Rhetoric of the ReformationPeter Matheson has written the first study in English of the Reformation as a literary phenomenon. This book traces the first emergence of a 'public opinion' in European history. Using insights from social history, religion and literature, Professor Matheson explores the connection between the 'communal Reformation' and the outpouring of pamphlets in the early 1520's. These pamphlets helped create a dynamic and subversive network of communication where language and structure were of equal importance. He also examines the relative strengths of polemical and dialogical approaches in winning adherents, the motivations of the authors, and the expectations of audiences. |
Contents
1 | |
2 The Emergence of a Public Opinion | 27 |
A Study in Motivation | 59 |
4 Reformation Dialogues | 81 |
5 Reformation Language | 111 |
6 Reformation Polemic | 157 |
7 The Downside of Polemic | 183 |
Essays at Colloquy | 215 |
9 Reformation Rhetoric | 239 |
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267 | |
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abuse Aiii Aiiii Allstedt Andreas Karlstadt anti-clerical apocalyptic appears argued Argula von Grumbach argument authority Babylonian Captivity become Biblical Biii Bucer Catholic Christ Christian Church clergy clerical colloquy confessional course culture devil dialogue discourse emotional Erasmus Eucharist example faith Flugschriften frequently German Nobility God's Gospel Gropper Günzburg Hans Speier Himelick Holy human humanist ideas images Ingolstadt issues Karlstadt Karsthans laity language Latin literacy literature Luther's writings Marc Lienhard Martin Luther Matthew Zell monk Murner one's Opera Omnia opponents oral Papacy Papal pastoral peasant Peter Matheson piety polemic poor Pope popular preacher priest princes propaganda prophets Protestant public opinion radical reader reality reference reflect Reformation pamphlet Regensburg religious rhetoric Rome sacraments Scripture sermons sixteenth-century social spirit theologians theological Thomas Müntzer traditional truth understanding vernacular views Wittenberg women wood-cuts words