Reader, teller, and teacher : the narrator of Robert Henryson's Moral fables

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I I

REÀDER' TELLER ^{ÀND TEACEER}

The Narrator of ^Robert Eenryson's Dloral Fables

by

RosemarY Greentree B.A. ^(Hons')

Submitted as a thesis for the ^degree of M'A' in the Department of English, University of ^Adelaide'

Juner ^{19 86.}

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t\ì,.rco u-çl- ^{\D't\., '}

I II III

IV

V VT

VTI

VIII Appendix:

Abbrevi at ions Bibliography

CONTENTS

Introduct ^ion

The Narrator gains his ^audience Truth and the Narrator

The moralitates of the ^Fables

The wolfts ^progress as a ^sYmbol

The place of the Narrator Language, ^mood and order The journey of life

Order in manuscript witnesses for the

Moral ^Fables

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13

33 52 82

105 L47 175

188 208

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SUMI,TARY

the thesis describes the role of the Narrator ^of Robert Henryson's I'lora1 Fables, as he giveS a reading of

Aesoprs Fables and teaches their lessons, directly in the moralitates ^and indirectly in the telling of ^the tales. ^The Narratorrs presence is a constant ^and

unifying influence ^on the work, in which ^he i s the ^guide to his audience, his readers, to ^{whom he} gives a picture of life, their duties ^and expectations. This is ^achieved through direct addresses and by manipulation of the

audience's responses to the tales through the style of the te1ling.

An important aspect of this style is the order in which the Fables are told, ^and the ^presence of the

Narrator ^and his ^{changing mood form} part of the thematic evidence presented for accepting the order ^which is used

in the Bassandyne Print, a Source which presents ^the thirteen Fables in a formed, complete ^and balanced work.

His presence and mood are revealed ^{by a} varying ^use of

language and recurring metaphors; ^and the site of his activities is ^seen to vary as the ^Sequence progresses.

The themes of the work are introduced in the early taIes, repeated with variations in others, ^and

summarised in the last fable ^which concÌudes the

Narratorrs relationship with his ^audience.

This thesis contains ^no material which has been

accepted for the ^award of any other degree or diploma in any university. ^To the best of ^my knowledge and belief'

it contains no materiaÌ previously ^published or written by another personr ^{êXcept where due} reference is ^made in the text.. I ^consent to its being ^made availabl-e for

photocopying and loan if applicable if it is ^accepLed for the ^award of the ^degree.

I am happy to acknowledge the help r have received during the preparation of the thesis. It has ^been

produced using the word processor in the Department of English; and I am grateful for this and for the

assistance and encouragement of members of the

Department, particularly Dr À. T. Brissenden and ^my

supervisors, Dr T. L. Burton and Mr P. J. Wa1dron. Miss

Liz Lee in the Barr Smith Library has helped me; and I

have been encouraged by Dr R. J. Lyall ^and Prof. ^{W. A.}

Ringler and the constant support of my family.