Chaucer's Worthless Butterfly

Author / Editor
Wentersdorf, Karl P.

Title
Chaucer's Worthless Butterfly

Published
English Language Notes 14 (1977): 167-72.

Description
In Chaucer's age, the image of the butterfly primarily suggested the self-destructive nature of human sinfulness. This aspect of butterfly symbolism occurs in MkT (B2.3978-81), MerT (E.303-04), and possibly ShT (B2.1360-61).

Chaucer Subjects
Background and General Criticism
Monk and His Tale.
Merchant and His Tale.
Shipman and His Tale.