Literary notes about parley (AI summary)
The term “parley” has long been a favored literary device to denote moments of negotiation, truce, or confrontation between opposing forces. In epic texts such as Homer's works ([1], [2]) and Dante’s Inferno ([3]), it lends a formal, almost sacred tone to the discourse between warriors or even divine figures. Later authors like Dickens ([4], [5], [6]) and Thackeray ([7], [8]) used it to punctuate abrupt or tense exchanges, reflecting both the gravity and occasional frivolity of the situation. Meanwhile, writers such as Ibsen ([9]) and Ben Jonson ([10], [11]) invoke the term to heighten dramatic irony or to underscore the ritualistic aspect of negotiation, demonstrating its versatility across genres and eras.
- And yet suppose these measures I forego, Approach unarm'd, and parley with the foe, The warrior-shield, the helm, and lance, lay down.
— from The Iliad by Homer - lay the darts aside: A parley Hector asks, a message bears; We know him by the various plume he wears.
— from The Iliad by Homer - The demon who in parley had drawn nigh Unto my Leader, upon this turned round; ‘Scarmiglione, lay thy weapon by!’
— from The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri: The Inferno by Dante Alighieri - “Enough of this parley
— from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - A man was standing there, in parley with the watchman.
— from Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens - They went in, without further parley.
— from Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens - "I want to be off—now—to-night," Dobbin continued; and the Colonel getting up, came out to parley with him.
— from Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray - She left the room before Rawdon went away that day; but they met by chance below, as he was going away after taking leave, and had a parley together.
— from Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray - And is there no sort of little chink that we could hold a parley through? HEDDA.
— from Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen - PARLE, parley.
— from Every Man in His Humor by Ben Jonson - PARLE, parley.
— from The Alchemist by Ben Jonson