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Questions and Answers
What were the two branches of the language found by Chaucer?
What were the two branches of the language found by Chaucer?
Teutonic, spoken by the people, and French, spoken by the learned and the noble
What was the result of Chaucer's writing on the language of England?
What was the result of Chaucer's writing on the language of England?
There was practically but one speech, and one people
In what year was Geoffrey Chaucer believed to have been born?
In what year was Geoffrey Chaucer believed to have been born?
1328
Where is Chaucer generally believed to have been born?
Where is Chaucer generally believed to have been born?
Why did Leland have opportunities to get at the truth about Chaucer's birth?
Why did Leland have opportunities to get at the truth about Chaucer's birth?
What was the relation between the two tongues in England before Chaucer wrote?
What was the relation between the two tongues in England before Chaucer wrote?
What was Chaucer's social status?
What was Chaucer's social status?
What did Chaucer's writing create?
What did Chaucer's writing create?
What does the phrase 'departure from the dramatic assumption' refer to in Chaucer's writings?
What does the phrase 'departure from the dramatic assumption' refer to in Chaucer's writings?
In The Wife of Bath's Prologue, what does the poet do after the Wife's statement about women's ability to swear and lie?
In The Wife of Bath's Prologue, what does the poet do after the Wife's statement about women's ability to swear and lie?
What does the poet describe in the Prologue to the 'Legend of Good Women'?
What does the poet describe in the Prologue to the 'Legend of Good Women'?
What is the main purpose of compressing the poem in this volume?
What is the main purpose of compressing the poem in this volume?
Who is the 'worthy clerk' mentioned by the Clerk of Oxford in the passage?
Who is the 'worthy clerk' mentioned by the Clerk of Oxford in the passage?
How does the editor hope readers will respond to the condensed precis?
How does the editor hope readers will respond to the condensed precis?
What is the significance of Petrarch's death in the passage?
What is the significance of Petrarch's death in the passage?
Why did the editor choose not to retain the ancient orthography?
Why did the editor choose not to retain the ancient orthography?
Why is the Clerk's sorrowful tone in describing Petrarch's death intelligible?
Why is the Clerk's sorrowful tone in describing Petrarch's death intelligible?
What is the editor's goal in presenting the text of Chaucer's works?
What is the editor's goal in presenting the text of Chaucer's works?
What is the implication of the Clerk's statement that he learned a tale from Petrarch at Padova?
What is the implication of the Clerk's statement that he learned a tale from Petrarch at Padova?
What does the editor mean by 'not modernising' Chaucer's work?
What does the editor mean by 'not modernising' Chaucer's work?
What is the significance of the date mentioned in the passage, July 1374?
What is the significance of the date mentioned in the passage, July 1374?
In what cases did the editor retain the old spelling or form?
In what cases did the editor retain the old spelling or form?
What is the 'raison d'etre' of this volume?
What is the 'raison d'etre' of this volume?
What is the outcome of retaining the ancient orthography in Chaucer's works?
What is the outcome of retaining the ancient orthography in Chaucer's works?
What was the approximate salary of Chaucer in his department in the London Customs?
What was the approximate salary of Chaucer in his department in the London Customs?
What was the surname of the Duke's children by Katherine Swynford?
What was the surname of the Duke's children by Katherine Swynford?
Who legitimated the children of Katherine Swynford and the Duke of Hereford?
Who legitimated the children of Katherine Swynford and the Duke of Hereford?
What was the title given to the eldest son of the poet's sister-in-law?
What was the title given to the eldest son of the poet's sister-in-law?
Who was the wife of Thomas Chaucer, according to the text?
Who was the wife of Thomas Chaucer, according to the text?
What position did Thomas Chaucer hold under Richard II?
What position did Thomas Chaucer hold under Richard II?
What was the name of the castle where the Duke's children by Katherine Swynford were born?
What was the name of the castle where the Duke's children by Katherine Swynford were born?
Who wrote the Treatise on the Astrolabe, and for whom was it written?
Who wrote the Treatise on the Astrolabe, and for whom was it written?
What is the main purpose of the Editor's plan for presenting Chaucer's works?
What is the main purpose of the Editor's plan for presenting Chaucer's works?
What is the significance of Chaucer's translation of Boethius' Treatise on the Consolation of Philosophy?
What is the significance of Chaucer's translation of Boethius' Treatise on the Consolation of Philosophy?
What is the importance of the terminal 'e' in Chaucer's verses?
What is the importance of the terminal 'e' in Chaucer's verses?
Why is it necessary to consider the terminal 'e' when reading Chaucer's poetry?
Why is it necessary to consider the terminal 'e' when reading Chaucer's poetry?
What type of meter did Chaucer introduce into English literature?
What type of meter did Chaucer introduce into English literature?
What is the significance of Chaucer's Treatise on the Astrolabe?
What is the significance of Chaucer's Treatise on the Astrolabe?
What is the style of Chaucer's poetry in 'The House of Fame' and 'Chaucer's Dream'?
What is the style of Chaucer's poetry in 'The House of Fame' and 'Chaucer's Dream'?
Why is Chaucer's 'Testament of Love' considered a reflection of his later years?
Why is Chaucer's 'Testament of Love' considered a reflection of his later years?
Study Notes
Geoffrey Chaucer and His Works
- The poem is condensed into two-thirds of its original space, with less interesting passages represented by a condensed prose outline.
- The text of Chaucer's works, especially The Canterbury Tales, is presented in 19th-century garb, but without modernizing Chaucer's words or replacing them with modern English.
Chaucer's Life and Language
- Chaucer was born in 1328, most likely in London.
- He was a scholar, courtier, and conversant with all orders of society, which influenced his writing style.
- Chaucer's language was a mix of Teutonic and French, which made the two languages unite and interpenetrate each other.
- Before Chaucer wrote, there were two tongues in England, but after he wrote, there was practically one speech and one people.
Chaucer's Writing Style
- Chaucer sometimes departed from his dramatic assumption, as seen in The Wife of Bath's Prologue, where he inserts his own voice.
- He also addressed his lady directly, as seen in the Prologue to the "Legend of Good Women".
- Chaucer's persona sometimes merged with his characters, making it difficult to distinguish between the two.
Chaucer's Influences
- Chaucer was influenced by Francis Petrarch, an Italian poet, whose death in 1374 affected Chaucer deeply.
- Chaucer's writing was also influenced by Boethius' Treatise on the Consolation of Philosophy, which he translated.
Chaucer's Prose Works
- Chaucer wrote several prose works, including a translation of Boethius' Treatise, a Treatise on the Astrolabe, and the "Testament of Love".
- These works are not included in this volume, but are an important part of Chaucer's oeuvre.
Chaucer's Legacy
- Chaucer's writing introduced a new form of poetry, with a decasyllabic and heroic metre, which he introduced into English literature.
- Chaucer's use of the terminal "e" is important for scansion and grammar, and is still valid in French poetry.
- Chaucer's work is still widely read and studied today, and is considered an important part of English literary history.
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Description
This quiz discusses the methodology of condensing poetry into a shorter form while preserving the original meaning and words. It also touches on the importance of critical judgment when reading condensed versions of poetry.
