47 pages • 1 hour read
Peter Abelard, HeloiseThe Letters Of Abelard And Heloise
Nonfiction | Collection of Letters | Adult | Published in 1133A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Abelard was educated in the secular liberal arts, particularly logic, before he turned to theology and became a monk. How did this background in secular higher education affect his theological work?
In The Letters of Abelard and Heloise, Heloise is vehemently against marrying Abelard. On what grounds does she oppose the marriage, and what evidence does she use to make her case?
How did Abelard and St Bernard differ in their views on ecclesiastical education? How did these differences inform their larger conflict?
Gender, and particularly the understanding of women as the weaker sex, features prominently in The Letters of Abelard and Heloise. How do Abelard and Heloise approach the subject of gender in their letters?
Both Abelard and Heloise have to contend with his castration and their separation. How do they grapple, or fail to grapple, with their circumstances?
In Letter 4, Heloise admits to feeling like a hypocrite. What are her reasons for feeling hypocritical, and how does Abelard respond to this statement?
How did internal church politics affect the lives and monastic careers of Abelard and Heloise? How did they participate in church politics?
Clanchy argues that, when studying The Letters of Abelard and Heloise, we should approach Heloise as an individual in her own right. What evidence does the book provide for this approach?
Food and wine feature prominently throughout The Letters of Abelard and Heloise. Why do Heloise and Abelard discuss food and wine, and how are the two related to issues of faith?
Castration features prominently in The Letters of Abelard and Heloise. What does castration represent for Heloise and Abelard? How are eunuchs invoked throughout the letters?
