Chaucer's Joly Absolon

Author / Editor
Silar, Theodore I.

Title
Chaucer's Joly Absolon

Published
Philological Quarterly 69 (1990): 409-17.

Description
The epithet "joly" or "jolif," used seven times to characterize Absolon in MilT, is inadequately translated as "jolly." Chaucer makes use of many Middle English meanings of the word to portray Absolon as "happy and light-hearted, amorous, a convivial drinker, finely dressed, self-confident, proud, and pretty--although perhaps somewhat overweight."

Chaucer Subjects
Miller and His Tale.