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CEFR C2 — Proficiency

Hagiography

Definition

(literary, academic) A biography that idealizes or idolizes its subject, especially a saint or other revered figure, often omitting or glossing over flaws or criticisms. Typically written in a reverent or admiring tone, and frequently used in the context of religious or historical studies.

Example Sentences

1The hagiography of Saint Francis of Assisi has been subject to various critiques and reinterpretations over the centuries, with some scholars arguing that it obscures the complexities of his actual life.
2Does the tendency to produce hagiographies of national heroes or founding figures serve to reinforce a particular ideology or cultural narrative?
3The historian's task is not to write a hagiography of the past, but rather to provide a nuanced and balanced account of historical events and figures.
4In the context of medieval studies, hagiographies often provide valuable insights into the social and cultural norms of the time, even if they are not always historically accurate.
5There is a fine line between a respectful biography and a hagiography, and the biographer must be careful not to cross it, lest the subject be reduced to a simplistic or one-dimensional figure.

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