Os monges e as viagens imaginárias ao Além: a Vis o De Túndalo

Monks live isolated praying and dedicate themselves to contemplate God and His wonders. Those divine men possess the control of the writing and contributed to medieval intellectuality by the elaboration of Christian teaching manuals. One of the great themes presented in the monks’ production were the imaginary journeys which narrate the visions of beyond, showing the traces of the spaces postmortem which are: Hell, Purgatory and Paradise. These narratives warn Christians to the correct forms of conduct in this life to reach heaven in the afterlife. The Vision of Tnugdal, written in the 12th century by a Cistercian monk of Irish origin, was translated into Portuguese in the 15th century, and is an example of imaginary journey that was widespread in Europe. It has connections with older visions such as Vision of Drythelm (8th century), narrated by the Anglo Saxon monk Bede. The function of the visions is to convert the pagans and strengthen the Christians in faith through a salutary lesson. Thus, the monks performed their office through their writings that dealt with the ordering of society, with the purpose of establishing peace and guiding their flock in the way of salvation.