Hrotsvitha

=﻿Hrotsvit=

Hrotsvit was born into the German nobility and later became a canoness at the Benedictine Abbey of Gandersheim. Her work shows familiarity, not only with the Church fathers, but also with Classical poetry, including Virgil, Horace, Ovid, Plautus and Terence (on whom her own verse was modelled). Several of her plays draw on the so-called apocryphal gospels. Her works form part of the Ottonian Renaissance. Hrotsvit studied under Gerberg, daughter of Henry the Fowler. Gerberg's brother Otto penned a history that became one of Hrotsvit's poetical subjects, in her Carmen de Gestis Oddonis Imperatoris, which encompasses the period up to the coronation of Emperor Otto I in 962. Hrotsvit believed Otto had an affinity for Italy because of romances which are set there such as the story of Geoffrey Rudel. Pilgrims returned commending the troubled Queen Adelheid. Hrotsvit penned a number of legends in verse. Two of these are St. Gingulphus and Theophilus. The story of Theophilus was one of the most popular written in any language. It describes how the young archdeacon was disappointed about his promotion. He consults a Jewish sorcerer and is taken to a meeting of devils. Theophilus renounces God in a written document, then repents. He is rescued by the Virgin Mary. Hrotsvit supplements the story with her description of Theophilus in The Seven Arts:- De sophiae rivis septeno fonte manantis. The most well known and original of the works of Hrotsvit is her imitation of Terence. It was written in prose as six comedies. She writes in her preface that her writing will appeal to many who are attracted by the charm of style. The comedies of Hrotsvit took the place of Terence in the studies of Gandersheim. Her themes remained love stories. Among them include Gallicanus, Dulcitius, Callimachus, Abraham, Paphnutius, and Sapientia. The reader will note Dulcitius being stricken with illusion, embracing the pots and kettles in the kitchen. In the meantime three lovely maidens, Agape, Chionia, and Irene, are rescued from his villainy. **Works of Hrotsvitha** //Ascensio// //Gangolf// //Pelagius// //Theophilus (a Devil's pact-Legend)// //Basilius// //Dionysius// //Agnes// //Maria// //Gallicanus// //Dulcitius// //Callimachus// //Abraham// //Pafnutius// //Sapientia// **LINKS** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hrotsvitha **[]**