User:TaliaMary/sandbox
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Born in Gandersheim to Saxon nobles Hrotsvitha (c. 935 – after 973) was a German secular canoness[1], who wrote dramas and poems during the rule of the Ottonian dynasty[1], lived in Gandersheim Abbey[1], and remains an important literary figure to this day. Hrotsvitha is historically and literarily important for many reasons, including but not limited to, the fact that she is considered the first female writer from the German Lands, the first female historian[2], the first person since antiquity to write dramas in the Latin West[3], and the first female poetess in Germany[4].
Hrotsvitha's life and works are impactful as they provide a historical record with a focus on women's lives. This record leaves a lasting legacy that continues to impact people, particularly in regards to historical and modern understandings of gender, feminism, and Christianity.
Her six short dramas are considered to be her most important works[4]. She is also one of the very few women who wrote about her life during the early Middle Ages, this makes her one of the only people to record a history of women in that era from a woman's perspective[5]. The fact that she was one of the first women to write about women's experiences, coupled with the sheer beauty her work, has lead some to call her "the most remarkable woman of her time"[6], and has made her an important figure in the history of women[2][1]
Despite her importance little is known about Hrotsvitha’s personal life, who she was, or her personal beliefs beyond her writings[1]. This lack of knowledge about Hrothsvitha's life can be attributed to the fact that she lived and wrote in the 10th century and the fact that all of her written works are in Latin[7]. As a result, her works had to be rediscovered and translated in the 1600s[5], which may have lead to the miss-interpretation, or miss-translation of her work[2].
Hrotsvitha's name (Latin: Hrotsvitha Gandeshemensis) appears in various forms including: Hrotsvit, Hrosvite, Hroswitha, Hroswithe, Rhotswitha, Roswit and Roswitha[8]. Her name means "a mighty shout", and some have commented on how this either represents or conflicts with the personality presented in her writing[9]. Moreover, the meaning of her name speaks to the way she wanted to glorify Christian hero's and legends, as well as the values they represent, as it expresses her mission to do so[10].
It is important to note that while many have questioned the authenticity of Hrotsvitha’s work[11][12], historical examinations and collections of her works, coupled with the multiple historical and contemporary works that speak about her, demonstrate that Hrotsvitha's work is authentic[11]. Feminist scholars have argued this questioning of the authenticity of Hrotsvitha's work reveals a sexist narrative rather than revealing a flaw in her work or that she did not exist, as individuals have been engaging with her work for hundreds of year, and with increased intensity since her rediscovery in the 15th century[11].