The Goddess Fortuna in Mediaeval Literature.
- Author/Editor
- Patch, Howard.
- Title
- The Goddess Fortuna in Mediaeval Literature.
- Published
- Patch, Howard. The Goddess Fortuna in Mediaeval Literature. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 1927. Rpt. New York: Octagon Books, 1967.
- Review
- This wide-ranging study of the figure of Fortuna in medieval literature is based upon Patch's 1915 Harvard dissertation. As Patch states in the preface, given the ubiquitousness of the subject, it would be close-to-impossible to be exhaustive in its coverage. Instead, Patch will "meander through the subject, avoiding the systematic, and taking up each bit of material for what it is worth." Since Fortuna as a literary figure, or trope, is so dependent upon its philosophical and theological contexts, Patch begins by exploring the transformation of Fortuna from antiquity into the Middle Ages, which came to construct Fortuna as both a pagan and Christian figure, one which allowed medieval thinkers to interrogate how a world ruled by a unified and constant deity could itself be so mutable and inconstant. Patch's second chapter, "Traditional Themes of Fortune in Medieval Literature," addresses both the physical descriptions of and themes associated with Fortuna in literary texts. Chapter three, "Functions and Cults," describes the duties associated with the goddess Fortuna, and chapter four, "The Dwelling-Place of Fortune," describes the locales in which Fortune appears in texts. The final chapter focuses upon the image of Fortune's Wheel. Patch's descriptions and discussions do indeed range far and wide in the literary milieux, from Abelard and Heloise to William of Malmesbury. Gower figures prominently (possibly more prominently than any other author) as an example throughout the study, and Patch draws liberally from Gower's entire trilingual oeuvre. Gower's CB XX, for example, provides an example of Fortune turning someone so far down under the wheel that it is impossible for that person to rise again (157). The MO provides an example of Fortune dealing in "aventures" (40). Fortune's weapons are exemplified in the VC 122 (85). And of course the CA provides a wealth of descriptive examples of Fortune's role, appearance, and use, from Fortune bringing enemies together to fight in CA VII.892 (108) to the belief that "Fortune's gifts, after all, come from the stars" in CA VII.639 (77). As a descriptive work, this study does not provide extended analyses or discussions on any one text or author; instead, as the prior examples demonstrate, it uses copious references to provide examples Fortune's appearances and how that figure is used in the texts. As such it would be an extremely useful reference work for any study focusing on this widely deployed figure. [BWG. Copyright. John Gower Society. eJGN 42.1]
- Date
- 1927
1967
- Gower Subjects
- Backgrounds and General Criticism
Mirour de l'Omme (Speculum Meditantis)
Cinkante Balades
Vox Clamantis
Confessio Amantis