Dr. phil. Gaia Gubbini
Body and Soul: Medieval Dramatisations
This project addresses the themes of breaths, sighs and spirits as key elements marking the encounter between body and soul, between the physical and the immaterial, between senses and emotions. The terms, concepts and metaphors associated with breaths, sighs and spirits are investigated in their literary representations in the romance literature of the Middle Ages. From the survey of texts, a well-defined set of terms and concepts is identified, drawing the “map” and the “vocabulary” of this encounter between body and soul. The classical and early medieval influences on these themes are reconstructed and the presence and relevance of these themes in medieval culture highlighted. Research is based on texts in langue d’oc, langue d’oïl and ancient Italian, exploring the connections between literary texts and medical and philosophical treatises. A specific investigation on DramaNet themes addresses the medieval dramatic representations of the contrast between body and soul.
Gubbini, G. 2017. Body and Soul: Medieval Dramatisations. publisher tbc. forthcoming.