Browse Items (16377 total)

Discusses the "literary qualities" of Old French fabliaux, comparing and contrasting them with those of "higher genres" as a step toward gauging their influence on writers such as Chaucer.

Argues that Chaucer is "not an antifeminist" despite his uses of misogynistic materials from Theophrastus, Juvenal, Jerome, and others. His uses of such material in TC, LGW, and CT is self-aware and often comic, evidence of his "rising above" his…

Examines point of view, presentation, plot, and characterization in ShT, MilT, RvT, SumT, and FrT, comparing and contrasting these techniques with those found in Old French fabliaux, and arguing that Chaucer supersedes his predecessors in complexity,…

Describes the aesthetic standards espoused by the pilgrims in CT and argues that the Nun's Priest "fits his tale to his audience even as he tries to alter the views of the audience" and tries to solve for himself the question of free will versus…

Investigates the "plurality of meaning" in a number of Biblical and classical allusions in MerT, comments on sources, and discusses the setting of the Tale and the names of its characters, arguing that the cultural context of the Tale is a major…

Explores the relations between style and Christian morality in MilT, RvT, FranT, MLT, MerT, ClT, and NPT, gauging the moral outlooks of the narrators of the Tales.

Explores the relations between style and Christian morality in MilT, RvT, FranT, MLT, MerT, ClT, and NPT, gauging the moral outlooks of the narrators of the Tales.

Traces the character development of the Host in CT (following the Ellesmere ordering of the parts) and reads NPT as his "turning point" when he abandons comic "crudity, violence, and carelessness" for "capable leadership." Assesses Harry Bailly's…

Argues that the "innate absurdities" of the courtly love tradition invite parody and includes discussion of TC as a "sympathetic parody" in which "tone" is "governed by Boethian and Christian doctrines along with Chaucer's personal experience."

Describes the influence of Jerome's "Adversus Jovinianum" on Chaucer, especially in FranT and WBP, and explains why the Pembrock MS 234, edited here, is "closer to Chaucer's source manuscript than any of the other" forty-two manuscripts considered…

Shows how Chaucer adapted Boccaccio's "Filostrato" in TC by increasing the density and variety of rhetorical figures, thereby "embellishing" the verse, altering characterization, transforming narrative perspective. and increasing irony. Includes an…

Shows how Biblical narratives underlie the CT, not only allusively but in narrative plots and figural schema, focusing on how materials from Genesis are present in GP (springtime creation), KnT (brotherly conflict similar to Cain and Abel), MilT…

Offers a critical edition of Kynaston's "Amorum Troili et Creseide," with attention to his "methods of translating" TC and his "explication of Chaucer's life and artistry."

Concentrates on Old English poems and Middle English plays that are analogous to Milton's "Paradise Lost," but includes in an appendix "[s]some relationships with The Canterbury Tales and . . . description of seven Middle English poetic analogues."

Surveys rhetorical criticism of Chaucer, exploring medieval and modern concepts of rhetoric, and assesses the "interruption by a pilgrim of his own narrative" in SqT, ManT, MerT, and NPT for the ways that such interruptions help to characterize the…

Explores the "double-contextual development" of characters and their actions in beast tales and beast fables, investigating double meanings (animal and human) in such narratives. Includes discussion of how NPT follows the Renart tradition in this…

Argues that concern with Providence is a major factor in the "high seriousness" of Chaucer's poetry, exploring relations between theological and poetic formulations of Providence before Chaucer and in a variety of his works.

Defines "ballad tragedy" in comparison with late-medieval "De casibus" tragedies, using ballads collected by Francis James Child and, among other works, Chaucer's MkT and TC.

Argues that in adapting the conventions of French love-visions Chaucer improves on his predecessors and comes close to perfecting one of major literary genres of the Middle Ages. Discusses BD, HF, PF, and LGWP.

Tallies similarities in the works of Chaucer and of Juan Ruiz (themes, sources, allusions, details, etc.) that they share as "representatives of the fourteenth century."

Chaucer's poetry must be read as "in dialogue" with his neoplatonic sources such as Boethius, Macrobius, etc. BD is a study of the root cause of "letargye"--the lack of harmony between the real and the ideal. PF is an analysis of man's…

KnT explores four hypothetical world views: the world ruled by Fortune, exemplified by Theseus and the Theban widows; man bewailing his helplessness, Palamon and Arcite in prison; man attempting to control social disorder, the tournament; man…

Parody is the key to understanding the relation between Chaucer's comedy and Christianity. Through parody Chaucer achieves high seriousness and high comedy. Parody of sacral sign and symbols in PardT and Marriage Group produces poetry that can be…

The scatalogical language and happenings in MilT and SumT can be interpreted as a serious commentary. The farting, kissing, and symbolic sodomy recall the anal character of demonic ritual. The friar's misuse of the gift of tongues may reflect the…

The systematized tradition of the "Chasse Royal," as described in contemporary handbooks of venery, establishes a pattern for the action of BD and explains many of the images and allusions.