The "Fayre Formez" of the "Pearl" Poet

A study of the "Pearl"/"Gawain" poet arguing for a conscious and coherent structure to his works. It differs from previous studies by treating the four poems as a whole. The point of departure is the poet's own use of the phrase "fayre formez", suggesting structural patterning as well as imagery.

The purpose of this volume is to identify the underlying poetics of the complete works of the "Pearl" poet - "Pearl", "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", "Patience" and "Cleanness". It differs from most previous studies by treating the four poems as a whole rather than individually. The point of departure is the poet's own use of the phrase "fayre formez" to desribe his art, which the author suggests means the narrative and structural patterns as well as the visual and verbal images contained within the poems. Drawing on both the visual imagery of mediaeval art, using specific illustrations as examples, and the verbal imagery of the Bible and other literary sources, Prior argues that the poet's "fayre formez" are the result of a coherent and self-conscious view of the artist's craft.