Little is known about Robert Henryson's life, who was a very well-known Scottish author much admired by his contemporories (often described as the 'greatest' Scottish medieval author); who wrote in middle-scots in the second half of the fifteenth century, and mainly during the reign of James III. He 'possibly' attended and taught at the University of Glasgow, and is associated with the town of Dunfermline, where -inasmuch as can be ascertained from his work and sixteenth century tradition- he may have worked as a teacher, lawyer, or public notary. He was not a court poet, unlike his younger contemporary, William Dunbar.
Henryson's main works include a version of Aesop's Fables (usually entitled The Morall fabillis of Esope the Phrygian), The Testament of Cresseid, a follow-on to Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde (but also seen as his own, original 'masterpiece', a poem in its own right) , Robene and Makyne, and Orpheus and Eurydice, a version of the classic tale.
Pricilla Bawcutt describes Henryson in Discovering Scottish Writers as excelling as 'a narrative poet' who handled the fable genre 'brilliantly.'
Poems by this Poet
Poem | Post date | Rating | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
The Assembly of the Gods | 29 November 2013 |
(1 vote) |
0 |
Cresseid's Complaint against Fortune | 29 November 2013 |
(1 vote) |
0 |
Robin and Makyne | 31 July 2013 |
(1 vote) |
0 |
Cressida's Leprosy | 29 November 2013 |
(1 vote) |
0 |
Robin and Malkin | 31 July 2013 |
No votes yet |
0 |
The Garmont of Gude Ladies | 19 May 2014 |
(1 vote) |
0 |
Fabill 12 - The Taill of the Wolf and the Lamb | 19 May 2014 |
(1 vote) |
0 |
The Bludy Serk | 31 July 2013 |
No votes yet |
0 |
Ane Prayer for the Pest | 19 May 2014 |
(3 votes) |
0 |
The Taill of the Paddok & the Mous | 19 May 2014 |
(1 vote) |
0 |
Comments
Subtle rhetorician....one of
Subtle rhetorician....one of the Scotish finest.
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