Medieval Concepts of Literary Closure: Theory and Practice

Description: First, McGerr reviews modern theories on closure and examines medieval theory on literary design and closure in Geoffrey of Vinsauf, John of Garland, Ludolf of Hildesheim, Brunetto Latini, Dante, and others to show that "medieval concepts of closure were both more complex and closer to modern concepts than is usually assumed." The medieval concept of closure included "the sense of recapitulation of the whole, framed to have the greatest impact on the audience."; Second, McGerr examines "the relationship of theory and practice" in medieval works, including those of Bocaccio, Machaut, and Jean de Meun and Chaucer's BD, PF, KnT, WBT, FranT, TC, HF, and CT--especially the playfulness in TC, which "reflects a self-consciousness about language and fiction that modern closure theory attributes to modern literature alone." Medieval writers and readers appreciated "openness" or "suspension of closure."

Chaucer Subjects: Background and General Criticism.; Troilus and Criseyde.; Canterbury Tales--General.; Book of the Duchess.; House of Fame.; Parliament of Fowls.