Medieval Arts, Architecture, Medieval Arts, Architecture, and Literatureand Literature

Expressive Arts of a Medieval Expressive Arts of a Medieval IdeologyIdeology

Medieval Arts: Mortal Body, Medieval Arts: Mortal Body, Immortal SoulImmortal Soul

The theme of salvation dominates the arts, The theme of salvation dominates the arts, architecture, and literaturearchitecture, and literature

Prototype of medieval themes: Dante’s Prototype of medieval themes: Dante’s The The Divine ComedyDivine Comedy, a symbolic epic poem on the , a symbolic epic poem on the three levels of the afterlife.three levels of the afterlife.

Architecture symbolizes the grandeur of the Architecture symbolizes the grandeur of the Christian GodChristian God

Plays emphasize biblical theology and the Plays emphasize biblical theology and the morality derived from itmorality derived from it

The arts depict the saints and the divinity itselfThe arts depict the saints and the divinity itself

Medieval Verse and PoetryMedieval Verse and Poetry

Poems tended to be long, and were Poems tended to be long, and were divided into main divisions called divided into main divisions called cantoscantos

Several themes includeSeveral themes includeAccounts of fighting nobility (Accounts of fighting nobility (Song of Song of

Roland)Roland)Code of courtly love: de Troyes’s Code of courtly love: de Troyes’s LancelotLancelotTheological epics, such as Dante’s Theological epics, such as Dante’s Divine Divine

ComedyComedy

Medieval Arts: The Divine ComedyMedieval Arts: The Divine Comedy

Dante Aligheri’s Dante Aligheri’s The Divine The Divine Comedy Comedy is a prototypic classic is a prototypic classic of the medieval eraof the medieval era

It describes the pilgrimage of a It describes the pilgrimage of a Christian soul through Hell Christian soul through Hell (Inferno) and Purgatory (Inferno) and Purgatory (Purgatorio)(Purgatorio)

Then to salvation (Paradiso) Then to salvation (Paradiso) (Ed. Note: If this epic poem (Ed. Note: If this epic poem

doesn’t scare the living bejasus doesn’t scare the living bejasus out of you, nothing will. )out of you, nothing will. )

Symbolism of Symbolism of Divine ComedyDivine Comedy

Every aspect of Every aspect of Divine Comedy Divine Comedy has has symbolic meaningsymbolic meaning

Numerology of three: Trinity, three levels Numerology of three: Trinity, three levels of the afterlife, Aristotelian division of of the afterlife, Aristotelian division of human psyche into reason, will, and lovehuman psyche into reason, will, and love—and three guides—and three guides

Nines: nine levels of Hell, spheres of Nines: nine levels of Hell, spheres of heaven, and circles of penitents in heaven, and circles of penitents in PurgatoryPurgatory

Medieval Arts: The Divine ComedyMedieval Arts: The Divine Comedy

Dante Aligheri’s Dante Aligheri’s The Divine The Divine Comedy Comedy is a prototypic classic is a prototypic classic of the medieval eraof the medieval era

It describes the pilgrimage of a It describes the pilgrimage of a Christian soul through Hell Christian soul through Hell (Inferno) and Purgatory (Inferno) and Purgatory (Purgatorio)(Purgatorio)

Then to salvation (Paraidiso) Then to salvation (Paraidiso) The poem is rich in symbolism, The poem is rich in symbolism,

especially the numerology of especially the numerology of threes (Trinity, three levels of threes (Trinity, three levels of the afterlife) and their multiplesthe afterlife) and their multiples

Virgil the PoetVirgil the Poet

Virgil, the Roman poet, Virgil, the Roman poet, accompanies Dante in Hell and accompanies Dante in Hell and PurgatoryPurgatory

Virgil represents Reason, but Virgil represents Reason, but as a pagan he can never enter as a pagan he can never enter paradiseparadise

Here, Dante and Virgil are seen Here, Dante and Virgil are seen in the background in the Infernoin the background in the Inferno

As tormented souls writhe in As tormented souls writhe in the foreground. the foreground.

