The Medieval Art of Imitation and Chaucer's 'Legenda Tesbe'

Author / Editor
McGregor, James H.

Title
The Medieval Art of Imitation and Chaucer's 'Legenda Tesbe'

Published
Mediaevalia 9 (1986, for 1983): 181-203.

Description
LGW's "Legend of Thisbe" paraphrases Ovid's story in "Metamorphoses," pt. 4, according to the rules of classical rhetoric. Chaucer's changes in Ovid's story resemble those of other medieval paraphrasers: his neutral narrative style is changed to one describing the lovers' illicit passion in a dislocated language of morality and devotion; the resulting tension between story and language ironically reflects on the lovers' moral predicament and behavior.

Chaucer Subjects
Legend of Good Women.