CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2024
| Author | Politi, Davide |
|---|---|
| Title | Demonic Magic and its Practitioners in Thirteenth-Century Exempla |
| Summary | This thesis examines thirteenth-century exempla to understand how their authors conceptualized and transmitted the idea of demonic magic, contrasting them with other types of text such as theological treatises and magical handbooks, and exploring how magic was used as a rhetorical tool. The analysis reveals that exempla, while generally consistent with the theological doctrines of the time, also diverge from these in some recurring themes. Methodologically, the thesis employs a close reading of selected exempla, considering their narrative structure, intended audience, and the context of their composition. It highlights the complexity of these narratives and their role in shaping medieval perceptions of magic, gender, and social norms. The findings challenge the notion of exempla as mere intermediaries between theological intellectuals and the masses, proposing instead that they were dynamic texts tailored to specific rhetorical and didactic purposes. |
| Supervisor | Klaniczay Gábor |
| Department | Medieval Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2024/politi_davide.pdf |
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