Undoubtedly I will receive letters asking about the…
““Undoubtedly I will receive letters asking about the coney's kiss. The truth is that I made it up. There are many Renaissance jokes about coneys, or rabbits. The word was associated with women, particularly with their sexual parts, and young men in plays tend to boast of their coney-catching ways. I've never read a joke about a coney's kiss: One has to hope that that doesn't reflect a lack of imagination of [sic] the part of sixteenth-century men.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author admits inventing a joke about a “coney’s kiss,” noting historical sexual connotations of “coney” and the lack of period jokes.
In simple terms: Made up a joke about a rabbit’s kiss, noting historical meanings.
Key Takeaway
Question historical assumptions about language.
Themes
language
history
sexuality
humor
Mood
curious
analytical
Type
historical
educational
When to use this quote
- writing historical fiction
- teaching language evolution
- analyzing period humor
Key Concepts
etymology
Renaissance culture
gendered language
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “coney” reveal about past gender norms?
- How can writers responsibly reconstruct historical humor?
A Different Perspective
Modern interpretations may misread historical context.