Geoffrey Chaucer?

Question

In few months I'll start studying the English language and literature at university. I suppose the first writer whose works I'll be reading is Geoffrey Chaucer. Is it difficult for reading? What do you think about "The Canterbury tales"? Thanks.

Answer 1

I loved Chaucer - and his contemporaries - and I think the only way really to enjoy and understand his writing is in the original. "Lost in translation" is very apt. He is funny, rude, sentimental, sad, and captures the spirit of his age. I have found you a page which may prove helpful in your studies. Not all the links are good, but there is a glossary of terms (which, when you read, you will need less and less) and information about his times, etc. I wish I'd had the internet when I was studying!

http://www.netserf.org/People/Authors/Chaucer/

I think there are also available in the above some recordings of actors speaking in Chaucer's language, which is fascinating. Do enjoy it! (Remember, Chaucer married Philippa de Roet, who was sister to Katherine Swynford who, in turn, eventually married her lover John of Gaunt and founded the Beauforts. King Richard II was Chaucer's patron.)

Answer 2

Chaucer's language is much easier to understand if you read it aloud (or at least sound it out in your head) as you go. There were no dictionaries and no set standards of spelling back then. Geoff wrote down words the way he heard them - and that means sometimes two words are made into one, or one word is made into two, or words start with completely different letters than we're used to seeing.

Once you get used to that, his works aren't that much more difficult than Shakespeare. However, you can always pray your professor uses "translated" versions of his works, so you can concentrate better on the meaning.

As for what I think about "The Canterbury Tales," it's hard to have any one reaction to them. They are a collection of stories so ambitious and varied, that their author didn't even finish them. There's some pretty bawdy stuff in there, but not anything worse than your average National Lampoon movie. Being a charter member of The Katherine Swynford Society, I'm much more interested in Chaucer's life and times than I am his actual poetry, however.

Answer 3

I liked what I read of The Canterbury Tales in high school.
If you're studying the English language, read Bill Bryson's The Mother Tongue- this is a fun, humorous book, though it is about the etomology of our language.

Answer 4

I've read it several times,in different translations,the original Middle English being the most difficult.The Canterbury Tales does require concentration but the tale does have its bawdy moments,some of the characters being more colorful than others.

Answer 5

Wow the Canterbur Tales, now that brings back memories of last year. I thought they were fun to read, people are a little strange though. It wasn't too hard to read though, of course our English lit teacher helped us out a little, so it might be harder if you're reading it on your own. Good luck and have fun reading.

Answer 6

It's a very good book. My favorite is the Wife of Bath, very funny.

Answer 7

Sooo much better than Shakespeare!

Answer 8

I don't find it hard to read and it's very enjoyable. I wasn an English major. :)

Answer 9

I love the Canterbury Tales. My favorite is the Wife of Bath's tale. She was the first REAL feminist, and some of the things she says crack me up. Like this:
"Glose whoso wole, and seye bothe up and doun,
that they were maked for purgacioun
Of urine, and our bothe thinges smale
Were eek to knowe a femele from a male,
And for noon other cause, say ye no?"
And
"Now wherwith sholde he make his payement
if he ne used his sely instrument?"

The Wife of Bath is THE original anachronism. I adore her.
If you're able to get past the Middle English, the Canterbury Tales is an accurate glimpse into life of the 14th century.