Fools and Folly

Front Cover
Clifford Davidson
Medieval Institute Publications, Western Michigan University, 1996 - History - 176 pages
The Fool in the Middle Ages and Early Modern period was either a person who capitalized on his natural deficiencies, which were then considered amusing, or a professional entertainer the artificial Fool who specialized in clowning. His distinctive clothing and bauble are known to us through numerous Psalter illustrations where he is shown in connection with Psalm 52, which asserts that The fool has said in his heart there is no God. Attitudes toward the Fool varied, but his place was to become assured on stage, where his role is best known to us through the plays of Shakespeare. The articles in the present volume provide indispensable analyses of the Fool from a number of different perspectives.

From inside the book

Contents

List of Illustrations
1
Robert of Cicyle
34
The Case
107
Copyright

2 other sections not shown

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

About the author (1996)

Clifford Davidson is professor emeritus of English and Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University.