Universalizing Doublets in Middle English Verse: Chaucer and Romance

Description: Analyzes Chaucer's "universalizing doublets," such as "up and doun," with those appearing in the Auchinleck Manuscript to suggest that Chaucer was not simply
imitating the diction of medieval romance: his usage mirrors that of Middle English generally. While often used to fill out a line of verse, universalizing doublets can also be substantive; for example, the use of "up and doun" and "to and fro" in KnT underscores its Boethian themes of cycles and mutability.

Chaucer Subjects: Language and Word Studies
Style and Versification
Knight and His Tale