Solomon and Marcolf is a textual corpus that interrogates and interrupts gynocentrism and elite disparagement of ordinary men. In the Latin version, the first part consists of agonistic exchanges of gnomic sentences between Marcolf and Solomon. The second part narrates tricks showing Marcolf’s superior knowledge of guile relative to Solomon. The earliest surviving Latin text of Solomon and Marcolf is dated 1410. It was probably composed about 1200. Stories of Marcolf and Solomon were widely known no later than 1000. Solomon and Marcolf became highly popular in Europe in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Adaptations were produced in English, German, Italian, Welsh, and other European languages.
In her story of Gongolf, Hrotsvit associated mockery of miracles with cuckoldry. Like Solomon and Marcolf, Hrotsvit paired spiritual life and fleshly life. … Read the post Hrotsvit with Gongolf empathized with Solomon and Marcolf
The popular medieval Solomon and Marcolf, like Pseudo-Sirach, insists on practical, sexual balance in Solomon’s wisdom and abhors malice toward men. … Read the post Marcolf challenged Solomon on malice toward men
With caustic wit like 8th-century Abbasid litterateur al-Jahiz, the Hebrew Alphabet of Ben Sira mocks learning and explores justice in Jewish history. … Read the post Alphabet of Ben Sira: mocking learning with justice