John the Evangelist and medieval German writing
Subtitle: imitating the inimitable
By: Annette Volfing
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2001
Place of publication: Oxford; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 273
Subjects: John, -- the Apostle, Saint -- In literature; German literature -- Middle High German, 1050-1500; Spirituality -- History -- Middle Ages, 600-1500; Devotional literature
Other titles: John the Evangelist in medieval German writing : imitating the inimitable
Description: "The saint and visionary author John the Evangelist becomes the focus of spiritual and literary discussion in a great range of Middle High German writings, many of them not previously examined by scholars. These include not just sermons and devotional literature (sometimes aimed specifically at women in religious orders), but also narrative romance in verse and 'Meisterlieder', the metrically intricate didactic poetry of the later part of the period. Paying particular attention to the theme of 'imitatio' - the extent to which the saint is presented as a suitable role-model for different categories of reader - Annette Volfing reveals the considerable variations in the literary uses of John in different genres."

"The strength of the book depends partly on the fact that it draws attention to a body of largely unknown literary texts, and partly on the fact that its analysis involves the juxtaposition of genres normally considered in isolation. Above all, it provides a coherent overview of a theme of central importance to the history of Western spirituality."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [249]-266) and indexes