The Medieval Classic considers how ancient and medieval commentaries on the
Aeneid by Servius, Fulgentius, Bernard Silvestris, and others can give us new insights into four twelfth-century Latin epics -- the
Ylias by Joseph of Exeter, the
Alexandreis by Walter of Ch�tillon, the
Anticlaudianus by Alan of Lille, and the
Architrenius by John of Hauville.
Justin Haynes argues that the most profound connections between medieval epic and the
Aeneid have been overlooked because ancient and medieval interpretations, as preserved by the commentary tradition, were often radically different from modern ones. By explaining how to interpret the
Aeneid, these commentaries directly influenced the way in which medieval authors were inspired by the poem. At the same time, these commentaries allow us a greater awareness of the generic expectations held by medieval readers.
Because two of the medieval epics considered here are allegorical narratives, this book offers new perspectives on the importance of commentaries in the development of allegorical literature. Thus,
The Medieval Classic contributes to our understanding of ancient and medieval perceptions of the
Aeneid while exploring the importance of commentaries in shaping poetic composition, imitation, and the history of allegorical literature.
