Classical Gods?

lesserbeing

I am writing a research paper on the influences of the Classical societies on Medieval literature. I was wondering if anyone here had any kind of recommendation on resources I could use. (Currently, I am heavily utilizing the Jstor and ILL reference capabilities of my university, but I am always looking for more). Specific titles and journals would be fantastic. Also, if anyone has any recommendations on an interesting angle to take on Roman, Greek, or Medieval societies. I am all ears.

saggio

lesserbeing wrote: »

I am writing a research paper on the influences of the Classical societies on Medieval literature. I was wondering if anyone here had any kind of recommendation on resources I could use. (Currently, I am heavily utilizing the Jstor and ILL reference capabilities of my university, but I am always looking for more). Specific titles and journals would be fantastic. Also, if anyone has any recommendations on an interesting angle to take on Roman, Greek, or Medieval societies. I am all ears.

Are you using any primary sources?

If so, you may want to look at some of the great Greek literature and philosophy (Plato, Aristotle, Aristophanes, Homer, Hesiod, etc) and some of their mentions or commentaries in medieval texts (Aquinas, Anselm). I seem to remember Chaucer making reference to Virgil and Horace, for instance.

Hedgethorn

Another primary source to look at is Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy. It's probably the most widely read work in the Middle Ages, apart from the Christian Bible (at the very least, I'm almost positive it's the most widely transmitted work). Though written by a Christian, there are no obvious references to uniquely Christian doctrines; the near-divine main character of the work has more in common with Athena/Minerva than any obvious Christian source.

lesserbeing

I actually just narrowed it down to influences on Cycle, Miracle, and Mystery Drama. It is better this way. But yeah thanks for reminding me of Boethius this is like my missing link. Shit just saved me a lot of time.

saggio

I just remembered, you are going to want to read Poetics by Aristotle. It's a treatise on narrative and most medieval writers (and classical writers) follow it to a T.

lesserbeing

Haha! Beat you to the punch on that one! But still... thanks.

Ed:
Hey, I am interested on the Greek and Roman views on Humor. Do you guys have any recommendations on that front?

TychoCelchuuu

Aristophanes, and of course Aristotle, who had something to think about everything.

BobCesca

If you're looking at humour, might be worth thinking about New Comedy, which was probably more influential than Aristophanes (remember that the reading of Greek was often sporadic at best, and often Greek authors were read from a Latin translation [sometimes translated from arabic]).

So yeah, might be worth looking at some Menander, Plautus and Terence. Catullus, Ovid, Juvenal, Horace, and Martial are the main Roman poetic humourists/satirists that might also be worth looking at.