Frau Ava
Frau Ava is recognized as one of the earliest female poets in the German language, likely born in the late eleventh century. It is believed she was married and had two sons, who may have assisted her in writing her poetry. Following her husband’s death, she became a recluse, possibly residing in the Benedictine monastery at Welk, Austria. During her era, women of means could choose to live as anchorites, providing them with a form of protection and a way to engage with the church as lay practitioners.
Frau Ava's poetry, mainly focused on biblical themes, encompasses figures such as Jesus and John the Baptist. Although her compositions are described as lacking in poetic finesse, they convey deeply religious ideas aimed at aristocratic readers, serving to present the narrative of Christian salvation. Four poems attributed to her, which were later titled, form an epic narrative that reflects both her spiritual and political views. Her life and works provide insight into the role of women in the religious and literary contexts of the Middle Ages.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Frau Ava
Poet
- Born: Probably late eleventh century
- Birthplace: Germany
- Died: 1127
- Place of death: Welk, Austria?
Biography
Little is known about the life of Frau Ava. It is likely that she was born in the late eleventh century and was married with two sons. Her sons may have been clergymen who helped their mother write her poems. After the death of her husband, Frau Ava apparently became a recluse, presumably living at the monastery at Welk, Austria. During Frau Ava’s time, women who had enough money could choose to live the remainder of their lives as anchorites, or religious hermits. Becoming an anchorite provided the woman with protection and allowed her to serve as a layperson in the church. The death of a woman named Ava is recorded in the annals of the Benedictine monastery at Welk and the necrologies of several nearby monasteries in 1127. Presumably, the German poet Ava and the recluse at the monastery were the same person.
Frau Ava is known as the first woman to write in German, and the subjects of her poems are biblical figures, including Jesus and John the Baptist. The poems are rather naïve and have deeply religious ideas. However, the poems lack poetic merit and are often crudely written. The chief source of material for her poems is the New Testament and older German poems.
Frau Ava’s poems were written for aristocratic laypeople. Her purpose in writing the poems was to present the history of Christian salvation so that her readers could find their own salvation. The four poems attributed to Frau Ava were untitled, but given titles such as Johannis (John the Baptist) and Das Leben Jesu (the life of Jesus) at a later date. Together the four poems form an epic narrative of the spiritual and political views of the poet.