The Transformative Power of Love: The Negation of the Subject in Mysticism and Troubadour Fin' Amors

ABSTRACT This dissertation compares the works of select troubadours with three mystical tracts in order to present the similarities found in these two literary traditions. Mystical writings have a far longer history reaching into antiquity and continuing until the present day. The traces in the manuscript traditions situate in the late eleventh century a new poetic form in Occitan with a focus on earthly love. The love as it is described in the songs of the composers who write or sing about it comes to be called bon amors or fin’ amors, the term we use today to name the love of the troubadour tradition. The period of lyrical production in Occitan by troubadours speaking of fin’ amors does not endure more than three centuries if we begin our count with Guilhem IX (1071-1126) and close with the poet so often called the last of the troubadours, Guiraut Riquier (1254-1292). These two traditions of love literature are thus distinguished by the nature of their literary histories and also by the loves they describe. Despite this, the shape of the loves they discuss as well as the language used to speak about love are not so different.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Comparative Literature

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Wilhite, Valerie M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Jaeger, C. Stephen
• Fresco, Karen L.
• Layton, Richard A.
• Busby, Keith

• fin' amors
• troubadours
• mysticism

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2010 Valerie M. Wilhite

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/18527

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/18527