The Dialogue of Solomon and Marcolf (Dialogus Salomonis et Marcolfi) was a medieval literary bestseller; mentions of the poem begin as early as 1000 and are widespread by the thirteenth century, and various versions dated between 1410 and 1550 survive in some twenty-seven manuscripts, forty-nine early printed editions, and various translations into vernacular languages. Comprising five verbal contests incorporating distinct rhetorical forms and a variety of eclectic materials such as proverbs, riddles, and biblical wisdom literature, this lively and entertaining dialogue pits the wise Old Testament king Solomon, representing clerical authority, against the foulmouthed but quick-witted peasant Marcolf, representing commoners’ rustic wisdom, improvisational wit, and earthy, subversive humor. This edition juxtaposes two texts of the poem: a Latin version printed ca. 1488 and a Middle English translation printed in 1492, supplemented by extensive glosses, explanatory and textual notes, and exchanges omitted from the proverb contest by previous abridged printed versions.
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The two texts of the dialogue presented here, a Latin version printed c. 1488 and a Middle English translation printed in 1492, preserve lively, entertaining and revealing exchanges between the Old Testament wisdom figure Solomon and Marcolf, a medieval peasant who is ragged and foul-mouthed but quick-witted and verbally astute.
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Acknowledgements Introduction The Dialogue of Solomon and Marcolf Explanatory Notes Textual Notes Appendix Bibliography

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9781580441803
Publisert
2012-11-01
Utgiver
Vendor
Medieval Institute Publications
Høyde
254 mm
Bredde
178 mm
Aldersnivå
P, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
118

Om bidragsyterne

Nancy Mason Bradbury is Professor of English at Smith College, and focuses on Chaucer, anonymous medieval romances and tales, and medieval proverbs. Scott Bradbury is Professor of Classical Languages and Literatures at Smith College, specializing in the history of the Later Roman Empire and in ancient religions.