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UCC Library and UCC researchers have made this item openly available. Please let us know how this has helped you. Thanks! Title Medieval Irish vision literature: a genre study Author(s) Volmering, Nicole Johanna Bernartina Publication date 2014 Original citation Volmering, N. J. B. 2014. Medieval Irish vision literature: a genre study. PhD Thesis, University College Cork. Type of publication Doctoral thesis Rights © 2014, Nicole J.B. Volmering. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ Item downloaded http://hdl.handle.net/10468/1968 from Downloaded on 2021-10-07T22:38:16Z Medieval Irish Vision Literature A Genre Study Nicole J.B. Volmering This dissertation is submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the National University of Ireland, Cork, Department of Early and Medieval Irish/Roinn na Sean- 7 na Meán-Ghaeilge, in which the research was conducted. July 2014 Supervisor: Dr. John Carey Head of Department: Dr. John Carey CONTENTS Declaration ............................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. ii LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ......................................................................................... iv MANUSCRIPT SIGLA .................................................................................................. v 1. Introduction, Definition and Approach .............................................................. 1 1.1 What is Vision Literature? ................................................................................ 2 1.1.1 Towards an Initial Definition ......................................................................... 5 1.1.1.1 Inspiration and Innovation ........................................................................ 12 1.1.2 An ‘Irish’ Vision .......................................................................................... 16 1.2 The State of Research ...................................................................................... 22 1.3 Methodology ................................................................................................... 29 1.3.1 The Methodology of ‘Genre’ ....................................................................... 29 1.3.1.1 Constituents and function of genre ........................................................... 33 1.4 Approach of this Dissertation .......................................................................... 35 1.4.1 Introduction to the Paradigm ........................................................................ 35 1.4.2 Approach of this Dissertation ....................................................................... 39 2. Sources.................................................................................................................. 42 2.1 The Visions of Fursa ....................................................................................... 42 2.2 The Vision of Laisrén ...................................................................................... 50 2.3 Visio Sancti Pauli: Redactions VI and XI ....................................................... 56 2.3.1 Introduction to the Visio Sancti Pauli .......................................................... 56 2.3.2 Redaction VI ................................................................................................. 62 2.3.3 Redaction XI ................................................................................................. 65 2.4 Fís Adomnáin .................................................................................................. 66 2.5 The Second Vision of Adomnán ...................................................................... 68 2.6 The Vision of Lóchán ...................................................................................... 69 2.7 Visio Tnugdali ................................................................................................. 70 2.8 Tractatus de Purgatorio Sancti Patricii .......................................................... 73 3. Form and Rhetoric .............................................................................................. 78 3.1 Manner of Revelation ...................................................................................... 78 3.1.1 Titles ............................................................................................................. 78 3.1.2 Manner of Revelation: Vision and Journey ................................................. 85 3.1.3 Manner of Revelation: Auditory ................................................................ 103 3.1.4 Exhortation: Paraenesis and Hortatory Instructions ................................... 129 Conclusion to 3.1................................................................................................. 138 3.2 Characters ...................................................................................................... 140 3.2.1 The Visionary I: Identity ............................................................................ 140 3.2.2 The Visionary II: Reaction ......................................................................... 148 3.2.2.1. Confusion, Fear or Despair .................................................................... 149 3.2.2.2 Feelings of Joy near Angels or upon Entering Heaven ........................... 151 3.2.2.3 Grief at Separation from Heaven or the Heavenly Company ................. 154 3.2.2.4 Grief when Witnessing Souls Suffering .................................................. 155 3.2.3 The Visionary III: Place, Time, Disposition .............................................. 157 3.2.4 The Visionary IV: Separation of Body and Soul ....................................... 163 3.2.5 The Mediator .............................................................................................. 167 3.2.6 Familiars and Other Inhabitants of the Afterworld .................................... 169 3.2.6.1 Familiars .................................................................................................. 170 3.2.6.2 Exemplary characters .............................................................................. 173 3.2.6.3 Angels and Devils ................................................................................... 174 Conclusions to 3.2 ............................................................................................... 176 3.3 Form, Rhetoric, and Audience ...................................................................... 178 3.3.1 Causa scribendi, Form and Function ......................................................... 178 3.3.2 Authenticity and Authority ........................................................................ 186 3.3.3 Audience..................................................................................................... 191 4. The Afterworld .................................................................................................. 193 4.1 Spatial Representation of the Afterlife .......................................................... 198 4.2 Heaven, Hell and Hierarchy .......................................................................... 203 4.2.1 Hell ............................................................................................................. 203 4.2.2 The Kingdom of Heaven ............................................................................ 213 4.2.2.1 Paradise and the Land of Saints .............................................................. 222 4.2.2.2 Access to the Divine Presence: Sights and Sounds as Markers of Hierarchy ................................................................................................................... 228 4.3 The ‘Interim’: Punishment and Purgation ..................................................... 233 4.3.1 Sinning and Atonement .............................................................................. 249 4.3.1.1 Sins .......................................................................................................... 250 4.3.1.2 Punishments ............................................................................................ 253 4.3.1.3 Punishment of the Visionary and Like-for-Like Punishment ................. 255 4.4 Expectation of Judgement and Salvation ...................................................... 259 4.4.1 Personal Judgement and Salvation ............................................................. 259 4.4.1.1 Devils in the Air ...................................................................................... 261 4.4.1.2 The Winnowing Bridge ........................................................................... 264 4.4.1.3 A Harsh Middle Ground Between Good and Bad................................... 267 4.4.2 Universal Judgement and Salvation ........................................................... 269 4.4.2.1 The Long View........................................................................................ 271 4.4.3 Salvation in the Present .............................................................................. 271 4.5 Conclusion: Classification of the Soul .......................................................... 273 5. General Conclusions and Avenues for Further Research ............................. 275 5.1 Conclusions