Chaucer, Lollius, and the Medieval Theory of Authorship

Abstract

The article explores the relationship of Chaucer's 'Lollius' to a broader medieval tradition of fictitious authors, arguing that Chaucer's self-presentation as a 'compilator' cannot be fully accounted for by the 'medieval theory of authorship'. It is likely that 'he was also influenced by a tradition of secular entertainment, outside the range of scholastic commentary and incorporating rather different assumptions about the use of literature . . . the historical authenticity of the [scholastic] viewpoint needs to be carefully weighed against the narrowness of the view.'

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