Papers by Katharine Geldenhuys
The Southern African Society for Medieval and Renaissance Studies (SASMARS), 2008
The focus of action in the East Anglian Croxton Play of the Sacrament is a consecrated communion ... more The focus of action in the East Anglian Croxton Play of the Sacrament is a consecrated communion wafer, the host. Aristorius, a Christian merchant, steals a consecrated host from a church. He sells it to a group of Jewish merchants (who instigated the theft) as they wish to use the host to disprove the dogma of transubstantiation. The Jewish characters subject the host to several tests which parallel the Passion in various ways. In the process, one of the Jewish characters (Jonathas) is injured. A vision of the Christ-child appears and addresses them. They repent their sins and Jonathas is miraculously healed. As a result, they convert to Christianity. Aristorius confesses his sacrilegious theft and the host is returned to its rightful place in the local church: a happy ending for all, in medieval Christian terms. This article argues that in the Croxton Play of the Sacrament, the Christian playwright enacts a ritual of transgression (and thus of impurity) that neutralises the threat of religious heterodoxy. Making use of a dramatic representation of imaginary Jewish characters, the playwright ponders the nature of the doctrine of transubstantiation, and possible Christian doubts and anxieties concerning it at a safe remove. The Christian thus uses a representation of a Jewish Other to consider the divine Other, thereby crossing social and spiritual boundaries, while Christ may also be perceived as reaching out to the human Other by transgressing limits.
Katherine of Alexandria, one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages, was acclaimed for her... more Katherine of Alexandria, one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages, was acclaimed for her great learning. This investigation focuses on the fraught relationship between knowledge, the feminine and the idea of the body in the predominantly Catholic society of late medieval England as it is revealed in John Capgrave’s fifteenth century Life of Saint Katherine of Alexandria. Although Capgrave does not shy away from the issues of gender power-relations that were pertinent to his society and appears to be unique among his peers in allowing for quite a balanced debate of these issues in his text, he includes aspects which subtly undercut Katherine’s strident independence as a woman. In this way he is able to honour the saint while simultaneously confirming the ‘proper’ position of women in medieval patriarchal society by equating it to the position of humanity in the Church vis-a-vis Christ. Consequently, Capgrave is able to openly consider challenges to, and yet subtly affirm, th...
The Medieval Review, 2008
The East Anglian Croxton Play of the Sacrament is extant in only one manuscript: Trinity College,... more The East Anglian Croxton Play of the Sacrament is extant in only one manuscript: Trinity College, Dublin, MS F.4.20 (Catalogue No. 652), folios 338r–356r.1 The modern appellation of the “Croxton” Play is due to the internal reference in the banns which states that the performance will take place ‘At Croxston on Monday’ (line 74).2 The Croxton referred to is most likely the one in Norfolk, two miles north of Thetford. Another internal reference to ‘the colkote . . . / A lytyll beside Babwell Myll’ (lines 620–21) indicates that this miracle play would have been performed in the vicinity of Bury St Edmunds (Suffolk), which is some fourteen miles from Croxton.3 Gail McMurray Gibson has, however, convincingly argued for the plausibility of the play being originally intended for performance in Bury St Edmunds.4 This non-cycle drama was likely written after 1461 for performance at the feast of Corpus Christi (introduced to England in the 1320s).5
Next to St Katherine we see St Barbara holding her tower with its three windows and across from h... more Next to St Katherine we see St Barbara holding her tower with its three windows and across from her, with her dragon, we see St Margaret. Saints Katherine, Barbara and Margaret were the only female members of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, also known as the Auxiliary Saints. These saints were revered due to their believed efficacy as intercessors for humanity (Cross, 1958:113). 2 On the left of the Virgin Mary sits St Dorothy, holding a basket of flowers. St Katherine is set apart from the other saints in this painting as she is seated immediately to the right of the Virgin Mary (a position of honour). She is also the focus of the Christ-child's attention as she receives His ring and becomes His bride. The painting thus combines the medieval theological concerns of the body and bride of Christ in their various forms. These issues are also of central concern in Capgrave's St Katherine and will be explored in greater detail in this study.
