Odo's Life of Gerald of Aurillac is an example of which literary genre?

• A. Autobiography
• B. Chronicles
• C. Saints' Lives
• D. Epic

Answer: (C)

Recognizing medieval narrative genres helps distinguish why this work belongs to hagiography. Odo's Life of Gerald of Aurillac is a saint's life, a hagiographic narrative written to praise Gerald, record his miracles, virtues, and spiritual impact, and to promote his cult. The portrayal is designed to edify readers and inspire piety, not to provide an unbiased historical chronicle or a first-person autobiography. It is not a chronicle, which would trace events in chronological order and focus on secular or historical details, nor an epic, which centers on heroic deeds in elevated language, often about kings or battles. The Life emphasizes sanctity, miracles, and virtuous conduct—classic traits of Saints’ Lives.