Palindromic Structure in Chaucer\u27s \u27Pardoner\u27s Tale\u27

This paper will describe the medieval creative process known as palindromic structure, a face of anagogy that, as far as we can determine, has largely been ignored in contemporary writing courses. It will begin by examining the little verses attributed to Nicolas de Lira that were a staple of schoolboy stu, Les Littera gesta docet, quid credas allegoria,/Tropologia quid agas, quid tendas, anagogia, and show how they were used to teach students creative process in Latin composition. After introducing Mary Douglas\u27s study of the structure, it will apply her criteria to Chaucer\u27s Pardoner\u27s Tale, and demonstrate authorial intentionality by referencing a section of the Parson\u27s Tale. Finally, it will introduce other late medieval works that were conceived by the same creative process, explaining their purpose and exposing the ubiquity of the form