Medieval Theory of Authorship

Scholastic Literary Attitudes in the Later Middle Ages

Alastair Minnis

• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9780812212570
• eBook ISBN: 9780812205701
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Medieval & Early Modern Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

It has often been held that scholasticism destroyed the literary theory that was emerging during the twelfth-century Renaissance, and hence discussion of late medieval literary works has tended to derive its critical vocabulary from modern, not medieval, theory. In Medieval Theory of Authorship, now reissued with a new preface by the author, Alastair Minnis asks, "Is it not better to search again for a conceptual equipment which is at once historically valid and theoretically illuminating?"Minnis has found such writings in the glosses and commentaries on the authoritative Latin writers studied in schools and universities between 1100 and 1400. The prologues to these commentaries provide valuable insight into the medieval theory of authorship. Of special significance is scriptural exegesis, for medieval scholars found the Bible the most difficult text to describe appropriately and accurately.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half title
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface to the Reissued Second Edition
• Preface
• Abbreviations
• Notes on Style
• Introduction: The Significance of the Medieval Theory of Authorship
• 1: Academic Prologues to ‘Auctores’
• 2: Prologues to Scriptural ‘Auctores’
• 3: Authorial Roles in the ‘Literal Sense’
• 4: Literary Forms in the ‘Literal Sense’
• 5: Literary Theory and Literary Practice
• Epilogue: The Familiar Authors
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index of Latin terms
• General Index