Constructing imperial honour in the history of Leo the Deacon
Dobcheva, Ivana
MA Thesis in Medieval Studies, Central European University, Budapest, May (2009)
Abstract
The present thesis sets out to examine the work of Leo the Deacon (fl. tenth century) from a literary and narratological perspective, with special attention devoted to the construction of the image of the emperor. The analysis is focused on the literary style of the author and his work in order to examine the discursive construction of concepts of honour (and dishonour) that are dispersed throughout the ten books of his history. This allows a better understanding of the way of communication between author and audience and thus defining the possible readers of the ” History” itself and the historical and social background of the process of writing it.
At the very beginning I have to clarify the object of this study. Namely, the aim of the research is not to make anthropological analysis of the Byzantine perception of imperial honour, or to investigate the “true” history hidden behind the text. On the contrary, focusing its attention on one particular historiographical writing, that of Leo the Deacon (fl. tenth century)…
Constructing imperial honour in the history of Leo the Deacon
Dobcheva, Ivana
MA Thesis in Medieval Studies, Central European University, Budapest, May (2009)
Abstract
The present thesis sets out to examine the work of Leo the Deacon (fl. tenth century) from a literary and narratological perspective, with special attention devoted to the construction of the image of the emperor. The analysis is focused on the literary style of the author and his work in order to examine the discursive construction of concepts of honour (and dishonour) that are dispersed throughout the ten books of his history. This allows a better understanding of the way of communication between author and audience and thus defining the possible readers of the ” History” itself and the historical and social background of the process of writing it.
At the very beginning I have to clarify the object of this study. Namely, the aim of the research is not to make anthropological analysis of the Byzantine perception of imperial honour, or to investigate the “true” history hidden behind the text. On the contrary, focusing its attention on one particular historiographical writing, that of Leo the Deacon (fl. tenth century)…
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