Pulpit Rhetoric in Three Canterbury Tales.

Author / Editor
Shain, Charles E.

Title
Pulpit Rhetoric in Three Canterbury Tales.

Published
Modern Language Notes 70 (1955): 235-45.

Description
Considers the "pulpit rhetoric" of PardPT, the friar in SumT, and MerT, arguing that they all share general techniques, imagery, and symbols of medieval sermons, without following strictly the structural formality of "artes praedicandi." Observes "commonplace devices" of preaching in these (and other) tales, emphasizing how their speakers use them to their own purposes. Suggests MerT was designed to be told by a cleric.

Chaucer Subjects
Style and Versification
Pardoner and His Tale
Summoner and His Tale
Merchant and His Tale