A Joke: The Tiny Revolution of Theodulf’s ‘Stolen Horse’
Paul Edward Dutton
This chapter takes up the problem of what historians and microhistorians can do with historical jokes. Even smallest most trivial jokes belongs to history be employed by uncover essential aspects past. In this case, a poem bishop abbot Theodulf Orléans about “A Stolen Horse” turns out reveal central cultural feature Carolingian world: importance horse its fabric. The war horse, as study illustrates, was an expression means power in premodern society, world we have now lost horse’s society has faded. Why did Theodulf’s joke work for whom? What might it tell us that world? And why young Anton Chekhov find particular funny?