The False Fox: A Preaching Beast

Paper Summary:

This paper provides a basis for the direction of interpretation one may take while attempting to provide a historical extrapolation of a medieval lyric, specifically of "The False Fox." The paper mainly focuses on its scholastically assigned genre as a secular lyric; however, also explored during the discourse are other possible connotations of the text. Lyrics tend to be a difficult genre of medieval literature to categorize because many pieces of work serve as lyrics, but are vastly different from one another. This paper also gives an in-depth poetic analysis of the poem utilizing the terms and devices that current poets use.

From the Paper:

"The False Fox," categorically speaking, is a satirical bestiary secular lyric that "pokes fun" at the clergy, or perhaps pokes fun at the wandering friars during the 15th century. This was not an original idea of the time, "even more common is the depiction of the fox as a preacher. In the garb of bishop with miter and cozier, of monk or friar, he is represented as preaching to gullible ducks or chickens while the unfortunate bird which will be his next meal peeps sadly over his shoulder" similar satires on the clergy appear in the lyrics where the false fox shrives the hens and gives them absolution"(Rowland, 77). Because "The False Fox" contains end-rhyme, reminiscent of earlier French lyrics, it seems logical to give this secular lyric foundation from the French."

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