From Marginal Glosses to Translations: Levels of Glossing in an Early Medieval Manuscript (Munich, BSB, Clm 19410)

Abstract

Clm 19410 contains a variety of texts, most of them of rather drab and unassuming nature like questionnaires, moral sayings or writing templates. Taken together, they constitute a utilitarian manuscript to be used in education and for self-study in more advanced topics or even practice in them. Hidden among the different texts lay a multitude of glossaries of varying educational levels, from explanations of basic monastic texts to esoteric farm vocabulary, as well as a glossed version of an Anglo-Saxon poem. The glossaries and the poem are analysed in regard to their setting in the manuscript as well as to their internal characteristics. This analysis reinforces the impression of the manuscript as a dual use tool for education as well as advanced activities of the learned clergy of the time.