In this R.S. Thomas poem, two poets engage in the never-ending discussion of whether poetry is more craft or inspiration.
Tag Archives: Canterbury Tales
Poets Talking Poetry over a Beer
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Circus Animals Desertion", "Poetry for Supper", Geoffrey Chaucer, Ion, John Keats, Parliament of Fowls, Plato, R. S. Thomas, Squire's Tale, W. B. Yeats Comments closed
Chaucer’s Miller & the Los Angeles Rams
The LA Rams won the Super Bowl, bringing Chaucer’s Miller to mind.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Tyger, Football, Geoffrey Chaucer, Miller, Super Bowl, William Blake Comments closed
Chaucer Was No Sexist or Anti-Semite
In which I agree with a recent article defending Chaucer against charges of sexism and anti-Semitism.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged anti-Semitism, Geoffrey Chaucer, Prioress' Tale, Sexism, Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale Comments closed
Trump & Chaucer’s Pardoner, Both Corrupt
Trump’s abuse of the pardon system invites comparisons with the behavior of Chaucer’s Pardoner and Summoner.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Donald Trump, Geoffrey Chaucer, Pardoner, Summoner, Trump's pardons Comments closed
A Literary History of the Insult “Cuck”
“Cuck” has become a favorite insult amongst alt-right types. In today’s post I trace literary references to cuckolds going back to Chaucer.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged alt-right, As You Like It, Christopher Marlowe, Country Wife, cuckold jokes, cuckolds, cuckservatives, Doctor Faustus, Donald Trump, Geoffrey Chaucer, Miller's Tale, Othello, William Shakespeare, William Wycherley Comments closed
With Brexit, UK Betrayed Spirit of Chaucer
Brexit violates everything that Geoffrey Chaucer, Britain’s quintessential poet, stood for.
The Most Commonly Taught Lit
The Open Syllabus project has come up with a list of the most commonly taught books in college–at least according to syllabi that are available on-line. “The Canterbury Tales” leads the list. Shakespeare, of course, is the most represented author.
The V-Word: Casting Hillary as Duessa
The rightwing attacks on female sexuality have a long tradition, going back to Pliny the Elder, and include Chaucer, Spenser, and Milton. Expect the tradition to continue if Hillary Clinton is elected president.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Faerie Queene, Geoffrey Chaucer, Hillary Clinton, Merchant's Tale, misogyny, Wife of Bath, Wife of Bath's Prologue Comments closed
Chaucer’s Squire Meets Tennyson’s May Queen
Love is in the May air. As I look at the College students hand in hand, I think of the men as Chaucerian squires, the women as Tennysonian May queens.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "May Queen", "May", Alfred Lord Tennyson, Geoffrey Chaucer, maypole dances Comments closed
