El monólogo recreativo de The Complaynt of Scotland

Abstract

The Complaynt of Scotland (c. 1550) is a literary work in prose written, according to the author, in a plain style. Nonetheless, in chapter six, called "Ane monolog recreatyue of the actor", the author displays a great virtuosity in his use of language and employs the formulae and aureate diction of the "courtly verse in the grand manner", one of the genres established by Aitken in "The Language of Older Scots Poetry" (1983). This paper carries out a detailed linguistic analysis of the content and diction of this chapter of The Complaynt and shows that it may be considered a prose counterpart of that kind of poetry.