Chapter Six. Vergil, The Psalms, And New Poetic Genres In Medieval Latin Literature

Abstract

In Medieval European culture, the main part of the Latin texts preserved in the manuscripts represent a literate civilization arising from the encounter of classical Greek and Latin culture and the Judaeo-Christian tradition. Theological hermeneutics came to colour the major part of the texts produced in an impressive tradition from the Church Fathers, transforming the intellectual heritage from classical philosophy into a Christian theology. Homer and Vergil retained their textbook status within the respective educational systems in the Greek and Latin spheres. Additionally, there was a culture founded on Holy Scripture and the Hebrew heritage and cultivated in a liturgical and spiritual sphere, where the Psalms and other biblical books were the first textbooks learnt by heart. The chapter also looks at examples of early tropes inserted into the Introit Chant and to the Gloria in excelsis , and an early sequence to the Alleluia . Keywords: Alleluia ; Gloria in excelsis ; Introit chants; medieval Latin literature; poetic genres; Psalms; Vergil