Un nouveau regard sur la trahison de Judas au XIIe siècle: Li Romanz de Dieu et de sa Mere d’Herman de Valenciennes

Un nouveau regard sur la trahison de Judas au XII e siècle : Li Romanz de Dieu et de sa Mere d’Herman de Valenciennes HÉLÈNE AVERSENG Université d’Angers et Università degli Studi di Pisa As far as we know, Li Romanz de Dieu et de sa Mere , written in the 12 th century by Herman de Valenciennes, is the first abridged version of the Old French Bible. We believe that it is worth giving particular attention to the way Judas is represented here. Not only a biblical figure is interestingly turned into a literary figure, but new ideas on the fate of the character expressed in the text reveal a significant change in the interpretation of the biblical episode. Herman de Valenciennes builds Judas’ betrayal of Jesus on ambiguity that is entailed by hesitating on the demonization of the character, but also by the evolution and the hybridization of the literary devices. Judas’ treason, his repentance and suicide appear in a new light, which means reinterpreting the Scriptures and reviving the exegetical tradition

Diquat Derivatives: Highly Active, Two-Dimensional Nonlinear Optical Chromophores with Potential Redox Switchability

In this article, we present a detailed study of structure−activity relationships in diquaternized 2,2′-bipyridyl (diquat) derivatives. Sixteen new chromophores have been synthesized, with variations in the amino electron donor substituents, π-conjugated bridge, and alkyl diquaternizing unit. Our aim is to combine very large, two-dimensional (2D) quadratic nonlinear optical (NLO) responses with reversible redox chemistry. The chromophores have been characterized as their PF_6^− salts by using various techniques including electronic absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Their visible absorption spectra are dominated by intense π → π^* intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) bands, and all show two reversible diquat-based reductions. First hyperpolarizabilities β have been measured by using hyper-Rayleigh scattering with an 800 nm laser, and Stark spectroscopy of the ICT bands affords estimated static first hyperpolarizabilities β_0. The directly and indirectly derived β values are large and increase with the extent of π-conjugation and electron donor strength. Extending the quaternizing alkyl linkage always increases the ICT energy and decreases the E_(1/2) values for diquat reduction, but a compensating increase in the ICT intensity prevents significant decreases in Stark-based β_0 responses. Nine single-crystal X-ray structures have also been obtained. Time-dependent density functional theory clarifies the molecular electronic/optical properties, and finite field calculations agree with polarized HRS data in that the NLO responses of the disubstituted species are dominated by ‘off-diagonal’ β_(zyy) components. The most significant findings of these studies are: (i) β_0 values as much as 6 times that of the chromophore in the technologically important material (E)-4′-(dimethylamino)-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium tosylate; (ii) reversible electrochemistry that offers potential for redox-switching of optical properties over multiple states; (iii) strongly 2D NLO responses that may be exploited for novel practical applications; (iv) a new polar material, suitable for bulk NLO behavior

Evolution of Linear Absorption and Nonlinear Optical Properties in V-Shaped Ruthenium(II)-Based Chromophores

In this article, we describe a series of complexes with electron-rich cis-{Ru^(II)(NH_3)_4}^(2+) centers coordinated to two pyridyl ligands bearing N-methyl/arylpyridinium electron-acceptor groups. These V-shaped dipolar species are new, extended members of a class of chromophores first reported by us (Coe, B. J. et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 4845−4859). They have been isolated as their PF_6− salts and characterized by using various techniques including ^1H NMR and electronic absorption spectroscopies and cyclic voltammetry. Reversible Ru^(III/II) waves show that the new complexes are potentially redox-switchable chromophores. Single crystal X-ray structures have been obtained for four complex salts; three of these crystallize noncentrosymmetrically, but with the individual molecular dipoles aligned largely antiparallel. Very large molecular first hyperpolarizabilities β have been determined by using hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) with an 800 nm laser and also via Stark (electroabsorption) spectroscopic studies on the intense, visible d → π^* metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) and π → π^* intraligand charge-transfer (ILCT) bands. The latter measurements afford total nonresonant β_0 responses as high as ca. 600 × 10^(−30) esu. These pseudo-C_(2v) chromophores show two substantial components of the β tensor, β_(zzz) and β_(zyy), although the relative significance of these varies with the physical method applied. According to HRS, β_(zzz) dominates in all cases, whereas the Stark analyses indicate that β_(zyy) is dominant in the shorter chromophores, but β_(zzz) and β_(zyy) are similar for the extended species. In contrast, finite field calculations predict that β_(zyy) is always the major component. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations predict increasing ILCT character for the nominally MLCT transitions and accompanying blue-shifts of the visible absorptions, as the ligand π-systems are extended. Such unusual behavior has also been observed with related 1D complexes (Coe, B. J. et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 3880−3891)

Les personnages négatifs, figures structurantes de l'imaginaire biblique dans la Passion d'Arnoul Gréban : de Lucifer à Judas

Si le théâtre religieux du Moyen Âge permet une représentation de grandes figures sacrées exemplaires aux yeux des médiévaux, il laisse également une place importante aux personnages mauvais, négatifs, qui viennent contrebalancer les premières. Au XVe siècle, Arnoul Gréban donne un développement mythique à ces personnages, qui paraissent structurer sa démonstration. Dans son immense Passion, il réécrit les figures de nombreux représentants du mal tirés de l’imaginaire chrétien, dont les plus importants sont les diables (y compris le diable-chef Lucifer et Satan, le démon tentateur ridiculisé) mais aussi Judas, personnage fondateur, symbole du grand pécheur et finalement représenté comme le plus proche de l’humanité, ou encore les figures de Juifs, dont la représentation au Moyen Âge permet la fabrique d’un opposant sacré et collectif, un bouc émissaire. Il s’agira ici d’interroger la place du personnage négatif chez Arnoul Gréban : qu’est-ce que ce développement des personnages contre-modèles nous montre de l’histoire des mentalités médiévales ? Comment le genre théâtral s’y prend-il pour représenter un opposant sacré qui tend à un aspect mythique ? Enfin, quel est le traitement esthétique de cette démonstration du mal, et son intérêt dans l’histoire littéraire