HROTSVIT |
Hrotsvit of Gandersheim lived from 935 C.E. to 1000 C.E. in Saxony (a region in northern Germany). In addition to the spelling of her name you see here, you may also see her referred to as "Roswitha," "Hrotswitha," or "Hrotsvitha."
Hrotsvit lived as a canoness in the convent in Gandersheim. As a canoness, she took neither vows of chastity nor of poverty and most likely enjoyed greater freedom than nuns who had taken more strict vows. The convent at Gandersheim was founded by the Ottonian royal family which ruled Saxony from 919-1024. In fact, two of Hrotsvit's poems are epics that celebrate the achievements of the Ottonians and its role in founding and endowing of the convent where Hrotsvit lived. The titles of these poems are the Gesta Ottonis and Primordia Coenobii Gandeshemensis.
In addition to her epic poems, Hrotsvit wrote eight legends depicting the lives of Christian saints and six dramas that also focus on Christian themes. All of her works are in Latin. In fact, her knowledge of Latin and references to classical authors attest to the literacy and education of at least some women in this period and to their access to ancient literary texts.
Today, Hrotsvit is one of the earliest European playwrights, is best known for her
plays. These focus on female characters in situations that test their devotion to
Christian virtues. Hrotsvit also wrote prefaces that introduce each group of her works and
provide valuable information about the context in which she wrote and her literary
objectives. In the selection that follows you will read Hrotsvit's preface to her plays.
Here she claims her debt to the Roman playwright Terence and states her intention to
revise the negative portrayals of women that she finds in his comedies.
HROTSVITHAE OPERA: PRAEFATIO,
TEXT AND
COMMENTARY
Resources for Teaching Hrotsvit
Hrotsvit Links
http://home.t-online.de/home/Bad-Gandersheim/history.htm
This is a site written in German about Gandersheim, the site of the convent in where
Hrotsvit of Gandersheim (935?-1002 AD) lived and wrote. It includes an image of Hrotsvit
and a photograph of the reconstructed convent at Gandersheim.
http://www.csn.net/advent/cathen/07504b.htm
This is the Catholic Encyclopedia entry on Hrotsvit. It gives a short
biography of her life, including spelling variations of her name, her life before entering
the convent, short descriptions of her poems, dramas, and epics, and the chief printed
editions of her works.
http://www.det.mun.ca/dcs/courses/ms3351/hrotswitha.html
In English, this site has links to six areas related to Hrotsvit: the Catholic
Encyclopedias page, general history about Hrotsvit, Liudolf of Saxony, Otto of
Saxony, the Saxony Royal Family, and Holy Roman Emperor and the Royal Family. The
Saxon sites are relevant as they give background to the royal family, subjects in one of
Hrotsvits epics.
http://www.millersv.edu/~english/homepage/duncan/medfem/hrotsvi1.html
An introduction to Hrotsvits life and works, this site is very similar to that of
the Catholic Encyclopedia. Included are descriptions of
Paphnutius and Sapientia, two dramas by Hrotsvit, and extensive
bibliography on Hrosvit.
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Last Revision: 02/07/00
© 1998 The Five
Colleges of Ohio Consortium
Please send comments to Laurie Churchill at ljchurch@cc.owu.edu.
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