‘Astonishing Virtue of Absence’? The influence of both manuscript and print on the paratexts of Esther Inglis’ ‘Octonaries’ (1607) and ‘Pseaumes’ (1615)

Harris, Sìne Kay (2020) ‘Astonishing Virtue of Absence’? The influence of both manuscript and print on the paratexts of Esther Inglis’ ‘Octonaries’ (1607) and ‘Pseaumes’ (1615). MPhil(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis discusses the paratexts of two manuscripts written, illuminated and possibly bound by Esther Inglis (1569?-1624), her ‘Octonaries Upon the Vanitie and Inconstancie of the World’ (1607) dedicated to her landlord and her ‘Les Pseaumes de David’ (1615) for King James VI/I. It will examine the material, textual, visual and structural paratexts, drawing from a range of disciplines, and consider how she shows creativity in adapting, altering, repurposing and recontextualising elements brought in from elsewhere. These elements come from a wide range of sources, both in manuscript and print, artistic and literary, including Ovid, emblems, writing manuals, the writing of James VI, florilegia and the Bible. This speaks to an early modern set of cultural values which placed less emphasis on originality and encouraged participation through this alteration process, even casting it as virtuous. These paratexts, and said process is used by Inglis to create books best adapted to please her patrons, which would redound to her favour in return gifts, and create a clear image of herself as a multi-talented maker and pious subject.

• Item Type: Thesis (MPhil(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Subjects: P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General); P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN0080 Criticism
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > Scottish Literature
• Supervisor's Name: Van Heijnsbergen, Dr. Theo
• Date of Award: 2020
• Embargo Date: 15 January 2024
• Depositing User: Ms SK Harris
• Unique ID: glathesis:2020-81929
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 15 Jan 2021 16:13
• Last Modified: 15 Jan 2021 16:15
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.81929
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/81929