Alan of Lille (Alain de Lille, Alanus ab Insulis), a scholar, poet, and theologian, was born in Lille in France about 1120. Alan was known as Doctor Universalis, indicating his mastery of scripture as well as the seven liberal arts of medieval cathedral schools. He moved in the leading intellectual circles of Chartres, Paris, and Provence. His most important literary works are About the Complaint of Nature {De Planctu Naturae} and the Against Claudian {Anticlaudianus}. Both poems are formally sophisticated, highly self-conscious, and deeply engaged with cosmological thinking of his day. Alan of Lille had profound understanding of men’s nature and men’s social position. He died in 1202 or 1203.
Medieval literature overcame sex and gender trouble with creativity and tolerance. Our intensely moralistic age needs medieval, rational moral priorities. … Read the post sex & gender trouble addressed with medieval creativity and tolerance
As the eminent medieval thinker Alan of Lille expressed in Liber parabolarum, trust isn’t inherent in woman. All that glitters isn’t gold. Men, beware. … Read the post Alan of Lille, Chaucer & Shakespeare knew all that glistens isn’t gold
Amid confusion of language, Alan of Lille’s Anticlaudianus narrates ruling sisters foolishly creating a novus homo, intended to be a perfect man. … Read the post Anticlaudianus mocks ruling sisters creating garden without seed
The medieval Latin poem Undoing the Knot / Vix nodosum valeo considers whether an unmarried man should seek sex with a virgin woman or a married woman. … Read the post Alan of Lille’s knotty knot more twisted in modern authoritative norms
The marriage of Matheolus and Petra overthrew the grammar of sex, just as did Alexander the Great’s mistress riding Aristotle as a mare. … Read the post grammar of sex in marriage for Matheolus and Petra