Hi everyone!
This week in tutorial we will be concentrating on educational developments during the twelfth century, and in particular the rise of the university and specialized training and education. I am really excited about this week's tutorial as the history of education in the twelfth century is one of the focuses of my own research and it was actually through reading Abelard's Historia Calamitatum and the subsequent letters he exchanged with Heloise that I fell in love with the twelfth century and decided to pursue further study in medieval history.
Peter Abelard, as you may have noticed from his autobiography, the Historia Calamitatum(History of my Calamities), was a very controversial figure in the twelfth century. He continues to be a controversial figure in scholarship today. For some (both in the twelfth century and now) he is a genius - a prince of dialectic (logic) and theology, and a charismatic teacher and mentor. For others he's an arrogant, irritating, over-rated, puffed-up trouble-maker. Whichever way you react to Abelard there is no doubt that he was an impacting and influential personality and both his dramatic personal life, and his talent for intellectual enquiry, have ensured that he continues to intrigue medieval historians to this day. We are fortunate that Professor Constant Mews teaches and works at Monash as he is one of the world-renowned leading experts on the writings of Abelard and Heloise. As famous in the field perhaps as Abelard and Heloise in their day were, but perhaps not so controversial!
For this week I encourage you all to look over the tutorial discussion questions for this week, especially questions one and two, as well as think about the following.....
1) How does Abelard present himself in the Historia Calamitatum? Why does he present himself in such a way?
2) Was he really like the person he presents himself to be in the Historia Calamitatum? Would you like to be his student? His teacher?
3) Why is he so important in the history of education and intellectual thought?
4) What two major sins of his is Abelard keen to highlight in the Historia Calamitatum? How has he been punished for them? Why is he keen to tell us about them?
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| A depiction of Abelard and Heloise from a medieval manuscript |
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| A later artistic impression of Abelard and Heloise |
As always please post your comments, reflections, and questions below!
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What about Heloise I hear some of you say? It is true that we are only introduced to her briefly in this week's readings. She was a very remarkable woman and a talented intellectual in her own right. Scholars now see her as far more than Abelard's pupil. They are now beginning to realize that she actually was more of his intellectual partner and potentially influenced his own thought and philosophy a great deal. I've attached a link here to the first letter Heloise wrote to Abelard after she read the Historia Calamitatum. It is fascinating to understand her perspective on their lives together. This translation also includes a brief introduction to the scholarly controversy that has raged for decades over whether or not in fact she wrote her letters. Most scholars agree now that she did but there are still a few deniers out there!
What elements of the Historia Calamitatum does she disagree with? Why?
This translation is really old fashioned but it hopefully gives you a taste of Heloise's writing! For anyone interested in reading their entire correspondence I recommend the following translations:
Radice, Betty (trans). The Letters of Abelard and Heloise, Penguin Books: London, 1974.
McLauglin, Mary and Bonnie Wheeler (ed. and trans.). The Letters of Heloise and Abelard: A Translation of their Collected Correspondence and Related Writings, Palgrave Macmillon: New York, 2009.
And for a more controversial take on their correspondence.....
Mews, Constant J. The Lost Love Letters of Heloise and Abelard: Perceptions of Dialogue in Twelfth-Century France, Palgrave: New York, 2001.
Heloise is my personal hero so I do hope some of you are able to glance over her letter for this week!
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| Another absolutely over the top imagining of Heloise and Abelard courtesy of the 19th century! |
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And, as always, just for fun......
For anyone really really interested in understanding more about Heloise, her thought and writing do check this little article out:
It's an absolute shameless little bit of self-promotion as I wrote it for a postgraduate journal when I was a student at Oxford....but despite me being the author I think it still has something interesting to say!
And, finally, Abelard and Heloise are today buried (or thought to be buried) at the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. Their tomb (created in the 19th century) is absolutely beautiful. If you ever get a chance to go to Paris I highly recommend stopping by! People still leave flowers for them!
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| Tomb of Abelard and Heloise |
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| Heloise's effigy on her tomb |
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| Abelard's likeness |
Wow! What a read! How fascinating all the drama that happened to poor Abelard! A voice of strength and carrying a very strong belief in his learnings. How adamant he was to pass on these learnings. Much to shock and panic of his ‘jealous’ superiors who didn’t like his overly open nature. What is education if new knowledge (truths perhaps) is discovered from the ‘writings of old’ and it be not acceptable to voice them and share them among ones peers? It is hard to comprehend the thought that had Abelard been born some years earlier he could/would have been crucified and his voice forever silenced. I also feel that it is to Abelard we owe “Freedom of Speech”….. ? I especially love his quote “The Best Way to Reach the Truth is to Doubt and to Question!!”
