Publications

Publication details [#1193]

Baxter, Catherine Elisabeth. 2010. Turpiloquium in Boccaccio's Tale of the Goslings ( Decameron , Day IV, Introduction). The Modern Language Review 108 (3) : 812–838. 27 pp.
Publication type
Article in journal
Publication language
English
Place, Publisher
Modern Humanities Research Association

Abstract

In this article, it is argued that the tale of Filippo Balducci in Decameron, Day IV, by Boccaccio, serves as a meta-meditation on the relationship between the control of language and sexual behaviour. It is suggested that the 101st novella is part of the framework narrative where Boccaccio articulates his linguistic policy on sexual metaphor. The results show that the ending of the tale both can be found in the ‘successful’ sexual metaphors employed by Boccaccio in his text, and in the discussions on sexual language that comprise the Conclusion to the work.