Christine de Pizan

By: Megan Widmoyer and Shauna VanVactor

LIFESPAN: 1363- 1430

Father was Thomas Pezano.He was an astrologer and scholar.When Christine was five, her father was appointed to work for King Charles V, in France. She was born in Venice, Italy.

FAMILY EDUCATION

Christine’s father played a major role in her education. She learned Latin, philosophy, literature, and the sciences. Her education was that of a man during her time.

Death of natural causes.

When Christine was 15, she married Ettiene du Castel.She had three children; one boy, one girl, and one died in childhood.

PROFESSION Christine went into

writing by grieving from her husband’s death. They were married 25 years, and she became depressed. Writing was her way of dealing with her loss and supporting her family with their loss.

FAMOUS WORKS

Ballad to Joan of Arc.Last poem she wrote before she passed.

HER IMPACT Christine de Pizan contributed to the rhetorical

tradition by counteracting the contemporary discourse

She was into the classics and humanism of the early renaissance

Strongly challenged misogyny and stereotypes prevalent in the male-dominated medieval culture.

Certain scholars have argued that she should be seen as an early feminist who efficiently used language to convey that women could play an important role within society.

INFLUENTIAL WORKSShe was writing love ballads, which caught the

attention of wealthy patrons.After words she worked on changing the truth

about women only being seducers. The Book of the Three Virtues. The first of

these shows the importance of women’s past contributions to society, and the second strives to teach women of all estates how to cultivate useful qualities in order to counteract the growth of misogyny

OTHER WORKSThe Tale of Joan of Arc “Querelle du Roman de la Rose,”