Comment peut-on déterminer la popularité d'un texte au Moyen Âge? L'exemple des oeuvres classiques latines
This paper discusses the possibilities and ways of determining the impact of classical Latin literature in the Middle Ages, taking as an example the four centuries from the ninth to the twelfth and using the four most relevant parameters: the literary influence, the explicit statements, the holdings...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | deu |
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University of Milan
2017-06-01
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| Series: | Interfaces: A Journal of Medieval European Literatures |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://riviste.unimi.it/interfaces/article/view/7591 |
| _version_ | 1818277910580035584 |
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| author | Birger Munk Olsen |
| author_facet | Birger Munk Olsen |
| author_sort | Birger Munk Olsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper discusses the possibilities and ways of determining the impact of classical Latin literature in the Middle Ages, taking as an example the four centuries from the ninth to the twelfth and using the four most relevant parameters: the literary influence, the explicit statements, the holdings of libraries, and the production of manuscripts. As for the influence, imitation is by far the most significant criterion, whereas quotations may often be second hand, and reminiscences fortuitous. Library catalogues, though rather rare for our period, can give useful information on the characteristics of the holdings at different periods of time. It is impossible to know if the books mentioned were actually read, but if the additions to the lists of holdings are correctly dated, the added information show which new texts were considered indispensable at a given moment. Finally, if certain precautions are taken in interpreting the numbers, the extant manuscripts and fragments allow us partly to identify the most widely diffused texts for the whole period, partly to follow the evolution of the grammar curriculum and to determine for each of the four centuries the popularity of the works that were not read in the schools. A comparison between the data from the catalogues and those from the manuscripts shows many disparities, especially for most of the Ovidian poems and for short texts, which easily disappear when they are not bound with other works. As a result, it is after all the surviving manuscripts that appear to constitute the most reliable approach for measuring the popularity of a given text. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T23:09:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9c36ff370f704a99a4f16521922d71f6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2421-5503 |
| language | deu |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T23:09:03Z |
| publishDate | 2017-06-01 |
| publisher | University of Milan |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Interfaces: A Journal of Medieval European Literatures |
| spelling | doaj.art-9c36ff370f704a99a4f16521922d71f62022-12-22T00:08:38ZdeuUniversity of MilanInterfaces: A Journal of Medieval European Literatures2421-55032017-06-0103132710.13130/interfaces-75916752Comment peut-on déterminer la popularité d'un texte au Moyen Âge? L'exemple des oeuvres classiques latinesBirger Munk Olsen0University of CopenhagenThis paper discusses the possibilities and ways of determining the impact of classical Latin literature in the Middle Ages, taking as an example the four centuries from the ninth to the twelfth and using the four most relevant parameters: the literary influence, the explicit statements, the holdings of libraries, and the production of manuscripts. As for the influence, imitation is by far the most significant criterion, whereas quotations may often be second hand, and reminiscences fortuitous. Library catalogues, though rather rare for our period, can give useful information on the characteristics of the holdings at different periods of time. It is impossible to know if the books mentioned were actually read, but if the additions to the lists of holdings are correctly dated, the added information show which new texts were considered indispensable at a given moment. Finally, if certain precautions are taken in interpreting the numbers, the extant manuscripts and fragments allow us partly to identify the most widely diffused texts for the whole period, partly to follow the evolution of the grammar curriculum and to determine for each of the four centuries the popularity of the works that were not read in the schools. A comparison between the data from the catalogues and those from the manuscripts shows many disparities, especially for most of the Ovidian poems and for short texts, which easily disappear when they are not bound with other works. As a result, it is after all the surviving manuscripts that appear to constitute the most reliable approach for measuring the popularity of a given text.http://riviste.unimi.it/interfaces/article/view/7591classical manuscriptsgrammar curriculum in the Middle Agesinfluence of classical literaturemedieval librariesreception of classical Latin literatureVirgilHoraceOvid |
| spellingShingle | Birger Munk Olsen Comment peut-on déterminer la popularité d'un texte au Moyen Âge? L'exemple des oeuvres classiques latines Interfaces: A Journal of Medieval European Literatures classical manuscripts grammar curriculum in the Middle Ages influence of classical literature medieval libraries reception of classical Latin literature Virgil Horace Ovid |
| title | Comment peut-on déterminer la popularité d'un texte au Moyen Âge? L'exemple des oeuvres classiques latines |
| title_full | Comment peut-on déterminer la popularité d'un texte au Moyen Âge? L'exemple des oeuvres classiques latines |
| title_fullStr | Comment peut-on déterminer la popularité d'un texte au Moyen Âge? L'exemple des oeuvres classiques latines |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comment peut-on déterminer la popularité d'un texte au Moyen Âge? L'exemple des oeuvres classiques latines |
| title_short | Comment peut-on déterminer la popularité d'un texte au Moyen Âge? L'exemple des oeuvres classiques latines |
| title_sort | comment peut on determiner la popularite d un texte au moyen age l exemple des oeuvres classiques latines |
| topic | classical manuscripts grammar curriculum in the Middle Ages influence of classical literature medieval libraries reception of classical Latin literature Virgil Horace Ovid |
| url | http://riviste.unimi.it/interfaces/article/view/7591 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT birgermunkolsen commentpeutondeterminerlapopulariteduntexteaumoyenagelexempledesoeuvresclassiqueslatines |