'The Fair Maid of Ribblesdale' and the Problem of Parody

Author / Editor
Burton, T. L.

Title
'The Fair Maid of Ribblesdale' and the Problem of Parody

Published
Essays in Criticism 31 (1981): 282-98.

Description
Argues that internal evidence (meter, repetitiveness, exaggeration, etc.) is sufficient to establish that "The Fair Maid of Ribblesdale" is a parody, comparing examples drawn from the poem to similar ones in Chaucer's MercB, MilT, and, especially, Thop.

Chaucer Subjects
Tale of Sir Thopas
Miller and His Tale
Merciles Beaute