Revelations of Divine Love'' by Julian of Norwich as a literary monument of English spiritual literature of 14th century

The article is devoted to creative work of the first English woman writer - Julian of Norwich (1342-1419?), the author of ''Revelations of Divine Love''. The writing at issue belongs to medieval spiritual literature of mystics formed in England in the second half of the 14th century. Besides Julian, such writers as Richard Rolle of Hampole (1300?-1349), Walter Hilton (?-1395), the unknown author of ''The Cloud of Unknowing (1370?) and others can be reckoned among mystics of that epoch. The book of Julian of Norwich is a narration of sixteen visions experienced by the heroine during a serious illness when she was thirty. The visions reflect the individual experience of the Communion about which the writer strives to impart to the reader with an edifying purpose. As opposed to the authors of traditional visions seeking to frighten the reader with the pictures of fire and brimstone and to turn them to severe austerity, Julian in her ''Revelations'' tries to cheer up and console the addressee and suggest faith in ''maternal'' God's love to people. There is no image of the other world or picture of the Last Judgement in ''Revelations''. The genre peculiarity of Julian's ''Revelations'' lies in convergence of the vision genre with the treatise. The experienced images and truth of faith opened to the heroine undergo some analytical interpretation in the writing. First of all, in her discussion Julian develops the ideas of Trinitarity, maternal nature of God and the Holy Church as the substitute of God on the earth. At the same time the author of ''Revelations'' possesses individual artistic figurativeness in comparison with other representatives of the literature of mystics. Huge amorphous universal images are organically connected in her writing with particular soft tangible forms. The latter are brightly implemented in the picture of the Crucifixion. In many cases Julian's figurativeness is remarkable for its proximity to the sphere of a woman's life, household and maternal cares. The images of Christ and Maria in ''Revelations'' are identified by the character of maternal care and ''home'' kindness to the human being. The result of the experienced visions is the strengthened soul of the heroine who acquired firmness in her faith and acceptance of the grace of God. The author of this article notes the growing popularity of Julian's ''Revelations'' in ages having got the reputation of a book with a therapeutic influence on people. It is pointed out that by now '' Revelations of Divine Love '' by Julian of Norwich is included in the programme of university education at humanitarian faculties. The translation of the book into Russian fulfilled by Yu. Dresvina and published in 2010 is evaluated in the article as a significant event that introduced the reader to an example of English literature of mystics. The article also presents a few biographical details about the author of ''Revelations'', Julian-anchoress of Norwich who was canonized in the Anglican Church in the 1980s.

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