The purpose of this article is to investigate the manner in which Christ, perceived as present in... more The purpose of this article is to investigate the manner in which Christ, perceived as present in the eucharistic host, is portrayed as the Suffering Physician in the "quack doctor" scene in the Croxton Play of the Sacrament. The dramatist's specific linguistic choices in this scene appear to have been made in an attempt to create images of and associations with the Passion and other perceived forms of healing. The many references to medicinal plants, which are particularly significant in relation to the medieval idea of Christ's role as the spiritual or moral Physician of humanity are considered in detail. Mediese en morele 'voorskrifte' in 'n vyftiende-eeuse Sakramentspel Hierdie artikel ondersoek die manier waarop Christus, wat deur middel van transubstansiasie as teenwoordig in die Nagmaal beskou word, in die "kwaksalwer"-toneel van die Play of the Sacrament van Croxton in Engeland, as die Lydende Geneesheer voorgestel word. Dit blyk dat d...
Saint Katherine was one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages and was renowned for her ex... more Saint Katherine was one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages and was renowned for her exceptional education. John Capgrave wrote his Life of Saint Katherine of Alexandria in East Anglia in the 1440s. The episode in Capgrave's text in which Katherine is converted to Christianity is set in a private garden. While Capgrave attempts to associate Katherine with the Virgin Mary, the setting encourages associations with the Garden of Eden, Eve and the Fall. Eve's sin was seen as prime evidence for the rightness of the subjection of women and of preventing them from preaching, teaching and speaking in public. The underlying tensions regarding women alluded to by means of the garden setting are explored. Vroue, kennis en tuine in John Capgrave se Lewe van Sint Katherine van Alexandria Sint Katherine was een van die populerste heiliges van die Middeleeue en het veral roem verwerf vir haar uitsonderlike geleerdheid. John Capgrave het sy Lewe van Sint Katherine van Alexandria i...
Acta Academica, 2003
The purpose of this article is to investigate the manner in which Christ, perceived as present in... more The purpose of this article is to investigate the manner in which Christ, perceived as present in the eucharistic host, is portrayed as the Suffering Physician in the “quack doctor” scene in the Croxton Play of the Sacrament. The dramatist’s specific linguistic choices in this scene appear to have been made in an attempt to create images of and associations with the Passion and other perceived forms of healing.
The many references to medicinal plants, which are particularly significant in relation to the medieval idea of Christ’s role as the spiritual or moral Physician of humanity are considered in detail.
Southern African Journal of Medieval and Renaissance Studies, 2008
The focus of action in the East Anglian Croxton Play of the Sacrament is a consecrated communion ... more The focus of action in the East Anglian Croxton Play of the Sacrament is a consecrated communion wafer, the host. Aristorius, a Christian merchant, steals a consecrated host from a church. He sells it to a group of Jewish merchants (who instigated the theft) as they wish to use the host to disprove the dogma of transubstantiation. The Jewish characters subject the host to several tests which parallel the Passion in various ways. In the process, one of the Jewish characters (Jonathas) is injured. A vision of the Christ-child appears and addresses them. They repent their sins and Jonathas is miraculously healed. As a result, they convert to Christianity. Aristorius confesses his sacrilegious theft and the host is returned to its rightful place in the local church: a happy ending for all, in medieval Christian terms.
This article argues that in the Croxton Play of the Sacrament, the Christian playwright enacts a ritual of transgression (and thus of impurity) that neutralises the threat of religious heterodoxy. Making use of a dramatic representation of imaginary Jewish characters, the playwright ponders the nature of the doctrine of transubstantiation, and possible Christian doubts and anxieties concerning it at a safe remove. The Christian thus uses a representation of a Jewish Other to consider the divine Other, thereby crossing social and spiritual boundaries, while Christ may also be perceived as reaching out to the human Other by transgressing limits.
Acta Academica, 2007
Saint Katherine was one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages and was renowned for her ex... more Saint Katherine was one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages and was renowned for her exceptional education. John Capgrave wrote his Life of Saint Katherine of Alexandria in East Anglia in the 1440s. The episode in Capgrave's text in which Katherine is converted to Christianity is set in a private garden. While Capgrave attempts to associate Katherine with the Virgin Mary, the setting encourages associations with the Garden of Eden, Eve and the Fall. Eve's sin was seen as prime evidence for the rightness of the subjection of women and of preventing them from preaching, teaching and speaking in public. The underlying tensions regarding women alluded to by means of the garden setting are explored.
