For the Birds

Author / Editor
Crane, Susan.

Title
For the Birds

Published
SAC 29 (2007): 23-41.

Description
The two portions of SqT align the cultural differences between the Mamluk emissary and the Mongol court with the species differences between the falcon and Canacee. Capitalizing on symbolic, metonymic connections between animals and humans and reflecting the Middle English dual meaning of kynde (denoting both species and compassionate), the bird section diminishes the orientalism of the court scene and poses possibilities for interspecies compassion.

Alternative Title
Biennial Chaucer Lecture, The New Chaucer Society, Fifteenth International Congress, 27-31 July 2006, Fordham University.

Chaucer Subjects
Squire and His Tale