Browse Items (16471 total)

Uses ParsT as a standard by which to assess the morality of CT, discussing the "ubiquity of sin in the Canterbury pilgrims," the "prominence of Pride" in especially the Wife of Bath and Pardoner materials, and the balancing virtues found elsewhere in…

Derives a composite "Chaucerian narrator" from the poet's various works, characterized by "naiveté or dull-mindedness," the traditional pose of a "slyly comic writer." Then explores how this nuances of this figure are used to effects in individual…

Argues that MLT is neither saints' legend nor romance, but that its "heroic theme, setting, and characters suggest strongly that . . . it belongs to the literary genre of epic and to the sociological genre of myth."

Establishes the "intellectual background" to Chaucer's translation of Innocent's "De Miseria Humane Conditionis" as his "Wreched Engendrynge of Mankynde," explores Chaucer's uses of the treatise in MLPT and PardT and their manuscripts glosses, and…

Treats TC as an "exemplum of" Bo, focusing on the extent of Boethian influence, the character of Criseyde, the ironic narrator, and the "appropriateness of the epilogue."

Studies "Christian phraseology" in troubadour verse, the poetry of Chrétien, the "Roman de la Rose," and TC, focusing on uses by the narrator, Pandarus, and Troilus in Chaucer's poem.

Investigates the uses and functions of allegory, dialogue, and symbolism in Boethius's "Consolation," Alan of Lille's "De Planctu Naturae," landscapes in twelfth-century literature, and PF, arguing that the latter is a "triumph of allegorical…

Interprets the Canon of CYP as "one of the men of Antichrist," and examines the sustained opposition of CYPT and SNPT, emphasizing their contrasting depictions of reason and revelation as ways of knowing.

Edits the early modern Welsh play, "Troelius a Chresyd," with commentary on its relations with TC, Robert Henryson's "Testament," and early modern drama, treating the Welsh drama as a "secular mystery play."

Explores the roots of medieval poetic theory in medieval rhetorical handbooks, and examines MilT, PrT, PhyT, MerT, and ClT) for evidence that Chaucer was influenced by the "received medieval poetic," even though his "narrative procedure . . . may be…

Translates a potion of the "Roman de Thebes" into modern English; the Introduction to the translation includes discussion of Chaucer's uses of the work in KnT

Uses late-medieval literary and historical sources to define the Anglo-French ideal of a "perfect knight," and applies this understanding to KnT, MkT, WBT, and FranT.

Discusses Criseyde in "English, French, Latin, and some Italian literature between the middle of the twelfth and the end of the fifteenth century," establishing that she was "a type of the fickle woman long before" Chaucer wrote TC.

Describes the conventions of late-medieval English "literary dreams," and explores how Chaucer, William Langland, and the "Pearl"-poet exploit the "potentialities of the form," including discussion of the development of the dream narrator in BD, HF,…

Describes the French influences on BD of, among others, three poems by Machaut, one by Froissart, and Guillaume de Lorris's portion of the "Roman de la Rose," demonstrating the dependence and innovations of Chaucer's work in the tradition of the…

Studies Chaucer's uses of Ovid in Mars, Ven, Pity, Anel, BD, HF, and TC, focusing on complaints and depictions of women, and providing lists of observed parallels between Chaucer and Ovid, work by work. This dissertation was completed in 1963.

Assesses prior critical treatments of Chaucer's uses of rhetoric and traces a pattern of development from his use of the "conventional methods of expansion and embellishment" of the medieval rhetoricians, through "increasing independence" to…

Tabulates and analyzes Chaucer's "normalized diction," i.e., a "diction that is very repetitive and free from syntactic eccentricity, a diction that utilizes the same words to express the same ideas in different contexts." Compares and contrasts…

Edits the minor poem of Stephen Hawes, with notes that include recurrent comments on the influence of Chaucer and Lydgate.

Explores the impact and significance of music in Chaucer's works in light of three traditions: philosophic, Scriptural, and poetic, concluding that "Chaucer's music is far more meaningful and amusing than critics have thought," and the "major…

Surveys medieval and Renaissance accounts and allusions to Julius Caesar as background to analysis of Shakespeare's depiction of him in "Julius Caesar," including commentary on Chaucer's several references to Caesar and analysis of the Caesar section…

Investigates Chaucer's concept of "gentilesse" in light of his sources in Boethius, Dante, and Jean de Meun, and compares his notion with those found in the poetry of his contemporaries. Treats "gentilesse" as a secular virtue, although similar to…

Studies Chaucer's narrative personae in BD and PF, identifying several traits that become "regular marks" of his later self-characterizations: a bookish reteller who interjects personal comments, "comic self-depreciation," and ambiguous "fascination"…

Explores Chaucer's references and allusions to pagan gods in BD, Mars, KnT, TC, and MerT, emphasizing his innovations that are evident in light of source-and-analogue analysis.

Summarizes portions of Boccaccio's "Teseida" and assesses parallel portions of KnT in light of these summaries, emphasizing Chaucer's "reworking" of his source in characterizing Palamon, Arcite, and Theseus through "symbolic imagery."