Browse Items (16328 total)

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."

Explores the sources and ironies of the disquisition on dreams that opens HF, and argues that its list of "six dream words" (HF 7-12) are made up of "three contrasting pairs," each of which is "distinguished by a contrast between a dream that conveys…

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."

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…

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 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.

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."

Adduces two instances in Middle English of the use of "point" with musical connotations, and suggests that the use of the term in TC 3.695 gains complexity from such connotations.

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…

Suggests that there can be "little doubt" that Chaucer thought the term "vavasour" (GP 1.30, applied to the Franklin) signified "a man noted for hospitality," adducing evidence from Chrétien and other sources.

Argues that in the GP sketch of the Prioress the reference to saint Loy (1.120) is punningly "redolent of permissiveness."

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 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.

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.

Dialectical analysis of "listeth" in Middle English indicates that in using the term to mean "listen" in Tho (particularly at 7.833) Chaucer alters his source and strikes for his London audience the "right jarring note" since that meaning was "no…

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…

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…

Item not seen. The WorldCat record indicates that this filmstrip "Uses contemporary prints and paintings to illustrate fourteenth century England as reflected in the works of Chaucer" and that the "Recording includes The tale of the wyf of Bathe read…

Explores the factors involved in assessing Chaucer's rank among literary greats, summarizing parts of CT, describing difficulties of teaching the poem, suggesting the use of Nevill Coghill's translation, and offering other pedagogical comments.

Explains how the scene that involves Gerveys the smith (1.3772-89) is "structurally crucial" to MilT by creating an effective lull between "two bits of explosive comedy," helping to characterize Absolon, and gathering the threads of several important…

Glosses "almoost a spanne broode" in the GP description of the Prioress (CT 1.155) as "almost four inches high," exploring its ironic implications.

Adduces evidence from various sources to show that the Wife of Bath has characteristics of the archetype of the old bawd, itself rooted in the earlier figure of "sorceress-intermediary" and associated with aging, trade, extravagant dress, and…

Facing-page edition of Rom (based on Thynne's edition) and its sources passage in the "Roman de la Rose," with the text of the latter drawn from various manuscripts that provide readings closest to Rom. Includes textual notes and an Introduction…

Introductory summary of Chaucer's life and social context, illustrated with numerous b&w photographs of objects from the late fourteenth century: buildings, coins, artifacts, manuscripts, etc. Draws examples of social, political, and religious life…