English 451, Spring 1996 In this course we will read and study Geoffrey Chaucer's poetry--as much as can be comfortably read in a semester--in its original form. We will become familiar with the sound of Chaucer's poetry, and do some close reading; we will also learn about Chaucer's life and times and about the social and literary contexts of his work. By examining several works of Chaucer criticism, we will examine how the "Chaucer" of the classroom, the canonized "Father of English poetry" came to be. And in addition to reading the critics, we will also look at a few poets who present a very contemporary view of Chaucer.
We will use the World Wide Web to obtain access to secondary materials, artworks, and other interesting things related to Chaucer and Medieval Studies; a bit later in the semester, we will make our own contribution to that electronic world. The results of our collaborative study of the Nun's Priest's Tale, which is often seen as Chaucer's finest work, will be posted on the Web.
The text for this class is The Complete Poetrv and Prose of Geoffrev Chaucer, ed. John H. Fisher (2d edition).
No supplemental texts or translations have been ordered; if you have a translation, you may use it if necessary, but be aware that all such crutches are broken--nothing can replace your own careful reading of the text. All quotations of Chaucer, in class or in writing, must be from the Fisher edition or the Riverside edition (the standard scholarly edition). For a quick overview of a plot, it may be helpful to consult Helen Cooper's The Canterbury Tales, from the Oxford Guides to Chaucer
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Allen, Mark,
The Essential Chaucer (bibliography) PR 1905 All A44x 1987
Benson, Larry D.,
The Riverside Chaucer PR 1851 B46 1987
Bethurum, Dorothy, ed.,
Critical Approaches to Medieval Literature PN 681 B465c
Bowden, Betsy,
Chaucer Aloud (on oral interpretation) PR 1875 073 B68 1987
Cooper, Helen,
The Canterbury Tales PR 1874 C64 1989
Davis, Norman,
A Chaucer Glossary PR 1941 C5
Donaldson, E. Talbot,
Speaking of Chaucer PR 1924 D6
Howard, Donald R.,
Chaucer: His Life, His Works, His World PR 1905 H58 1987
Kittredge, George L.,
Chaucer and His Poetry PR 1924 K5
Kolve, V. A.,
Chaucer and the Imagery of Narrative PR 1875 A44 K64 1984
Lumiansky, Robert,
Of Sondry Folk PR 1874 L8
Mann, Jill,
Chaucer and Medieval Estates Satire PR 1868 P9 M3
Mann, Jill,
Geoffrey Chaucer PR 1928 W64 M36
Morse, Ruth, and Barry Windeatt,
Chaucer Traditions PR 1924 C444
Pearsall, Derek,
Life of Geoffrey Chaucer PR 1905 P43 1992
Robertson, D. W.,
Chaucer's London DA 680 R545c
Rose, Donald M.,
New Perspectives in Chaucer Criticism PR 1924 N37
Rowland, Beryl,
Companion to Chaucer Studies, rev. ed. PR 1924 R61
The Canterbury Tales: Miller's Tale and Reeve's Tale Soun 000 013
The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale; the Nun's Priest's Tale Soun 000 018
Chaucer Aloud (tape accompanying Bowden volume) PR 1875 073 B68 1987
Also on reserve: Reading Chaucer: Practice Tape, Book of the Duchess, General Prologue (ask at desk)
Benson, C. David,
Chaucer's Drama of Style PR 1874 B46 1986
Brewer, Derek,
Geoffrey Chaucer (Writers and their Background) PR 1924 B75 1975
Dillon, Janette,
Geoffrey Chaucer (Writers in their Time) PR 1906.5 D55 1993
Dinshaw, Carolyn,
Chaucer's Sexual Poetics PR 1933 S35 D56 1989
Howard, Donald R.,
The Idea of the Canterbury Tales PR 1874 H65
Kiser, Lisa J.,
Truth and Textuality in Chaucer's Poetry PR 1933 K6 K57 1991
Olson, Paul,
The Canterbury Tales and the Good Society PR 1875 S63 04 1986
Patterson, Lee,
Negotiating the Past PR 255 P34 1987
Strohm, Paul,
Social Chaucer PR 1933 S59 S77 1989
Waugh, Scott L.,
England in the Reign of Edward III DA 233 W29 1991