Prudence and Her Silence: Spenser's Use of Chaucer's 'Melibee'
- Author / Editor
- Anderson, Judith H.
Prudence and Her Silence: Spenser's Use of Chaucer's 'Melibee'
- Published
- ELH 62 (1995): 29-46.
- Description
- Spenser's account of Melibee in "The Faerie Queene" 6 reveals affinities with Chaucer's Mel, as well as significant differences from it.
- Both honey-drinkers tend to be complacent, and both suffer.
- Spenser's Melibee (whose wife is silent) talks in proverbs but lacks prudence; Chaucer's is married to Prudence, who speaks in proverbs.
- Both narrators reflect difficult times, with Sepnser's undergoing personal and literal loss.
- Chaucer Subjects
- Tale of Melibee.
- Chaucer's Influence and Later Allusion.