Wells and Streams in Three Chaucerian Gardens

Author / Editor
Heffernan, Carol Falvo.

Title
Wells and Streams in Three Chaucerian Gardens

Published
Papers on Language and Literature 15 (1979): 339-57.

Description
The function of wells and streams in Chaucer's use of the garden "topos" suggests that, where the secular materials are drawn from the courtly love tradition, as in PF and very largely in MerT, religious echoes expose the illusiveness or inadequacy of romantic love. The primary effect of the merger in FranT is that religious and secular materials, classical as well as romantic, support the impression that love on earth can be a "verray paradise."

Chaucer Subjects
Background and General Criticism
Parliament of Fowls.
Merchant and His Tale.
Franklin and His Tale.