The Language of the Ellesmere Manuscript

Author / Editor
Smith, Jeremy J.

Title
The Language of the Ellesmere Manuscript

Published
Martin Stevens and Daniel Woodward, eds. The Ellesmere Chaucer: Essays in Interpretation (San Marino, Calif.: Huntington Library; Tokyo: Yushodo, 1995), pp. 69-86.

Description
Argues for the superiority of Hengwrt over Ellesmere on metrical and dialectical grounds.
Hengwrt, which better reflects both the Northernisms of RvT and Chaucer's admittedly difficult-to-ascertain metrical goals, should be the basis for modern editions of CT. Hengwrt's superiority results from the fact that it "was a makeshift volume assembled in some haste, whereas the Ellesmere manuscript was more carefully planned and executed."
Since Ellesmere is more heavily edited, Hengwrt more accurately represents "the authorial original."

Alternative Title
The Ellesmere Chaucer: Essays in Interpretation.

Chaucer Subjects
Manuscripts and Textual Studies.
Style and Versification.
Language and Word Studies.
Reeve and His Tale.