Saepius Legentes ac Sedulo Conspicientes: Reading the Image, Contemplating the Text in Hrabanus Maurus’ Carmina Figurata

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This is a fine paper with a modest goal: to tell readers that Hrabanus's De laudibus sanctae crucis offers a profound theological meditation on the cross and does so in a threefold way: through image, poetry, and prose. It offers a reasonably succinct and clear introduction to/review of what is known about this important work and places it in its intellectual milieu.

Partly, the essay is constrained by the complexity and intricacy of the work under consideration. Nonetheless, the relationship between Section 3: Structure and Section 4: The Figures of the DLSC was not entirely clear. For instance, most of the (beautiful accompanying) images appear in sec. 3 rather than sec. 4. Furthermore, the transition, as part of "the value of the figures," to the table listing the titles, a description of the figures, and other details, which runs to 10 pp, isn't compelling in terms of the contribution it makes to the argument (and the space it takes up). More clarity on the importance of these two sections, or at least on the purpose of the transition to this part of 4, would be helpful to the reader.

Also related to the inherent complexity of the material: there is some unnecessary repetition, though this is a minor concern. While repetition can help where there's complexity and intricacy, the repetition of the fact that Alcuin was dead at a certain point in the history of the work (parenthetically on 4) and the layout of the book (7-8) was unnecessary in context.

On 9, there was an opportunity for more analytical, interpretive discussion when a negative comment by a 19th C reader was given the last word in a sub-section.

Note vii does not appear to support the author's point in the way that they suppose. The long quotation adduced would seem to concern the lastingness of words as opposed to transitoriness in general. The "work" (opus) in question would seem to be action in general, in which case the lastingness of grammata (by contrast) might encompass other forms of inscription as well. 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

There are minor issues here, but they are noticeable. 

- "a prodigy of mastery" (1): odd (overwrought?)

-also on 1, in the opening translation, it would be natural to include the indefinite article: Quidam monacus ... A certain monk ...

-"it is difficult to believe" (2, 3) -- this phrase, used twice in short order, might signal a more substantive issue (why is it difficult to believe? are there underlying interpretive issues here?), but its probably just a way of putting things that slightly draws attention to itself unnecessarily. Perhaps simply avoid the repetition

-"we resend" (5) -- strangely put: we send the reader back to the literature ....

-minor proofreading: coitained (4); ssur (25)

Author Response

Comment 1:

"Partly, the essay is constrained by the complexity and intricacy of the work under consideration. Nonetheless, the relationship between Section 3: Structure and Section 4: The Figures of the DLSC was not entirely clear. For instance, most of the (beautiful accompanying) images appear in sec. 3 rather than sec. 4. Furthermore, the transition, as part of "the value of the figures," to the table listing the titles, a description of the figures, and other details, which runs to 10 pp, isn't compelling in terms of the contribution it makes to the argument (and the space it takes up). More clarity on the importance of these two sections, or at least on the purpose of the transition to this part of 4, would be helpful to the reader."

Response 1:

The following paragraph has been added, in order to soften the transition:

The figures within Hrabanus DLSC are far more than mere visual embellishments; they serve as a fundamental component of the text communicative framework. Each figure, intricately designed, guides the reader’s journey through the text, leading them directly to the versus intexti. But not only that: the figures are meticulously crafted to convey specific theological messages, interwoven with the messages offered by the texts, and therefore they function simultaneously as narrative devices and symbols in their own right. Their dual role enriches the reader, providing a deeper, more layered understanding of the text spiritual and intellectual exploration.

Therefore, in this section, we will analyze the interaction between the figures and the verses, uncovering the sophisticated method by which Hrabanus embedded a layer of rich symbolic and doctrinal content into the fabric of his poetry in order to complement and enhance the textual narrative.

 

Comment 2:

"Also related to the inherent complexity of the material: there is some unnecessary repetition, though this is a minor concern. While repetition can help where there's complexity and intricacy, the repetition of the fact that Alcuin was dead at a certain point in the history of the work (parenthetically on 4) and the layout of the book (7-8) was unnecessary in context."

Response 2:

The parenthesis with the mention of Alcuin’s death has been removed. It was meant to be a reminder that Alcuin, although represented in the figure, couldn’t have been physically present at the time of the offering of the book. However, this remainder is already implicit in the following line in the term “postumous tribute.”

Comment 3:

"On 9, there was an opportunity for more analytical, interpretive discussion when a negative comment by a 19th C reader was given the last word in a sub-section."

Response 3:

The following explanation has been added:

It would seem that in his harsh judgment he was ignoring the constraints that the genre was imposing on the composition and therefore the function of the figures as well.

 

Comment 4:

"Note vii does not appear to support the author's point in the way that they suppose. The long quotation adduced would seem to concern the lastingness of words as opposed to transitoriness in general. The "work" (opus) in question would seem to be action in general, in which case the lastingness of grammata (by contrast) might encompass other forms of inscription as well. "

Response 4:

Note vii has been rephrased in the following way:

"Hrabanus extols the written word for its enduring nature and spiritual significance, articulating that God’s laws were recorded in written, and therefore emphasizing that while all material creations are vulnerable to decay and the ravages of time, written characters alone possess immortality."

This versión highlights the special status and virtue of writing, without making direct comparison to imagery, which is indeed absent in Hrabanus’ quotation.

 

Comments on the English language:

All the typos have been fixed as suggested.

“A Prodigy of mastery” has been changed by “a remarkable demonstration of mastery”.

Second, “it is difficult to believe” has been changed to “one cannot assume.”

 

General response:
I thank the reviewer for his/her observations and constructive criticism.

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This article is a fine piece of scholarship: readable, deep, and original.  To my knowledge, a significant contribution on the subject.

 

Author Response

"This article is a fine piece of scholarship: readable, deep, and original.  To my knowledge, a significant contribution on the subject."

Response: Thank you very much for your encouraging comments. I greatly appreciate your recognition of the work as a contribution to the field. Your feedback has been instrumental in refining the manuscript, and I am grateful for your thoughtful review and supportive words.