Faculty Scholarly Dissemination Grants
Title
Palindromic Structure in Chaucer's 'Pardoner's Tale'
Department
Writing
College
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Date Range
2011-2012
Abstract
This paper will describe the medieval creative process known as palindromic structure, a face of anagogy that, as far as we can determine, has largely been ignored in contemporary writing courses. It will begin by examining the little verses attributed to Nicolas de Lira that were a staple of schoolboy stu, Les Littera gesta docet, quid credas allegoria,/Tropologia quid agas, quid tendas, anagogia, and show how they were used to teach students creative process in Latin composition. After introducing Mary Douglas's study of the structure, it will apply her criteria to Chaucer's Pardoner's Tale, and demonstrate authorial intentionality by referencing a section of the Parson's Tale. Finally, it will introduce other late medieval works that were conceived by the same creative process, explaining their purpose and exposing the ubiquity of the form.
Conference Name
Taking Risks
Conference Location
Dearborn, MI
ScholarWorks Citation
Treanor, Sister Lucia FSE, "Palindromic Structure in Chaucer's 'Pardoner's Tale'" (2011). Faculty Scholarly Dissemination Grants. 265.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/fsdg/265