Scriptorium, 2006
The Franciscan nunnery of Saints James and Leonard in Cambridgeshire, Denney Abbey, appears to ha... more The Franciscan nunnery of Saints James and Leonard in Cambridgeshire, Denney Abbey, appears to have been one of the early owners of Ms. Cambridge, University Library, Additional 8335. The manuscript contains an English copy of the unexpanded Northern Homily Cycle and was probably written in the early fifteenth century.
This article uses manuscript and historical evidence to outline the most likely uses of the manuscript while in the abbey’s possession. It is further argued that the age of the manuscript and the dating of the various inscriptions support the hypothesis that Denney Abbey lost Ms. Cambridge, University Library, Additional 8335 when pecuniary difficulties forced them to pawn it in the latter part of the fifteenth century.
Next to St Katherine we see St Barbara holding her tower with its three windows and across from h... more Next to St Katherine we see St Barbara holding her tower with its three windows and across from her, with her dragon, we see St Margaret. Saints Katherine, Barbara and Margaret were the only female members of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, also known as the Auxiliary Saints. These saints were revered due to their believed efficacy as intercessors for humanity (Cross, 1958:113). 2 On the left of the Virgin Mary sits St Dorothy, holding a basket of flowers. St Katherine is set apart from the other saints in this painting as she is seated immediately to the right of the Virgin Mary (a position of honour). She is also the focus of the Christ-child's attention as she receives His ring and becomes His bride. The painting thus combines the medieval theological concerns of the body and bride of Christ in their various forms. These issues are also of central concern in Capgrave's St Katherine and will be explored in greater detail in this study.
Ioye we, and make we myrthe, and yyue glorie to hym; for the weddingis of the lomb camen, and the... more Ioye we, and make we myrthe, and yyue glorie to hym; for the weddingis of the lomb camen, and the wijf of hym made redy hir silf. And it is youun to hir, that sche kyuere hir with white bissyn schynynge; for whi bissyn is iustifiyngis of seyntis.
Book Reviews by Katharine Geldenhuys
Africa Book Link, 2016
The Woman Next Door is Yewande Omotoso’s second novel. It followed five years after Bom Boy, for ... more The Woman Next Door is Yewande Omotoso’s second novel. It followed five years after Bom Boy, for which she won the South African Literary Award for a First-time Published Author, as well as being short-listed for the South African Sunday Times Fiction Prize.
The Medieval Review, 2008
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Papers by Katharine Geldenhuys
The many references to medicinal plants, which are particularly significant in relation to the medieval idea of Christ’s role as the spiritual or moral Physician of humanity are considered in detail.
This article argues that in the Croxton Play of the Sacrament, the Christian playwright enacts a ritual of transgression (and thus of impurity) that neutralises the threat of religious heterodoxy. Making use of a dramatic representation of imaginary Jewish characters, the playwright ponders the nature of the doctrine of transubstantiation, and possible Christian doubts and anxieties concerning it at a safe remove. The Christian thus uses a representation of a Jewish Other to consider the divine Other, thereby crossing social and spiritual boundaries, while Christ may also be perceived as reaching out to the human Other by transgressing limits.
This article uses manuscript and historical evidence to outline the most likely uses of the manuscript while in the abbey’s possession. It is further argued that the age of the manuscript and the dating of the various inscriptions support the hypothesis that Denney Abbey lost Ms. Cambridge, University Library, Additional 8335 when pecuniary difficulties forced them to pawn it in the latter part of the fifteenth century.
Book Reviews by Katharine Geldenhuys
The many references to medicinal plants, which are particularly significant in relation to the medieval idea of Christ’s role as the spiritual or moral Physician of humanity are considered in detail.
This article argues that in the Croxton Play of the Sacrament, the Christian playwright enacts a ritual of transgression (and thus of impurity) that neutralises the threat of religious heterodoxy. Making use of a dramatic representation of imaginary Jewish characters, the playwright ponders the nature of the doctrine of transubstantiation, and possible Christian doubts and anxieties concerning it at a safe remove. The Christian thus uses a representation of a Jewish Other to consider the divine Other, thereby crossing social and spiritual boundaries, while Christ may also be perceived as reaching out to the human Other by transgressing limits.
This article uses manuscript and historical evidence to outline the most likely uses of the manuscript while in the abbey’s possession. It is further argued that the age of the manuscript and the dating of the various inscriptions support the hypothesis that Denney Abbey lost Ms. Cambridge, University Library, Additional 8335 when pecuniary difficulties forced them to pawn it in the latter part of the fifteenth century.