Medieval Manifestations

Below is a recording of an abbreviated MPhil Thesis presentation by Karen Olivier, MPhil '14. Medieval Manifestations was originally presented as a WESeminar over Family Weekend, 2014.

Language, Emotion, and Literature in the Middle Ages

The romances and chansons de geste of twelfth-century France are an emotionally rich genre of literature. Medieval authors, inspired by Classical authors such as Ovid, incorporated the physical manifestations of emotion into their works. This helped their audiences navigate the complex world of feelings as tales of courtly love gained popularity not only as a form of literature, but also as a guide to aristocratic behavior. In this way, authors attempted to show their listeners and readers how they might feel given a specific situation, how they might recognize the emotional state of others, and finally, how they might then respond themselves.

Presenter: Karen Olivier, MPhil '14