Title: Political allegory in late medieval England
First published: 1999
Description: Ann W. Astell here affords a radically new understanding of the rhetorical nature of allegorical poetry in the late Middle Ages. She shows that major English writers of that era - among them, William Langland, John Gower, Geoffrey Chaucer, the Gawain-poet, and Thomas Malory - offered in their works of fiction timely commentary on current events and public issues.

Poems previously regarded as only vaguely political in their subject matter are seen by Astell to be highly detailed and specific in their veiled historical references, implied audiences, and admonitions.
Subjects: Allegory, English literature, History, History and criticism, Invention (Rhetoric), Medieval Rhetoric, Political poetry, English (Middle), Politics and government, Politics and literature, Rhetoric, Medieval, Allegory in literature, English literature, history and criticism, middle english, 1100-1500, Politics in literature
Places: Great Britain
Time periods: 1154-1399, 1399-1485, Middle English, 1100-1500, To 1500
LC classification: PR275.P64 A68 1999