ENG32240

Geoffrey Chaucer is often described as the father of English literature. Arguably, he is the finest narrative poet to write in the English language. His many stories explore the vagaries of love, the variety of the human condition, and the wonder of the supernatural. From the loquacious Wife of Bath to a talking eagle made entirely of gold, Chaucer's diverse cast of characters are often themselves expert storytellers. Writing in the last quarter of the fourteenth century, this shrewd Londoner crafted new stories from old ones, which explored the mythic ground of the human form of life. Despite their age, Chaucer's stories remain the funniest in the canon of English literature. They are also the wisest.

In this module, students will interrogate these assertions, among others, through consideration of the social, cultural and literary contexts of the period. In the course of the module, students will be encouraged to deepen their understanding of the language and literature of the period and to read the texts not just as byproducts of their time, but as cultural interstices which influence and are influenced by the political, cultural and social events of the period.

The module will focus on the ten fragments of The Canterbury Tales. Each seminar will consider one or more tale from each fragment. Texts will be studied in the original Middle English.