Medieval Grammar and Rhetoric: Language Arts and Literary Theory, AD 300 -1475

by Rita Copeland (Editor), Ineke Sluiter (Editor)

Medieval Grammar and Rhetoric: Language Arts and Literary Theory, AD 300-1475 contributes to two fields, the history of the language arts and the history of literary theory. It brings together essential sources in the disciplines of grammar and rhetoric which were used to understand literary form and language and teach literary composition. Grammar and rhetoric, the language disciplines, formed the basis of any education from antiquity through the Middle Ages, no matter what future career a student would want to pursue. Because literature was also the subject matter of grammatical teaching, and because rhetorical teaching gave great attention to literary form, these were also the disciplines that would prepare students for an understanding of literary language and form. These arts constituted the abiding theoretical toolbox for anyone engaged in a life of letters.

The book brings together more than fifty primary texts from the medieval history of grammar and rhetoric, well over half of them never translated into English before. The volume establishes the ancient traditions on which the medieval arts are based, and gives substantial selections from the late antique source texts. All texts are presented in their historical and theoretical contexts, and carefully annotated in order to make them useful to readers, both specialists and non-specialists. For the first time, the long traditions of grammar and rhetoric are presented together in one historical survey, showing how they related to each other, and are placed in a coherent conceptual structure, their contributions to literary theory.

Genres: Linguistics, Medieval, Nonfiction

986 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Mohamad Ballan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent anthology of translated texts.

[Andrew Hay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perennially tedious yet illuminating; I’ll return to this reader annually. The highlight was surely the “general prologue” of the Wycliffite Bible.

[J M-B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book i have had for a few years. When i was following a formal course of study, there was no time to use it in any other way than as a work of reference. However, to read the anthologised selections from the classical and medieval writings on grammar and rhetoric, together with the general introduction, the section introductions and the introductions to each author is to be provided with an overview of the structure of knowledge that informed literary production in the medieval period and beyond. Rita Copeland is one of my favourite medievalists and this has reminded me to go back to her writings. Fascinating and immensely helpful to anyone approaching medieval texts.

[Lisette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating compendium of medieval thinkers in rhetoric.