Language and Thought in Hildegard of Bingen's Visionary Trilogy: Close and Distant Readings of a Thinker's Development

Abstract

By combining the methods of distant reading (computational stylistics) and close reading, the authors discuss the development of language and thought in Hildegard of Bingen's visionary works (Sciuias, Liber uite meritorum and Liber diuinorum operum). The visionary trilogy, although written over the course of three decades, raises the impression of a monolithic and seemingly unchanging voice. Moving beyond this impression, the interdisciplinary analysis presented here reveals that the trilogy exhibits interesting differences at the word level which cannot simply be explained through external historical circumstances (e.g. manuscript transmission or different secretaries). Instead, the results raise pertinent questions regarding the trilogy's internal development in didactic method, style, and philosophy. I. The Authorship of Hildegard of Bingen Hildegard of Bingen's (1098-1179) major visionary works Sciuias (c. 1141-51), Liber uite meritorum (c. 1159-64) and Liber diuinorum operum (finished c. 1174) have been said to form an 'organic unity', 1 a tripartite magnum opus bound by strong conceptual, generic, and formal ties. 2 This is emphasized by the structure 1