Fool's literature

Fool's literature was a literary tradition in medieval Europe in which the stock character of a fool was used as an allegory to satirize the contemporary society."Fool's literature", Encyclopædia Britannica

Notable examples (1410, The Ring), a satirical poem by Heinrich Wittenwiler Daß Narrenschyff ad Narragoniam (1494; Ship of Fools), a poem by the German satirist Sebastian Brant Moriae Encomium, sive Stultitiae Laus (1509, The Praise of Folly), by Erasmus of Rotterdam Narrenbeschwörung (1512; Exorcism of Fools), Die Schelmenzunft (1512); Die Gäuchmatt (1519, Fools' Meadow), Die Mühle von Schwindelsheim und Gretmüllerin Jahrzeit by Thomas Murner

See also Picaresque novel Sotie

References