The Baptized Muse: Early Christian Poetry as Cultural Authority

Synopsis

Part I. The Poetics Of Authority In Early Christian Poetry. Tradition An Innovation: The Transformation Of Classical Literary Genres In Christian Late Antiquity ; The Test Case Of Epic Poetry In Late Antiquity ; Reappropriation And Disavowal: Pagan And Christian Authorities In Cassiodorus And Venantius Fortunatus -- Part Ii. Christian Authority And Poetic Succession. Sex And Salvation In The Vergilian Cento Of The Fourth Century ; Versifiying Authoritative Prose: Poetical Paraphrases Of Eucherius Of Lyon By Venantius Fortunatus, Walafrid Strabo, And Sigebert Of Gemgloux ; Jesus Christ And Dionysus: Rewriting Euripides In The Byzantine Cento Christus Patiens -- Part Iii. Poetic Authority In Revalling Cultural And Theological Discourses. Culture As Curse Of Blessing? Prudentius And Avitus On The Origins Of Culture ; Christianity As Decadence Or Progress In Pseudo-hilary's Paraphrastic Verse Summary Of The History Of Salvation ; How Far Can Saithood Go? St. Martin Of Tours In Two Hagiographical Epics Of Late Antiquity -- Conclusion: Authority As A Key To Understanding Early Christian Poetry. Karla Pollmann. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 235-257) And Indexes. Some Chapters Originally Published In German.