Forging the Past: The Language of Historical Truth in Middle Ages
Gabrielle M. Spiegel
IN THE HIERARCHY OF VALUES by which most historians live, truth stands higher than fiction, and prose verse. Indeed, two are commonly linked, for prose, as a language of fact, is thought to tommunicate more accurately poetry those truths about human experience it task history recount. This assumed affinity between with its implicit assertion truth-value in historical discourse, so unexceptional us, nonetheless runs counter fundamental poetic rhetorical traditions ancient world. To Aristotle, example, writing Poetics, the distinction historian poet lies not one other (you might, says put work Herodotus into verse, would still be species history), but rather that describes thing has been, while concerned what might be.1 Similarly, Quintillian, was genre akin poetry, since dignity subject matter made deserving stylistic elaboration. 2 In embellishment his topic, allowed, indeed encouraged, use poetical language, employ unusual words, surprise verbal paradoxes, delight complicated figures speech unexpected patterns phrases.3 What distinguished ancients level whether high or low, versified prosaic, nor even truth-since statements, according being universal nature where were merely singular,
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