Status
Checked out
Due 17-05-2024
Call number
Series
Genres
Collections
Publication
OUP Oxford (2006), 176 pages
Description
The classic respected series in a stunning new design. This edition of The Nun's Priest's Prologue and Tale from the highly-respected Selected Tales series includes the full, complete text in the original Middle English, along with an in-depth introduction by Maurice Hussey, detailed notes and a comprehensive glossary.
User reviews
LibraryThing member waltzmn
Some things are just too easy.
Of all the Canterbury Tales, the Nun's Priest's Tale is probably the easiest to treat separately. There is no need to describe the teller, because the Nun's Priest is never described in the General Prologue. There isn't much need to talk about deeper meanings, because
And, of course, it is brilliant; Chauntecleer ranks with Arveragus and Dorigen and the Wife of Bath and the Pardoner as one of Chaucer's most brilliant creations. Chaucer took the form of the Beast Fable and made it into something far greater.
So this should have been a brilliant piece of work. Unfortunately, it suffered badly due to its format. This series presents Chaucer's tales without much introduction, and no glossing, then presents notes which break them up into tiny little pieces and explains those. For some tales -- the Monk's Tale, for instance -- that works well. For the Nun's Priest's tale, where the plot and the characters fit so well together, it's a failure. Better to give a general introduction talking about beast fables, and the story of Reynard the Fox and the other sources, and then let Chaucer speak for himself, with glosses.
That's not to say that this is an entirely useless book. If you're doing detailed study of the Tale, it can be of help. But if you're doing a detailed study of Chauntecleer and Pertelote, you're missing a lot of fun.
Of all the Canterbury Tales, the Nun's Priest's Tale is probably the easiest to treat separately. There is no need to describe the teller, because the Nun's Priest is never described in the General Prologue. There isn't much need to talk about deeper meanings, because
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the characters are chickens; they aren't subtle. So the tale can be handled easily as an individual item.And, of course, it is brilliant; Chauntecleer ranks with Arveragus and Dorigen and the Wife of Bath and the Pardoner as one of Chaucer's most brilliant creations. Chaucer took the form of the Beast Fable and made it into something far greater.
So this should have been a brilliant piece of work. Unfortunately, it suffered badly due to its format. This series presents Chaucer's tales without much introduction, and no glossing, then presents notes which break them up into tiny little pieces and explains those. For some tales -- the Monk's Tale, for instance -- that works well. For the Nun's Priest's tale, where the plot and the characters fit so well together, it's a failure. Better to give a general introduction talking about beast fables, and the story of Reynard the Fox and the other sources, and then let Chaucer speak for himself, with glosses.
That's not to say that this is an entirely useless book. If you're doing detailed study of the Tale, it can be of help. But if you're doing a detailed study of Chauntecleer and Pertelote, you're missing a lot of fun.
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1996
Physical description
176 p.; 7.7 inches
ISBN
0198326939 / 9780198326939
DDC/MDS
| 821.1 |