Exemplum

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The book delves into the underexplored role of examples in literary criticism, contrasting it with more recognized tropes like metaphor. John Lyons examines the dual nature of exemplary rhetoric, rooted in Aristotle's Rhetoric, highlighting its tension between generalization and accurate representation. He focuses on sixteenth and seventeenth-century French and Italian literature, addressing the challenges posed by evolving sources of examples during the age of discovery. This study offers fresh interpretations of notable writers, revealing their awareness of the complexities in establishing common ground with audiences.