Introduction
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 COMMENTARYResources 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 Encyclopedia’s 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 Hrotsvit’s epics.http://www.millersv.edu/~english/homepage/duncan/medfem/hrotsvi1.html
An introduction to Hrotsvit’s 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.
Main | Latin | Occitan | French | Related Sites | About
Last Revision: 02/07/00
© 1998 The Five Colleges of Ohio Consortium
Please send comments to Laurie Churchill at ljchurch@cc.owu.edu.
http://www.owu.edu/~o5medww/egeria/index.html
| HROTSVIT |