Articles

From Exegesis to Allegorical Fiction in Twelfth-century Parables

---

Abstract

This article examines the emergence of allegorical fiction from exegetical practice in twelfth-century western Europe, focusing on the compact narrative form of the parable. It defines medieval fictionality as the deprivileging of the opposition between truth and falsehood. It then asks whether the creation of allegorical parables can also be considered as instances of such fictionality, despite its didactic goal and allegorical structure of double reference. Through close readings of three twelfth-century Latin (collections of) parables—narrative prologues from Honorius of Regensburg’s commentary on the Song of Songs, Bernard of Clairvaux’s Parabolae, and Galand of Reigny’s Parabolarium—the study explores the creation of allegorical parables from allegorical exegesis. It is argued that fictionality emerges in the interpretive interstices between allegoresis and allegory. 

Keywords: medieval fictionality, parables, exegesis, allegory, Honorius of Regensburg, Bernard of Clairvaux, Galand of Reigny

How to Cite:

Wouters, D., (2026) “From Exegesis to Allegorical Fiction in Twelfth-century Parables”, Journal of Latin Cosmopolitanism and European Literatures 14. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/jolcel.96303