Political Allegory in Late-Medieval England
- Author / Editor
- Astell, Ann W.
Political Allegory in Late-Medieval England
- Published
- Ithaca, N.Y., and London : Cornell University Press, 1999.
- Physical Description
- xiv, 218 pp.
- Description
- A series of studies that explore how William Langland, John Gower, the Gawain poet, Chaucer, and Sir Thomas Malory all "practiced an allegorical art, partly as a result of their similar educational backgrounds and also because political pressures encouraged and indeed necessitated indirection in writing about matters of public concern" (5). Chapter 4, "Chaucer's Ricardian Allegories" (pp. 94-116), compares allegorical depictions of Richard II: as a royal eagle in PF, as the God of Love in LGWP, and "in various guises" in Mel, MkT, and NPT. Mel promises the political advice given in MkPT, with its reference to King Edward (7.1968-72), and in NPT, with its recapitulation of the revolt of 1381.
- Chaucer Subjects
- Background and General Criticism.
- Tale of Melibee.
- Monk and His Tale.
- Nun's Priest and His Tale.
- Legend of Good Women.
- Parliament of Fowls.