DISPUT 19 Romance and Rhetoric, Donavin: Essays in Honour of Dhira B. Mahoney (Disputatio)

This volume honours the academic career of Professor Dhira B. Mahoney, recently retired from the Department of English at Arizona State University, who is well known for her rhetorical readings of medieval literature. Professor Mahoney’s scholarship employs rhetorical theory in readings of late medieval literature, particularly prologues and epilogues, women’s writings, and Arthuriana. As a response to her work, Romance and Rhetoric offers rhetorical readings of a variety of literary pieces from the late Middle Ages, especially for those authors and genres on which Professor Mahoney has published. Its collected essays provide interdisciplinary studies of art, social and literary history, manuscript transmission, and women’s studies in relation to texts in Middle English, Latin, German, and French. In particular, the essays in this volume focus on the writings of courtly authors such as Chaucer, Lydgate, Malory, Guillaume de Machaut, Christine de Pizan, Chrétien de Troyes, and others. In keeping with the ancient tradition of analysing rhetorical principles in the structure of an art work, they also examine the rhetoric of the manuscript art connected to these authors and the genres in which they wrote. This volume thus fills a gap in medieval literary scholarship, as it evaluates with scrutiny how rhetorical teachings or medieval poetic strategies inform the writing of romances. Front matter (“Contents”, “Acknowledgements”), p. i Free Access Dhira B. Mahoney: A Tribute, p. 1 Georgiana Donavin, Anita Obermeier https://doi.org/10.1484/M.DISPUT-EB.3.2645 Exemplars of Chivalry: Rhetoric and Ethics in Middle English Romance, p. 17 Ann Dobyns https://doi.org/10.1484/M.DISPUT-EB.3.2646 Jans der Enikel’s Prologue as a Guide to Textual Multiplicity, p. 33 Maria Dobozy https://doi.org/10.1484/M.DISPUT-EB.3.2647 Gifts and Givers that Keep on Giving: Pictured Presentations in Early Medieval Manuscripts, p. 51 Corine Schleif https://doi.org/10.1484/M.DISPUT-EB.3.2648 The Light of the Virgin Muse in John Lydgate’s Life of Our Lady, p. 75 Georgiana Donavin https://doi.org/10.1484/M.DISPUT-EB.3.2649 Sisters under the Skin: Margery Kempe and Christine de Pizan, p. 91 Elizabeth Archibald https://doi.org/10.1484/M.DISPUT-EB.3.2650 Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: Margery Kempe as Underground Preacher, p. 109 Rosalynn Voaden https://doi.org/10.1484/M.DISPUT-EB.3.2651 Rhetoric and Reception: Guillaume de Machaut’s ‘Je Maudi’, p. 125 Phyllis R. Brown https://doi.org/10.1484/M.DISPUT-EB.3.2652 ‘Maken Melodye’: The Quality of Song in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, p. 149 Christina Francis https://doi.org/10.1484/M.DISPUT-EB.3.2653 Enacting Liturgy: Estote fortes in the Croxton Play of the Sacrament, p. 171 John Damon https://doi.org/10.1484/M.DISPUT-EB.3.2654 The Rhetoric of Symbolism: The Grail of Fertility and Sterility, p. 193 Anita Obermeier https://doi.org/10.1484/M.DISPUT-EB.3.2655 Arnold Fanck’s 1926 Film Der Heilige Berg and the Nazi Quest for the Holy Grail, p. 223 Kevin J. Harty https://doi.org/10.1484/M.DISPUT-EB.3.2656 Folklore Motifs and Diminishing Narrative Time as a Method of Coherence in Malory’s Morte Darthur, p. 235 Judith Lanzendorfer https://doi.org/10.1484/M.DISPUT-EB.3.2657 Malory’s Intratexts, p. 249 Alan Lupack https://doi.org/10.1484/M.DISPUT-EB.3.2658 Back matter (“Index”, “Tabula Gratulatoria”), p. 269 Dhira B. Mahoney : A Tribute / Georgiana Donavin And Anita Obermeier -- Prologues And Pictures -- Exemplars Of Chivalry : Rhetoric And Ethics In Middle English Romance / Ann Dobyns -- Jans Der Enikel's Prologue As A Guide To Textual Multiplicity / Maria Dobozy -- Gifts And Givers That Keep On Giving : Pictured Presentations In Early Medieval Manuscripts / Corine Schleif -- Women And Rhetoric -- The Light Of The Virgin Muse In John Lydgate's Life Of Our Lady / Georgiana Donavin -- Sisters Under The Skin : Margery Kempe And Christine De Pizan / Elizabeth Archibald -- Wolf In Sheep's Clothing : Margery Kempe As Underground Preacher / Rosalynn Voaden -- Lyric, Song, And Audience -- Rhetoric And Reception : Guillaume De Machaut's Je Maudi' / Phyllis R. Brown -- 'maken Melodye' : The Quality Of Song In Chaucer's Canterbury Tales / Christina Francis -- Enacting Liturgy : Estote Fortes In The Croxton Play Of The Sacrament / John Damon -- Arthurian Literature : Composition And Production -- The Rhetoric Of Symbolism : The Grail Of Fertility And Sterility / Anita Obermeier -- Arnold Fanck's 1929 Film Der Heilige Berg And The Nazi Quest For The Holy Grail / Kevin J. Harty -- Folklore Motifs And Diminishing Narrative Time As A Method Of Coherence In Malory's Morte Darthur / Judith Lanzendorfer -- Malory's Intratexts / Alan Lupack. Edited By Georgina Donavin And Anita Obermeier. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This volume honours the academic career of Professor Dhira B. Mahoney, recently retired from the Department of English at Arizona State University, who is well known for her rhetorical readings of medieval literature. Professor Mahoney's scholarship employs rhetorical theory in readings of late medieval literature, particularly prologues and epilogues, women's writings, and Arthuriana. As a response to her work, Romance and Rhetoric offers rhetorical readings of a variety of literary pieces from the late Middle Ages, especially for those authors and genres on which Professor Mahoney has published. Its collected essays provide interdisciplinary studies of art, social and literary history, manuscript transmission, and women's studies in relation to texts in Middle English, Latin, German, and French. In particular, the essays in this volume focus on the writings of courtly authors such as Chaucer, Lydgate, Malory, Guillaume de Machaut, Christine de Pizan, Chretien de Troyes, and others. In keeping with the ancient tradition of analysing rhetorical principles in the structure of an art work, they also examine the rhetoric of the manuscript art connected to these authors and the genres in which they wrote. This volume thus fills a gap in medieval literary scholarship, as it evaluates with scrutiny how rhetorical teachings or medieval poetic strategies inform the writing of romances.