Reason and Imagination in Chaucer, the Perle-Poet, and the Cloud-Author: Seeing from the Center (The New Middle Ages)

This book makes the compelling argument that Chaucer, the Perle-poet, and The Cloud of Unknowing author exploited analogue and metaphor for marking out the pedagogical gap between science and the imagination. These writers take up an Aristotelian confidence in reason as a proof model for works of the imagination. St. Augustine, too, had argued persuasively that we might well train ourselves "to discern in the light of reason what [we] already hold by faith." By the 12th century, John of Salisbury, in his Metalogicon, had argued that "sensation is the progenitor of science." Chaucer, the Perle-poet, and the author of The Cloud of Unknowing set out models for such instruction—for seeing from the center—as they map the pedagogical energy of the browsing imagination. Here, Linda Tarte Holley adds definition to arguments that still gain our attention and energies in the twenty-first century.

This book makes the compelling argument that Chaucer, the Perle-poet, and The Cloud of Unknowing author exploited analogue and metaphor for marking out the pedagogical gap between science and the imagination. These writers take up an Aristotelian confidence in reason as a proof model for works of the imagination.  St. Augustine, too, had argued persuasively that we might well train ourselves "to discern in the light of reason what [we] already hold by faith."  By the 12th century, John of Salisbury, in his Metalogicon, had argued that "sensation is the progenitor of science."  Chaucer, the Perle-poet, and the author of The Cloud of Unknowing set out models for such instruction—for seeing from the center—as they map the pedagogical energy of the browsing imagination. Here, Linda Tarte Holley adds definition to arguments that still gain our attention and energies in the twenty-first century.

Cover......Page 1 Seriespage......Page 2 Title......Page 8 Copyright......Page 9 Dedication......Page 10 Contents......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 Introduction......Page 18 1 The Nun’s Priest’s Tale: Bookspace as Public Plaza......Page 52 2 The House of Fame: “I wot myself best how y stonde.”......Page 72 3 The Book of the Duchess: The Space of Self......Page 88 4 Perle: The Pedagogy of Soul and Self......Page 108 5 Patience: The Space of Play......Page 132 6 The Cloud of Unknowing: The Dimensionless Space of the Seeking Spirit......Page 152 Epilogue......Page 168 Notes......Page 172 Bibliography......Page 188 Index......Page 196 Cover 1 Seriespage 2 Title 8 Copyright 9 Dedication 10 Contents 12 Preface 14 Introduction 18 1 The Nun’s Priest’s Tale: Bookspace as Public Plaza 52 2 The House of Fame: “I wot myself best how y stonde.” 72 3 The Book of the Duchess: The Space of Self 88 4 Perle: The Pedagogy of Soul and Self 108 5 Patience: The Space of Play 132 6 The Cloud of Unknowing: The Dimensionless Space of the Seeking Spirit 152 Epilogue 168 Notes 172 Bibliography 188 Index 196 9780230105102 Palgrave Macmillan (UK) This collection makes the compelling argument that Chaucer, the Perle -poet, and The Cloud of Unknowing author, exploited analogue and metaphor for marking out the pedagogical gap between science and the imagination. Here, respected contributors add definition to arguments that have our attention and energies in the twenty-first century. "Reason and Imagination in Chaucer, the Perle-poet, and the Cloud-author: Seeing from the Center investigates Chaucer, the Perle-poet, and the Cloud-author. From where they stand, these speakers make the case for seeing in the light of what they can know"-- Provided by publisher