ReplyDeleteAs for his relationship with Heloise… he and she were after all human, following natural human instincts. I wonder what became of their son Astralabe?
Hi everyone,
ReplyDeleteDiana here - Phil wasn't able to post his comment up so he has sent it to me instead. Here it is:
'The content in the first reading was quite interesting. I found the
development of the education really intriguing, given the obvious fact
that we ourselves are involved in the education system today. The idea
that teachers were so uncommon - and decent teachers almost a rarity -
in society is amazing given the number of teachers we have in
contemporary society. Perhaps my view is blinded by the fact that I
have two parents, an uncle, an aunty and a sister that are all
teachers and have grown up around teachers all my life. I find it
ridiculous that students would need to travel the distances that they
did (as we see in the travels done by Abellard and the other
intellects the passage mentions) just to gain a decent education. The
new schools of thought, particularly that of logic, I also found very
interesting. It is almost like we can see the human evolution take
place, just in the way that education and the manner in which
religious texts were read had changed. Overall though, I feel that
this first reading could well have been condensed. It explained in
about 8 pages what could have been done in three or four. I understand
that this is a chapter from a book and they were obviously trying to
fill pages, but I found myself struggling to keep concentration
through slight rambling and repetition. Enjoyable enough though
nonetheless.
As for the second reading, this was probably my favourite of the
readings so far - despite its ridiculous length! More than anything, I
thought the ridiculous self-confidence and feeling of self-worth felt
by Abelard was hilarious. Particularly I enjoyed his analysis of
Anselm's (one of the era's other great minds) reputation as being owed
"more to long practice than to intelligence or memory". Later he
referred to Anselm as being similar to a tree that looks luscious when
viewed from afar but at closer look was very barren. I assume that
this opinion was one born more out of jealousy and resentment towards
Anselm than a reasonable point-of-view. Abelard's personal description
of himself as having exceptional good looks was also interesting.
Let’s just say that given the supreme cockiness observed throughout
Abelard's letter, I wasn't overly sympathetic when we found out what
happened to him in the later stages of his life.'
Hi all!
ReplyDeleteMuch like everyone else I too found this weeks readings quite interesting, seeing as it directly relates to what we are doing today! It is fascinating to see just how the emergence of the university came about and too, the study of logic (dialectic).
Despite the length of the texts, the story of Peter Abelard was perhaps one of the more interesting things I've ever read! I did find it amusing when reading his text, just how full of himself he was at the beginning (with Heloise)- in comparison to how he regarded himself after his castration (got to admit I found this funny) and banishment to the monastery.
Seems as though it took a major change such as this to bring him crashing back down to Earth and bring back his humility. He had to push through many trying times (and councils against him!) in order to continue his reverance as a much approved and worthy scholar of philosophy and Scripture.
Would've also liked to hear more of what became of Astralabe and Heloise- if only Abelard wasn't so focused upon himself! :P
Hi
ReplyDeleteI found the second of the two readings more interesting than the first. This is weird but I couldn't help but think when I read Abelard's letter, or at least, the opining, how similar it sounds to the opening/closing letters of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. Even though Frankenstein was written AGES and AGES after the medieval time period, in the opening stages of his letter Abelard to me, had the same sort of...strange, somewhat isolated and vain tone in his voice that Robert Walton speaks with in the novel. but anyway, that was just a strange point i felt i should mention. I can't wait to hear more about Heloise.
It was interesting to read about how difficult life was for students who wanted to be students at a university - from finding teachers, to actually getting to where they needed to go. The fact that students ended up just having to go to professors' homes instead of a building was a strange fact. I admit my concentration did fade after a while...the content itself was interesting but the writer's style made it harder to get a grasp on the information and persist reading. But I really did love reading the letters, I thought they were very elegant - and it was actually a really nice change to read a letter, something more personal, compared to a textbook reading where everything is in third person and there is no strong emotional attachment to what is being said.
Well concerning the second reading I would have to agree with the general consensus concerning Abelards arrogance. That tone of the letter makes it for both entertaining and difficult reading though, because it is funny how he perceives his "rivals" and superior or senior scholars and how he perceives how they perceive him, which appears as though they are envious of his "intellect" and "talent". However the arrogance does become tiresome eventually yet again this has a purpose in displaying the rivalry of the scholars of the time and how bitter it could become.
