Gower's 'Diogenes and Alexander' and Its Philosophic-literary Tradition.
- Author/Editor
- Ito, Masayoshi
- Title
- Gower's 'Diogenes and Alexander' and Its Philosophic-literary Tradition.
- Published
- Ito, Masayoshi. "Gower's 'Diogenes and Alexander' and Its Philosophic-literary Tradition." Poetica: An International Journal of Linguistic-Literary Studies 16 (1983), pp. 66-77. ISSN 0287-1629
- Review
- Ito examines the story of Diogenes and Alexander from Book 3 (1202-1311) of the Confessio Amantis, identifying two separate story-lines combined within it: the "stand in my sun" episode and that of the "servant of my servant." For each of these sources are sought in various works, including Disciplina Claricalis, Gesta Romanorum, Speculum Historiale, and De Vita Moribus Philosophorum. Ito concludes that Gower's tale results from a combination of materials, the relationship of which is difficult to determine with present data and editions. Gower also added and emended much to produce his treatment. Ito argues that source studies carried on carefully can provide much information about how the poet's mind worked. [PN. Copyright the John Gower Society. JGN 3.1]
- Date
- 1983
- Gower Subjects
- Sources, Analogues, and Literary Relations
- Confessio Amantis