John Donne (1572-1631) in the company of Augustine: patristic culture and literary profession in the English Renaissance

There is a general agreement among modern scholars that St. Augustine exercised a powerful influence over J. Donne. By what means and in what manner did Donne become acquainted with Augustine's writings and thought? How much of this knowledge of his literary oeuvre was obtained at first hand? A samp...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor:Mark Vessey
Publicado: S.n., s.l., 1993
Volumen:XXXIX
Páginas:173-201
Periódico:Revue des Études Augustiniennes
Número:1
Formato:Article
Tópico:- Influencia y Supervivencia > Edad Moderna (1453-1789) > [Donne (John, 1572-1631)]
Estado:Needs Review
Descripción
Sumario:There is a general agreement among modern scholars that St. Augustine exercised a powerful influence over J. Donne. By what means and in what manner did Donne become acquainted with Augustine's writings and thought? How much of this knowledge of his literary oeuvre was obtained at first hand? A sample analysis of Donne's prose works from the years immediately preceding his ordination in 1615 reveals a general familiarity with the 'Confessions' and some awareness of the main tenets of the 'De doctrina christiana'. It appears that Donne drew heavily on Augustinian precept and example in order to reconcile his own literary and social aspirations with the office of an Anglican churchman.