English Preaching in the Late Middle Ages

Description: Describes the forms, styles, goals, and reception of late-medieval English sermons and sermon collections. Examines attendance at sermons; allegorical and literal aspects of sermons; and relations between sermons and literacy, eduction, and proselytizing. Explores the medieval concern for the differences between "academic" sermons and the simpler styles advocated by Wycliffe and the Lollards.; Manuscript evidence reflects compilers' familiarity with each other's work, a limited number of exemplars, dependence on Latin tradition, and the importance of Archbishop Arundel's "Provincial Constitutions" in encouraging sermons modeled on Mirk's "Festial" rather than Lollard Sunday gospel sermons. Spencer considers ParsT and PardT in light of sermon tradition and examines other portions of CT for evidence of attitudes toward sermons.

Chaucer Subjects: Background and General Criticism.; Canterbury Tales--General.; Pardoner and His Tale.; Parson and His Tale.