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Works of Geoffrey Chaucer: The Merchant's Tale

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From: Monarch Notes
Date: 19630101
Author:Chaucer, Geoffrey

Chaucer, Geoffrey
Monarch Notes
01-01-1963
The Merchant's Tale

Introduction:

The Merchant's Tale contains a number of stock literary motifs, but it is
hard to assign it to a specific classification. Nor is there a known source
for the tale. The basic plot involves the figure of the aged lover (known in
literary and dramatic criticism as the senex amans) who is destined to be
deceived or cuckolded. There is a partially allegorical aspect to the tale, if
only in the assignment of names: January (the old man) marries May (the young
woman); his brethren and advisers are Justinus (the righteous man) ...

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