ReplyDeleteThe first reading was more of interest to me just because it displayed how quickly that the education thought evolved despite the slow or no communication between schools of thought. As well as how the more advanced teaching were in a way reserved for the church and that even the nobles had a lacking education in comparison in certain ways.
Also Abelards castration = hilarious, thats why you never secretly wed a medieval bishops relative, there will be consequences.
Great readings this week, I too found the history of universities interesting. All the hardships the students faced in wanting to be educated at the time. And to think the Sorbonne and Oxford are still going strong.
ReplyDeleteAbelard is a fascinating man, highly intelligent and hungry for debate. I couldn't decide if he was arrogant or just had a low tolerance of idiots! He sounds very honest in his Historia Calamitatum, full of pride, lust and so self assured. Lots of questioning, no wonder he antagonised so many people. Heloise seems to have been his intellectual equal and I look forward to reading her letters.
Janice Keirnan
I’m going to try and focus on Abelard the man here in this little entry.
ReplyDeleteJust to go against the grain, I’ll say that I liked Abelard. Yes, he was arrogant and a good example of medieval narcissism; but imagine actually just chilling with him? I got the impression that his company would be fascinating. He was legitimately very clever and he’d be the kind of person you could have a laugh at after a conversation with because he is just so removed from planet earth and self assured. (I meet people similar to that often and it never ceases to amaze me.)
I didn’t like that he actually did ‘lose his balls’ later in life, because that’s got to affect a man’s confidence no matter what; and it would’ve knocked his self perceived ‘I’m a rock star’ mentality and changed him significantly. But that being said, people were probably pretty keen to do that to him for a long time seeing he had the unique talent of continuously rubbing people up the wrong way throughout his life.
An interesting medieval character!
-JL
I don't have too much new to say, I also really just enjoyed everything with Abelard.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that although the book didn't say too much about Abelard, it definitely seemed to somewhat back up his claim that he was something of a superstar in the twelfth century. He wasn't at all like how we think of poets or university teachers today, and I just found this hilarious. It was interesting to try and work out how much of what Abelard said in "The Story of His Misfortunes" was true about his astounding amount of fame and pure ability in the field of logic and writing and how much was his own arrogance. It was also very interesting that despite his arrogance, his reputation was immaculate until his castration was revealed along with the rest of his misdeeds. Though I must agree somewhat with his old teacher that trying to teach Abelard would have been a bloody headache, the combination of arrogance and intelligence in people can be absolutely horrible.
Gotta say though, as much as he was a pain in the arse... Castration? Really? For the love of god, anything but that.
- Sean McClure
I have to admit, I found that the first reading dragged slightly this week. Although I found Abelard's history interesting, I would have liked to have seen some other opinions on his story, if there were any available. At the same time, the way in which he recounts events are particularly interesting to me, and the story of the founding of universities was truly intriguing for me. Especially as La Sorbonne is still up and running today! I just felt, wow, that's a lot of history for one institute. I also enjoyed seeing, as Sean said, how Abelard seemed like such a celebrity, and how different the reasons for his fame are to the reasons for fame today.
ReplyDelete-Katie Harbord
Well look, whenever castration is involved with a reading, I immediately shove everything else aside, make myself a piping hot cup of tea and settle down to what one would hope would be an interesting reading.
ReplyDeleteSadly this weeks reading said very little abut castration, other than it happened (supposedly). Oh well, maybe next week? Still, as a true woman, high on life and oestrogen, I found the story of Abelard and Heloise quite intriguing. However, I found the readings were a little light on the love story and a little heavy on the development of schools and universities, more's the pity!
Despite all these problems (I live an indulged life), I found Abelard's pure logic, reason and eloquence quite extraordinary enough to put up with his arrogance and vanity. I find it amazing with the plethora of wells available that he did not pine away at his image...
Moving right along, I found Heloise's temperance quite as intriguing as Abelard's self-obsession. I can imagine them around a kitchen table, Abelard spouting some rhetorical question on life, the universe and everything (42), and Heloise 'yes dear'-ing.
I apologise that this week I have been sparsely informative, and consequently rambling, I will endeavour to better myself next week. I also apologise for the lack of puns, I assure you, I'm not terribly punny. (Pun intended).
-Jess Kopp
Hi all, in truth I didn’t quite get through all of this week’s readings as I’ve been unwell, but still wanted to jump online and contribute to the discussion!
