Language and Human Action: Conceptions of Language in the Essais of MontaigneCertainly the most elaborate single extant monument of Renaissance French prose literature, Michel de Montaigne's Essais presents a subject matter that often discusses and analyzes concepts of language in general as well as language as a vehicle of its own expression. This study addresses the author's exploration of the dedalus of language as he ambles and rambles its roads, streets, and alleys; draws the portrait of his philosophy of language or philology; and concludes his affirmative and positivistic attitude toward language and its literary application or the art and artistry of literature. The great Renaissance humanist's depiction of language in the Essais is analyzed in this book on the basis of its division among intellectual, moral, and aesthetic aspects. This threefold reduction, finding its derivation in the critical work of Aristotle, Auerbach, and Bowen, is also related to the few particular and the important general critical studies of Montaigne and his vision and use, creation and re-creation of language. |
Common terms and phrases
action ambiguity ambitieuse appears assez attempt autre autruy avoir avoit bien bonne c'est celuy chose Cicero conceptions of language concerning conscience d'autres d'une death dequoy dialectical dict dire discours dissimulation elle Essais esthetic estoit estre ethical façon faict faire fait faut fois Furthermore hommes human Ibid innocence intellectual j'ay j'en jamais je ne Jean Starobinski jugement jusques la verité laisse le monde les devoirs livre mask matiere mesme metaphor mieux monde Montaigne believes Montaigne feels Montaigne's comments Montaigne's conception moral mort mots n'en n'est nature nostre pareille parle parler parole Parslow peut philosophical Plutarch poetry portrait premier propos qu'à qu'elle qu'en qu'il qu'on que je quoy raison reality Regosin rien s'en s'il sapience sçay second reality self-portrait semble sens sentir seulement society speaks tantost temps tesmoignage Thibaudet tousjours tout Traeger trouve truth verité vertu voir volontiers vray words writing