"Quha wait gif all that Chauceir wrait was trew" – Auctor and auctoritas in 15th Century English Literature
- Author/Editor
- Fichte, Joerg
- Title
- "Quha wait gif all that Chauceir wrait was trew" – Auctor and auctoritas in 15th Century English Literature
- Published
- Fichte, Joerg. ""Quha wait gif all that Chauceir wrait was trew" – Auctor and auctoritas in 15th Century English Literature." Traditionswandel und Traditionsverhalten. . Tübingen: Niemeyer, 1991
- Review
- Fichte is principally concerned with the very different responses to Chaucer's auctoritas manifested by Lydgate in his "Siege of Thebes" and by Henryson in his "Testament of Cresseid." Gower appears only briefly in the opening part of this essay, in order to provide contrast to Chaucer's refusal to assert, his own auctoritas: depending heavily on A.J. Minnis, Fichte points to Gower's assumption of the roles of the prophet in VC and of philosopher in CA. He also notes the paradox of Gower's and Chaucer's reception by later poets: despite Gower's conscious attempt to present himself as auctor, his works received only perfunctory praise, while Chaucer, despite his disavowal, was almost immediately recognized for his auctoritas.
- Date
- 1991
- Gower Subjects
- Vox Clamantis
- Confessio Amantis