Paradise with Beatrice as GuideParadise with Beatrice as Guide

His beloved Beatrice His beloved Beatrice accompanies him accompanies him through Paradisethrough Paradise

This is a study of This is a study of unrequited love; in real unrequited love; in real life, Beatrice was life, Beatrice was uninterested in him uninterested in him

At a more abstract At a more abstract level, she was the level, she was the personification of personification of wisdomwisdom

Divine Comedy: InfernoDivine Comedy: Inferno There are nine levels of Hell, There are nine levels of Hell,

punishment varying with the sinpunishment varying with the sin Lowest (ninth) reserved for those Lowest (ninth) reserved for those

accused of treachery (Judas, accused of treachery (Judas, Brutus)Brutus)

Sins of passion (sex) receive the Sins of passion (sex) receive the lightestlightest

Punishment is carried out by the Punishment is carried out by the sin itself:sin itself:

Gluttons are punished with their Gluttons are punished with their own excrementown excrement

The violent are immersed in The violent are immersed in boiling bloodboiling blood

Divine Comedy: PurgatorioDivine Comedy: Purgatorio

Sins are also Sins are also hierarchically arrangedhierarchically arranged

Least serious sin is Least serious sin is lasciviousnesslasciviousness

The most serious: the The most serious: the lethargic, considered lethargic, considered worse than the wrathful or worse than the wrathful or the proudthe proud

Purged of their sins, the Purged of their sins, the souls may enter paradisesouls may enter paradise

Divine Comedy: Il ParadisoDivine Comedy: Il Paradiso Is there a hierarchy in heaven?Is there a hierarchy in heaven? To Dante, yes: there are nine circles of To Dante, yes: there are nine circles of

heavenheaven The lowest circle: souls who abandoned The lowest circle: souls who abandoned

their vows and so were deficient in fortitudetheir vows and so were deficient in fortitude Intermediate circles: souls with less defects Intermediate circles: souls with less defects

then with various degrees of glorythen with various degrees of glory The highest (ninth) circle: the abode of The highest (ninth) circle: the abode of

angels and the primum mobile of all creationangels and the primum mobile of all creation Above: Dante and Beatrice at the gate of Above: Dante and Beatrice at the gate of

the Empyrean Paradisethe Empyrean Paradise Below: Artist’s conception of Paradise Below: Artist’s conception of Paradise

according to Dante.according to Dante.

The Empyrean ParadiseThe Empyrean Paradise Finally, Beatrice leaves him to Finally, Beatrice leaves him to

his final guide, St. Bernard, his final guide, St. Bernard, because theology has reached because theology has reached its limitsits limits

The Empyrean Paradise is the The Empyrean Paradise is the abode of God Himself, abode of God Himself, represented by three circlesrepresented by three circles

The circles represent the The circles represent the TrinityTrinity

The story ends with Dante The story ends with Dante experiencing God’s love while experiencing God’s love while trying (and failing) to trying (and failing) to understand his ways. understand his ways.

The Empyrean Paradise exists The Empyrean Paradise exists beyond space and timebeyond space and time

Divine Comedy: ConclusionDivine Comedy: Conclusion The Divine Comedy The Divine Comedy encapsulates the encapsulates the

Augustinian conception of Christianity and the Augustinian conception of Christianity and the Church.Church.

All the world of the afterlife is hierarchical, from All the world of the afterlife is hierarchical, from Hell through Purgatory to Paradise itselfHell through Purgatory to Paradise itself

The entire epic is a engaging story, yet it is full of The entire epic is a engaging story, yet it is full of symbolism that requires several readings to symbolism that requires several readings to adequately understand it. adequately understand it.

Theme of all aspects of medieval life appears in Theme of all aspects of medieval life appears in the the Divine Comedy: Divine Comedy: theology, hierarchy of the theology, hierarchy of the Church, fear of damnation, Church doctrineChurch, fear of damnation, Church doctrine

Medieval Arts: Morality PlaysMedieval Arts: Morality Plays

Definition: A type of play dramatizing moral Definition: A type of play dramatizing moral themesthemes

Conflict between good and evil is a recurring Conflict between good and evil is a recurring motif motif

The qualities are personified and engaged in The qualities are personified and engaged in dialogue—Everyman, Death, Knowledgedialogue—Everyman, Death, Knowledge

