Chaucer's "Retraction": Who Retracted What?

Author / Editor
Campbell, A. P.

Title
Chaucer's "Retraction": Who Retracted What?

Published
Revue de l'Universite d'Ottawa 35 (1965): 35-53.

Description
Accepts Ret as earnest but impersonated, surveying critical opinions, and suggesting that it is best read as an instance of Chaucer's "contrast principle" in operation, offering examples of his "many pretended or real about-faces" in CT. After ParsT, Ret "switch[es] us back to Chaucer the pilgrim, who has listened with his usual enthusiasm and commitment, to the Parson's sermon on the rejection of worldliness and the necessity of repentance."

Chaucer Subjects
Chaucer's Retraction
Parson and His Tale
Canterbury Tales--General