Henry Ravenhall, an assistant professor in the Department of French at UC Berkeley, is shedding light on medieval reading habits that contrast sharply with modern perceptions. In his study of hundreds of manuscripts from the Middle Ages, Ravenhall has observed patterns where paint is smudged or characters are defaced. These findings suggest a different cultural approach to books during that era.
“When you look closely at the surface itself, you see patterns of how paint has been smudged or certain characters defaced,” said Ravenhall. His work indicates that medieval readers engaged with texts by physically interacting with them, a practice seen in repeated touch and even kissing the manuscripts.
Ravenhall’s research points out that this tactile interaction was part of a broader social experience. “For medieval readers, the experience of reading was about more than sitting alone quietly with a book,” he noted. This physical engagement provided ways for readers to connect and express themselves beyond daily life constraints.
The Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley houses one such example: The Romance of the Rose, a popular medieval French text. “The Romance of the Rose is a medieval French bestseller,” Ravenhall explained. With over 300 copies existing today, it illustrates the widespread circulation these works had during their time.
Most surviving manuscripts were intended for aristocratic or wealthy audiences due to their high cost, especially those with illuminations. Lower-class individuals typically engaged with literature through oral performances in public spaces.
Ravenhall highlights how literacy evolved from being Latin-centric among churchmen to include vernacular languages by the 12th and 13th centuries. This shift expanded partial literacy across various societal levels.
Reading practices varied widely in the Middle Ages, often involving group settings where texts were read aloud and passed around. “Suddenly, reading seems incredibly strange from the way we think about reading today,” Ravenhall reflected on these communal dynamics.
Ethics played a significant role in medieval reading as well. Manuscripts like Yvain, the Knight of the Lion showcase defacement as expressions of ethical judgment within narratives.
In drawing parallels to modern media consumption habits like scrolling and zooming on devices, Ravenhall suggests our interactions might not be so different from those historical practices after all.
