Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

6204

Date

2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

History

Committee Chair

Benjamin Graham

Committee Member

Andrew M. Daily

Committee Member

Christine Eisel

Abstract

This work examines literary and ecclesiastical misogyny in high to late medieval France. It explores how two popular French genres, pastourelle and fabliaux, reinforced negative female stereotypes and perpetuated misogyny by slandering women. In order to contextualize the misogyny in those terms, this thesis also conducts an examination of contemporary ecclesiastical literature and thought as well as a few popular, secular works. The approach first analyzed in-depth the pastourelle and fabliaux and connected those works to contemporary society in its treatment of women. Next, it analyzed ecclesiastical misogyny in both the literature and society and compared those forms of misogyny by showing parallels with the secular literature. The main findings were that literary gender relations and treatment of women in the period reflected, influenced, and reinforced misogyny in society, primarily by slander. The conclusions are that through slander, misogyny became more entrenched and engrained in the medieval mind and society.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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