Blameth Nat Me: A Study of Imagery in Chaucer's Fabliaux

Author / Editor
Richardson, Janette.

Title
Blameth Nat Me: A Study of Imagery in Chaucer's Fabliaux

Published
The Hague: Mouton, 1970.

Physical Description
186 pp.

Description
Examines the imagery and irony of FrT, RvT, ShT, MerT, SumT, and MilT, focusing on how in each tale Chaucer achieves "organic" unity through transformation of the "conventional formulae" of medieval rhetorical handbooks. Summarizes the practices recommended by rhetoricians, especially Geoffrey Vinsauf, and exemplifies Chaucer's uses of "effictio" and "notatio" in BD and GP. Then traces how in each of the fabliaux Chaucer artfully crafts patterns of imagery and figurative comparisons to complicate plot, deepen theme ironically, and engage his audience aesthetically and intellectually.

Chaucer Subjects
Style and Versification
Sources, Analogues, and Literary Relations
Friar and His Tale
Reeve and His Tale
Shipman and His Tale
Merchant and His Tale
Summoner and His Tale
Miller and His Tale