The 'Silly' Pacifism of Geoffrey Chaucer and Terry Jones

Author / Editor
Quinn, William A.

Title
The 'Silly' Pacifism of Geoffrey Chaucer and Terry Jones

Published
R. F. Yeager and Toshiyuki Takamiya, eds. The Medieval Python: The Purposive and Provocative Work of Terry Jones (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012), pp. 167-79.

Description
Corroborates Terry Jones's view that Chaucer was a pacifist, and argues that Jones and Chaucer both use humor and indirection against war. Chaucer was very earnest in his critiques of war in Mel and ParsT, but less direct in KnT and his description of the Knight. Chaucer was downright funny in Th, although equally critical of battle.

Alternative Title
Medieval Python: The Purposive and Provocative Work of Terry Jones.

Chaucer Subjects
Tale of Melibee
Parson and His Tale
Knight and His Tale
Tale of Sir Thopas