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 Châtillon, 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
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
, 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,
contributes to our understanding of ancient and medieval perceptions of the
while exploring the importance of commentaries in shaping poetic composition, imitation, and the history of allegorical literature.