10/15 Medieval Lyrics (#7b)

By observing medieval poetry the ideas and aspirations of that time periods can be observed. To common theme in medieval poetry are religion and love. The theme religion is displayed in the piece “A Hymn to Holy Women” and love is evident in the the work “Aubade” as well as “A Lover’s Prize.”

Religion

As the title suggests the work is a tribute to women. To give credit to women for anything other than being gossiping temptresses is an uncommon thing for the middle ages, which is precisely what this peace does. The poem “A Hymn to Holy Women” describes the devil’s work to keep the world from salvation, then becomes an insulting message to the devil because girls are defeating him. The work begins describing a ladder reaching “up to heaven” (line 1). Below the ladder is a dragon that “stands on guard” (line 5). Continuing, it is explained that one can climb the ladder that the dragon watches. At the top of the ladder is a boy “radiant, a golden” with a bough in hand (lines 15-6). Here the ladder represents salvation, the dragon stand for the devil and the boy is Christ Jesus. To reach the Jesus at the summit us salvation past the devil. The author makes the comment that for women the climb is made “made so free” (line 19). The author begins to insult the devil saying even though he once deceived a woman with a serpent, it was a woman who was used to bring Christ into the world. It is women that raise Godly sons for Christ.

In addition to shedding a more positive light on women, this piece also is a good showcase for various poetic tools. Imagery is found when screen with dragon guarded ladder with “radiant” boy at the top (line 19). Figurative language is found in the form of a metaphor, when the devil is compared to a “attentive dragon” (lines 3-4).

Love

While both “Anonymous” and “A Lover’s Prize” describe love, the two poems tell a very different side of the experience. “Anonymous” describes the passion filled moment shared by two lovers who’s only regret is that the moment can not last forever as the dawn threatens to illuminate their affair. In contrast “A Lover’s Prize” is the voice of a woman longing for her lover to return and take her husband's place. The first poem love is a thing shared between two people, but in the second poem love is longing for something out of reach.

Medieval courtly love followed rules that can be observed in these to poems. First, both women were loving men other than their husbands. Courtly love is not restrain to marriage, but thrives in secret affairs. In “Anonymous” the lovers had to leave one another at day brake. The level of secrecy is consistent with courtly love the rarely survive the public spot light. In “A Lover’s Prize” the narrator believes she is entitled to her lover. The claim of entitlement is also consistent for in courtly love, for no one should be deprived of love.