Thesis (Ph. D.)--Catholic University of America, 1911. / Vita. Bibliography: p. [61]-65. Also available in digital form on the Internet Archive Web site.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Catholic University of America, 1911. / Vita. Bibliography: p. [61]-65.

Thesis (Doctoral--Technische Universität Carolo-Wilhelmina zu Braunschweig, 1988). / Includes indexes. Includes bibliographical references (p. [545]-600).

Inaug.-Diss.--Munich. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [viii]-xx).

Inaug.-diss.--Breslau. / Lebenslauf. "Quellen": p. [vii]-viii; "Darstellungen": p. [ix]-xii.

This dissertation is the first intensive rhetorical analysis of the writings of St. Patrick. This analysis, informed by interdisciplinary perspectives and methodologies, contributes to our understanding of the rhetorical nature of St. Patrick's writings, as well as the nature of rhetorical education in early medieval Britain and Ireland The literary significance of Patrick's extant writings, Epistola ad milites Corotici and Confessio, beyond their apparent historical value, has regularly been disputed by prominent scholars. Questions of the level of education Patrick received before being assigned to the bishopric in Ireland have informed debates over the quality and importance of his contribution to Hiberno-Latin literature. This study demonstrates the significance of Patrick's texts through discussion of Patrick's rhetorical astuteness and application of classical rhetorical techniques to a new and challenging context: that of a disseminating Christian world. The rhetorical strategies witnessed in Patrick's writings are decidedly Christian and therefore demonstrate the changing rhetorical culture of the early medieval period. The first chapters focus on ars dictaminis and Patrick's employment of the art of letter writing in Ireland in the 5th century CE. The rhetorical strategies detected in Patrick's Epistola ad milites Corotici are discussed relative to the socio-political and cultural context of early medieval Ireland. The later chapters study the Confessio in relationship to the Confession genre in the Late Roman and Early Medieval periods. Of particular significance here is the rhetorical practice of imitatio, which has deep reaching theological and ideological implications.

Until comparatively recently it was widely believed that the English medieval lay nobility was illiterate and apt to look upon literary pursuits as a degrading occupation. This view has now been effectively challenged, but no single long study of the subject exists, due primarily to the nature of the sources, which are scattered and difficult to use. Chapter I shows that there were many educational treatises, works on chivalry, and courtesy books circulating in Western Europe during the middle ages. Chapter II examines educational provisions within the royal household, a centre of education not only for the royal family, but also for other noble children. These arrangements were paralleled in the noble household - almost certainly the main place of education (Chapter III). Here education was shared between tutors in the child's own household and in other households, bishops, and resident schoolmasters. Chapter IV shows that noble education within the monasteries was uncommon after 1200. Recorded instances of nobles at school, at Oxford or Cambridge, or at the Inns of Court are rare, but by the fifteenth century educational opportunities were widening. The study of noble book-ownership and literary taste (Chapter V) reveals that many noble wills contained references to books and that noble women were considered worthy recipients. Although the composition of noble libraries changed, saints' lives and romances remained popular throughout, and the classical revival had made only a limited impact by c.lV?0. The original works and translations by noblemen represent a considerable achievement and nobles were also active as literary patrons (Chapter VI). Noble families or individuals, whose special interest in education, books, or the patronage of scholars deserves particular attention, are discussed in Chapter VII. While some nobles had no interest in literary pursuits, others were more sophisticated and brought educated minds to the political affairs of their day.

Thesis--University of London. / Reprint of the 1920 ed. published by W.B. Clive, London. Includes bibliographical references (p. 245-255) and index.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Pennsylvania, 1931. / On cover: University of Pennsylvania. Bibliography: p. 146-159.

Thesis--University of London. / Reprint of the 1920 ed. published by W. B. Clive, London. Includes index. Bibliography: p. 245-255.