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.
Tag Archives: Geoffrey Chaucer
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.
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.
Old Lit as a Transformational Experience
The power of a “King Lear” passage is a refutation of Scott Walker’s attempt to redirect higher education to “work force needs.”
Warning Labels for the Classics
Suggestions that certain classics come with “trigger warnings” leads of the following reflection.
Chaucer’s Riff on the Woman at the Well
Seen in the light of the Samaritan woman at the well, Chaucer’s Wife of Bath is one of Christ’s messengers.
Fighting Lit’s Culture Wars Again?!
A recent Wall Street Journal column is attempting to revive the 1990s culture wars over literature.
Lit’s 10 Most Painful Marriage Proposals
Literature 10 most painful marriage proposals.
Lit’s 10 Strongest Female Characters
Who are literature’s ten strongest female characters? Here’s my list.

