Model
Digital Document
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Description
The purpose of this thesis is to show, through examples
of his work, that William Dunbar was not only an official
court poet at the court of James IV of Scotland, but in
that capacity served as court fool. The thesis will be
supported through comparison of Dunbar's works, showing
the contrasts between his solemn, moral allegories, addresses, and religious poetry and the facetious, satirical style used in his role as a fool. This comparison
will include discussions of the Scottish aureate convention-- the profuse poetical use of ornate , especially
French or Latinate, words --and the aoir (poetical diatribe) as well as their relationship to Dunbar's poetical
achievements.
of his work, that William Dunbar was not only an official
court poet at the court of James IV of Scotland, but in
that capacity served as court fool. The thesis will be
supported through comparison of Dunbar's works, showing
the contrasts between his solemn, moral allegories, addresses, and religious poetry and the facetious, satirical style used in his role as a fool. This comparison
will include discussions of the Scottish aureate convention-- the profuse poetical use of ornate , especially
French or Latinate, words --and the aoir (poetical diatribe) as well as their relationship to Dunbar's poetical
achievements.
Member of