARY; THE CRUCIFIXION
Thursday, November 29The Bible and Vernacular Literature I
Readings:: Swanson, Religious Devotion, chapter 6; P. Hawkins, Dante's Testaments, 19-53; Dante Alighieri, Inferno--Cantos 1 and 19 [reserve]; Background on Dante
Tuesday, December 4 The Bible and Vernacular Literature II
Readings:: William Langland, Piers the Plowman
Thursday, December 6 The Bible and Vernacular Literature II
Readings: William Langland, Piers the Plowman
Tuesday, December 11 Final Session: Putting Things Together: The Bible and Medieval Society
Wednesday, December 12 - Thursday, December 13 Study Period
Friday, December 14 FINAL PAPERS DUE