How were exempla used in medieval sermons?

In medieval literature, an exemplum was a short, illustrative tale incorporated by preachers into their sermons to emphasize a moral lesson or clarify a point of religious doctrine.12

These stories functioned as a "narrative toolkit" for clergy, designed to make sermons more engaging and accessible to their congregations. Preachers often drew from collections of fables, folktales, legends, and accounts of saints' lives—such as the Gesta Romanorum or the works of Jacques de Vitry—to provide concrete examples of Christian virtues or the consequences of vice.21

The structure of an exemplum was typically anecdotal, often framed by the preacher’s own commentary to ensure the audience understood the intended spiritual application. By utilizing familiar figures such as knights, emperors, and common folk, these tales helped bridge the gap between abstract theological concepts and the everyday lives of listeners. The influence of this form extended beyond the pulpit, providing plot foundations for secular literature, most notably seen in the moral tales within Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.21