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The Heloise of History

This thesis seeks to determine the historical role of the twelfth-century abbess Heloise, apart from the frequently cited and disputed letters exchanged between her and Peter Abelard. Independent information exists in the testimony of Heloise's contemporaries, in the rule written for her abbey the Paraclete, and in the liturgy of the Paraclete. This evidence not only substantiates an erudite Heloise in concert with the Heloise of the letters, but serves as testimony to a woman of ability and accomplishment who participated in monastic reform and who sought to bring a positive direction to women's lives in the cloister. From this, it becomes clear that although Heloise may not have written the letters ascribed to her she was certainly capable of writing them.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc500738
Date12 1900
CreatorsKelso, Carl J. (Carl Joseph)
ContributorsBaker, Derek, Painter, William E., Coomes, Edward John, Jr., Hagler, Dorse Harland, 1937-, Seligmann, Gustav L., Jr.
PublisherUniversity of North Texas
Source SetsUniversity of North Texas
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis or Dissertation
Formativ, 173 leaves, Text
RightsPublic, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved., Kelso, Carl J. (Carl Joseph)

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