Exemplum

Focusing on the rhetoric of example, this study examines its significance in early modern literature, comparing it to more established tropes like metaphor. John Lyons explores the complex relationship between persuasive statements and accurate representation, tracing its roots to Aristotle's Rhetoric. He highlights the challenges faced by sixteenth and seventeenth-century French and Italian writers amidst a shift towards observational examples during the age of discovery. Through this lens, Lyons offers fresh interpretations of notable authors such as Machiavelli and Montaigne.