The goal of this paper is to provide the philosophical medieval notion of emotion and reason and subsequently to investigate how emotion and reason relate to each other in the poem "Sir Orfeo".
The Middle English romance "Sir Orfeo" is an anonymous poem of the early fourteenth century (1330-40) that has found great resonance with literary research and critique. It has been praised by multiple authors to be 'a small poetic miracle' or 'one of the most loveliest and charming of all Middle English Romances'. The romance deals with Orfeo, king of Winchester who fails to save his beautiful wife Eurodis from the underworld and who decides in consequence of this loss to leave his kingdom in order to live in the wilderness. One day he rediscovers Eurodis among sixty ladies, follows her to the underworld, succeeds to bring her back to his kingdom and to restore his power.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The medieval notion of the emotion
- Augustine's response to the stoic view of emotion and reason
- Emotion and reason in the romance Sir Orfeo
- Orfeo's exile- the nexus between emotion and reason
- Conclusions
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to investigate the interplay of emotion and reason in the medieval English romance Sir Orfeo. The study will delve into the philosophical underpinnings of emotion and reason during the Middle Ages, particularly Augustine's response to Stoic thought. The analysis will then examine how these concepts are manifested in the character of King Orfeo, exploring his emotional and rational responses to his wife's abduction and his subsequent journey to the underworld.
- The medieval understanding of emotions and their relation to reason
- Augustine's philosophical approach to emotions and his critique of Stoicism
- The role of emotions and reason in shaping Orfeo's actions and motivations
- The duality of mind and heart in shaping human behavior, as depicted in Sir Orfeo
- The literary relevance of Sir Orfeo in the context of medieval English literature
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the medieval English romance Sir Orfeo, its literary significance, and its various interpretations. It highlights the importance of understanding the medieval concept of emotions and reason in analyzing the poem, particularly the interplay between “mind” and “heart” as reflected in the characters' actions and motivations.
- The medieval notion of the emotion: This chapter examines the evolution of the concept of emotions in philosophy and psychology, focusing on the medieval understanding of emotions. It highlights the significance of Augustine of Hippo's contribution to medieval philosophy and his response to Stoic thought.
- Augustine's response to the stoic view of emotion and reason: This chapter delves into Augustine's philosophical framework for understanding emotions. It analyzes his critique of the Stoic view of emotions as irrational disturbances and his proposition that emotions can be in obedience to reason. This chapter also examines Augustine's perspective on the ideal state of being and the influence of Christian doctrine on his view of emotions.
- Emotion and reason in the romance Sir Orfeo: This chapter explores the interplay of emotion and reason in the context of the romance Sir Orfeo, focusing on the character of King Orfeo. It examines how Orfeo's actions and motivations are shaped by his emotional responses to his wife's abduction and his rational decisions in navigating his journey through the underworld.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key themes and concepts explored in this paper include the medieval notion of emotions, Augustine's philosophical approach to emotions, the interplay of emotion and reason in Sir Orfeo, the character of King Orfeo, the duality of mind and heart, the impact of emotions on human behavior, and the literary significance of Sir Orfeo in the context of medieval English literature.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2015, Orfeo's Exile. The Nexus between Emotion and Reason, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/511928
