Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index


  • Record Number: 5440
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  • Title: The Vernal Paradox: Dante's Matelda [The author identifies the "donna soletta" of Dante's "Purgatorio" with Matelda (from the same book), and examines their relationship to Proserpina, the goddess of spring. Matelda has most often been identified with Matilda, Countess of Tuscany and ally of Pope Gregory VII. However, the author argues that the more important consideration is the figure's associations with spring, the Church Militant, and natural justice. Since she is not named until later by Beatrice, her identity may not be extremely significant. However, the author believes she most likely represents Saint Mathilde, empress and wife of Heinrich I, Holy Roman emperor. Title note supplied by Feminae.].
  • Source: Dante Studies 110, ( 1992): Pages 107 - 120.
  • Description:
  • Article Type: Journal Article
  • Subject (See Also): Dante Alighieri, Poet- Divina Commedia- Purgatorio Donna Soletta (Literary Figure) Literature- Verse Matelda (Literary Figure) Proserpina (Mythological Figure) Women in Literature
  • Award Note:
  • Geographic Area: Italy
  • Century: 13- 14
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  • Conference Info: - , -
  • Year of Publication: 1992.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN/ISBN: 00702862