Examine Montaigne's essay Of Cannibals (Reading 17.7) and identify the aspects of the piece that are innovative and depart from more traditional forms of writing

What will be an ideal response?

The essay form is a vehicle for trying out ideas and testing them even as they are written. Montaigne reveals his own mind at work, often contradicting himself, openly challenging his own assumptions, and treats his own mind with a high level of skepticism. This essay offers captivating details of cannibal life but claims that a more civilized man is capable of even greater levels of barbarity. Citing specific paintings or works of architecture, discuss the way that Popes and Cardinals used the arts to emphasize their own power, wealth, and superiority.