>My student wants to write on the alliterative Morte d'Arthur; she is
>interested in the Nine Worthies, in British nationalism and in warrior
>culture, having previously studied Beowulf, the Iliad and
>medieval Japan. None of this remotely touches on my research area, which
>is female
>virginities; can any of you suggest some reading for her?
Dear Sarah,
I wisht that I, too, was an expert of female virginities, but unfortunately
all I know is worthies: I recommend that you point your student to Horst
Schroeder, _Der Topos der Nine Worthies in Literatur und bildender Kunst_,
Go"ttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1971, 421 pp.; not highly
sophisticated, but very well documented.
In case that anybody wonders what the Nine Worthies or "neuf preux" are: a
catalogue or canon of ideal heroes, consisting of three ancient pagans
(Hector, Alexander, Julius Caesar), three OT Jews (Josua, David, Judas
Macch.), and three Christians (Arthur, Charlemagne, Geoffrey of Bouillon).
According to Schroeder, the Nine Worthies show up for the first time in
Jacques de Longuyon's Romance _Les Voeux du Paon_ (1312/13).
Otfried
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