ReplyDeleteI found Abelard’s attitude towards most things amusing. He is so sure of himself and of his academic abilities. He speaks of Heloise as if she were a conquest, “I considered all the usual attractions for a lover and decided she was the one to bring to my bed, confident that I should have an easy success…. Feared no rebuff from any woman I might choose to honour with my love…”, so naturally – and I can see others agree- I wasn’t too shocked when I read about his castration as punishment for his affair and impregnating the girl. What an arrogant guy.
Reading about the development of universities as first existing only legally rather than physically was quite interesting, and seeing that only slowly through gifts did universities acquire actual premises to teach in. Previously students needed to seek out their own teachers and places in which to be taught, imagine if we had to this today!
Hey guys! I found the history of the universities and education really interesting. It's cool to think all of what I see in the library now began in the twelfth century!
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure how I feel about Abelard yet, he was very amusing but so so cocky! I kind of feel he had the carstration coming to him!
I seem to have a similar opinion to everyone else about this week's readings. I think the way education has grown from such a rare and difficult thing into such a mainstream facility is really exciting. And while I found the first reading really long and had trouble concentrating at times I think Aberlard's pride made the readings a lot more entertaining- especially his castration. Bad thing to laugh at, I know, but it does go to show that your actions will always have consequences.
ReplyDeleteI also found Heloise really intriguing- her intellect is really inspiring. Seeing a woman of that time when women were rarely seen as equals be Alberlard's intellectual partner and influence really gives me more faith in humanity. Anyway- all in all foods good readings the length of them gave me a chance to apply what we learnt in the assignment about extracting the point and the argument.
See you all in class,
Avalon Anketell
Its amazing that education and a means of learning were hardly accessible during this time and yet people still endeavoured to find it. I think it is so amazing to me because today, in a western society, we generally find education so easily accessible to the extent that we sometimes reject it. I know on more than one occasion I have been given readings and work (means of learning) that I will just not want to do and comparing this to Guilbert, Aberlard and others who became ‘wandering scholars’ to find knowledge, I almost feel ashamed.....almost. I would like to think however that if I were in a position where education was not easily accessible, I would go in search for it and hopefully have the means to do so.
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, Abelard.... quite a controversial thinker and, as some of the others have said, a bit arrogant. But I think perhaps Abelard can be allowed his arrogance as he had such influence on ways of thinking.
As a somewhat educated woman, I enjoy reading about other educated women of the Middle Ages as it seems generally women were not afforded the ‘privilege’ of learning. Heloise was lucky enough to be born into a family where they ‘anticipated that women in it would be taught to read and write’. Through her education it seems Heloise not only found knowledge, but also LOVE (queue obligatory ‘nawwwwww’).
One thing annoying about the reading was having to read about Abelard and Adelard in the same paragraph and sometimes sentences. Their names are too similar!
That’s all
- Samantha Dunne
I can see why Abelard was so controversial in Medieval times, however I think it also mimics what is wrong with society in modern times - at least to a certain degree. As Abelard pointed out, Anselm, for example, was only so respected due to his age/experience and his ability to carefully select jargon in order to dazzle and confuse his audience. Abelard, as he points out, relied not on hard work or hours of study, he relied on his intelligence and his ability, too in a way far beyond his time, to logically analyse and dissect an argument.
ReplyDeleteIn a way thought I think he was almost too intelligent and almost, passive aggressive, for his own good. Instead of continuing to improve and hone his skills, he constantly found distractions, most notably early on in the form of Heloise which definitely held him back. Disclipline was certainly a trait one would not describe Abelard as having.
I think Abelard was so important in terms of education at the time because he was so successful so young, which was in vast contrast to those of his peers. It certainly brings our modern system into perspective, where to get into power, there are almost prerequisite processes and stages to go through, meaning you end being reasonable old before you gain any sort of real power. I think Abelard highlights the folly of this as there is certainly an advantage to having a diverse range of teachers - maybe the need for responsibility is highlighted however.
hi, sorry this is so late!
ReplyDeleteI thought the reading this week was really great! I liked learning about Abelard, he seems like a very interesting character. Diana wrote that some think he is a genius and charismatic, while others think he is arrogant and irritating. I definitely do agree with the second point (that he seems to be a trouble maker!)- although I also gathered from the reading that that he did make a significant contribution to dialectic and theology. I would have loved to have read more about Heloise, she seemed to be a very intelligent woman- I thought her character really stood out against the social norms for women during the time.