Luisa Ostacchini

Thesis Title: England and the Continent in Ælfric's Lives of Saints

Supervisors: Dr. Francis Leneghan and Dr. Siân Grønlie

Doctoral Research: My doctoral thesis examines the portrayal of England and the Continent in Ælfric’s Lives of Saints, through close comparison of the Lives with their Latin source texts and with each other. In doing so, I aim to reach a better understanding of how the idea and image of the continent was used for didactic purposes by Ælfric. Though the various pieces of hagiography within the Lives of Saints have been studied in isolation, they are rarely considered together as a collection. My thesis aims to demonstrate that studying these pieces alongside one another rather than individually sheds new light on Ælfric’s theology and on his didactic praxis.

Research Interests: Old English and Medieval Latin literature, translation, hagiography, vernacular theology, insular-continental relations, the Benedictine Reform.

Teaching: I have taught a wide range of literature, from Beowulf to Milton. In 2019-20 I am teaching Prelims Paper 2 (early medieval literature c. 650–1350) at Worcester College, FHS Paper 2 (1350–1550) at Regent's Park College, and Paper 6: Border Crossings 1350–1645, as well as study skills sessions for third year undergraduates. I have lectured on Ælfric's Lives of Saints and Old English Hagiography more generally.