FIRST PAPER ASSIGNMENT:
Heloise, Writing, and Gender Roles in the Twelfth
Century
Format: Write a four to six page, typed, double-spaced paper on one of the following topics. Note: this means that four full pages is a minimum. I don't want to see three pages plus a few lines; I want to see at least four full pages of text. As this assignment is essentially a thought piece, formal citation apparatus is not really necessary. Should you use direct quotations from the text, simply provide parenthetical notation of the page. Remember that because this is a short paper, it is important to begin to present your argument immediately; in other words, don't waste time outlining the life story of either Heloise or Abelard. Jump right in with your analysis of the topic that you have chosen.
Due-Date: Thursday October 14, 1999, in class
Assignment: The point of the assignment is for each student to assess the texts written by and about Heloise, lover of Abelard and founder of the convent of the Paraclete. Read Abelard's Story of My Misfortunes (pp. 57-106) and the letters exchanged between the two lovers (pp. 109-156 and 159-179). Consider how Heloise's writings, experiences, and behavior vis-a-vis Abelard reflect what we have learned about medieval gender roles. Then write an essay addressing one of the following questions:
1. Some scholars have argued rather vehemently that the letters purporting to be written by Heloise were in fact written by Abelard. In other words, in order to strengthen the justice of his case against St. Bernard and others, Abelard concocted the whole letter collection. Such an argument obviously denies authorship and agency to Heloise. Evaluate this theory by comparing Heloise's material to what you have learned about medieval understandings about women and female social roles. Is there anything in the texts that might support such a position? Is there material that might not support this position? How do you come down on the issue of authorship?
2. Despite their renown as lovers (cf. the monument to them in the Père LaChaise cemetery in Paris), both Abelard and Heloise ended up as religious persons - Abelard as a monk and Heloise as abbess of a convent. Indeed, much of the content of their correspondence has to do with religious matters. What, then, does the correspondence tell us about the gendering of religion? Or, in other words, how were religious roles gendered? Some questions to consider: Were certain religious roles considered to be essentially "male" or "female"? Were certain intellectual and/or spiritual modes of thought considered to be male or female? Did male and female religious approach authority in similar ways? Does agency (ie., ability of an individual or a group to behave actively, like an agent, as opposed to passively, like an object) matter here?
I am happy to talk with any student about his/her thoughts for either paper topic. Please stop by my office hours or phone or email me to set up an appointment.