Mystical Poetics
The Oxford Handbook of Mystical Theology February 25, 2020 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198722380.013.13
Summary
The examination highlights the connection between Christian mysticism and poetics, exploring sources like Platonic poetry and Hebrew creation. It discusses how early Christians used figurative language to express their relationship with God and traces the development of vernacular mysticism through four poets: Dante, Jacopone, Hadewijch, and Angelus Silesius. The study emphasizes how poetic forms enhance spiritual expression beyond what is achievable through regular discourse.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | Poetic forms enable mystical writers to convey spiritual content in ways that discursive communication cannot achieve. |
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Abstract
The development of Christian mysticism is deeply bound to poetics. This examination first considers Platonic poetry, Hebrew creation, and Christian kenosis as sources of poetic mysticism, before turning to an elaboration of the role of rhythm, language, and the poetic imagination. The appraisal then considers the historical development of mystical poetry, beginning with early Christian reflection on the figurative and lyrical use of scriptural language to express a deep personal relationship with God. The development of vernacular mysticism, and its adoption of this scriptural model, is then explored through a detailed consideration of four mystical poets (Dante, Jacopone, Hadewijch, and Angelus Silesius). The interaction of poetic form and spiritual content is elaborated throughout, with the aim of demonstrating how poetics allows the mystical writer to achieve a result for the reader otherwise not possible in discursive forms of communication.