This course will study female figures who are central to important biblical narratives: in particular, in the Old Testament Eve, Esther, and Judith and in the New Testament the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalen.  A common trope of medieval thought is the contrast between Eve, through whom humankind fell, and the Virgin Mary, through whom humankind is redeemed, but not all medieval writers condemned Eve equally, and rich and varied apocryphal material accrued to the Virgin Mary as also to Mary Magdalen.  By contrast, Judith and Esther are heroines of Jewish history, saviours of their nations -- who nonetheless depend partly on their 'feminine wiles' to achieve their aims.  Studying the history of the presentation of these figures in the Middle Ages will illuminate medieval attitudes to women as well as the shared heritage of the Abrahamic traditions of Christianity, Judaism & Islam.  Assessment by PS paper.

Draft schedule:

17.09            In the beginning: Eve and the Fall

24.09            Other Eves

01.10            From Eva to Ave: lives of the Virgin Mary 1

08.10            Other miraculous conceptions: Sarah, Elizabeth

15.10            Named for her nation: Judith

22.10            Esther and her varied sources

29.10            Comparison: heroines in Islamic theatre, the Ta'ziyeh

05.11            Esther made English

12.11            European Esthers

19.11            Judith made English

26.11            Off with his head! Judith and Salomé

03.12            Amalgamating Mary Magdalen 1

10.12            Amalgamating Mary Magdalen 2

17.12            Minor and apocryphal Maries

• Deepening knowledge of Old and Middle English language
• Broader knowledge of medieval literature
• Deepening knowledge of medieval biblical drama
• Introduction to female figures of Islam
• Acquaintance with feminist approaches to biblical narratives
• Comparative knowledge of Jewish, Christian and Islamic versions of narratives