In Everyman, the protagonist realizes that Death In Everyman, the protagonist realizes that Death has come to take him to the Last Judgmenthas come to take him to the Last Judgment

No one—Wit, Knowledge, even Kindred—can No one—Wit, Knowledge, even Kindred—can save him but Good Deeds (with the aid of the save him but Good Deeds (with the aid of the priesthood, of course)priesthood, of course)

Mystery and Miracle PlaysMystery and Miracle Plays

Mystery Plays (left): Plays Mystery Plays (left): Plays originating in Church originating in Church liturgy liturgy

Dramatized biblical Dramatized biblical historyhistory

Among the themes: fall of Among the themes: fall of Satan, Last JudgmentSatan, Last Judgment

Miracle Plays: Plays Miracle Plays: Plays depicting the miracles of depicting the miracles of Christ, the Virgin, and the Christ, the Virgin, and the Saints.Saints.

Medieval Music: PolyphonyMedieval Music: Polyphony Within the church, choirs sang in a pattern of Within the church, choirs sang in a pattern of

polyphony, in which two or more lines of melody polyphony, in which two or more lines of melody of equal importance are sungof equal importance are sung

Organum refers to a generic variety of Organum refers to a generic variety of polyphonepolyphone

In parallel organum, the two voices move exactly In parallel organum, the two voices move exactly parallel with each otherparallel with each other

In free organum, the second voice moves in In free organum, the second voice moves in contrary motioncontrary motion

Melismatic organum involves the use of multiple Melismatic organum involves the use of multiple notes for the individual syllables of the textnotes for the individual syllables of the text

Medieval Architecture: Medieval Architecture: Romanesque ChurchRomanesque Church

Size of nave enlarge to accommodate Size of nave enlarge to accommodate pilgrimspilgrims

Eastern part of the church enlarged for Eastern part of the church enlarged for chapels where small parties could chapels where small parties could worship undisturbedworship undisturbed

Salient features: rounded arches, thick Salient features: rounded arches, thick walls, large towers, and decorative walls, large towers, and decorative arcadingarcading

Most of them were abbey churchesMost of them were abbey churches They generally dominated the They generally dominated the

countrysidecountryside

Medieval Architecture: Gothic Medieval Architecture: Gothic CathedralsCathedrals

They were abstract, symbolic, and expressive They were abstract, symbolic, and expressive linearitylinearity

Colorful and highly decorativeColorful and highly decorative The rounded arch was replaced by the The rounded arch was replaced by the

pointed arch (upper left, Riems Cathedral, pointed arch (upper left, Riems Cathedral, France)France)

The ribbed vault appears at the ceiling of the The ribbed vault appears at the ceiling of the church (lower left; San Zanipolo, Venice)church (lower left; San Zanipolo, Venice)

The flying buttress transfers the weight of the The flying buttress transfers the weight of the vault to a buttress outside the buildingvault to a buttress outside the building

They involved the extensive use of stained They involved the extensive use of stained glass windowsglass windows

Medieval ScholasticismMedieval Scholasticism Based on the need to reconcile Christianity with Based on the need to reconcile Christianity with

Aristotelian philosophy and scienceAristotelian philosophy and science Peter Abelard introduced rationalist approach to Peter Abelard introduced rationalist approach to

Church dogma: Church dogma: It entailed the freedom to doubt and question It entailed the freedom to doubt and question

authorityauthority Sic et Non presented 150 conflicting opinions on Sic et Non presented 150 conflicting opinions on

religious mattersreligious matters Thomas Aquinas advances reasoned arguments Thomas Aquinas advances reasoned arguments

for the compatibility between reason and for the compatibility between reason and revelation on theology. revelation on theology.

ConclusionConclusion

Generally, the arts reflected the principles of Generally, the arts reflected the principles of hierarchy, Christian salvation, and Church hierarchy, Christian salvation, and Church doctrine that dominated medieval societydoctrine that dominated medieval society

Dante’s Dante’s Divine Comedy Divine Comedy reflected the reflected the Augustinian influence of the medieval world viewAugustinian influence of the medieval world view

The architecture, art, and music were dedicated The architecture, art, and music were dedicated to the glory of a God as seen through medieval to the glory of a God as seen through medieval eyes. eyes.