Dorigen's Promise and Scholars' Premise: The Orality of the Speech Act in the 'Franklin's Tale'
- Author / Editor
- Arnovick, Leslie K.
Dorigen's Promise and Scholars' Premise: The Orality of the Speech Act in the 'Franklin's Tale'
- Published
- Mark C. Amodio, ed. Oral Poetics in Middle English Poetry (New York and London: Garland, 1994), pp. 125-47.
- Description
- In light of linguistic, legal, and folkloric traditions, Dorigen's speech to Aurelius in the garden--a moment of dialogue within the larger dialogue of the pilgrims--does not constitute a promise. Rashly made promises were not considered legally binding contracts, and Chaucer's folk audience would have known this.
- Alternative Title
- Oral Poetics in Middle English Poetry.
- Chaucer Subjects
- Franklin and His Tale.