aeroport
04-02-2007, 12:38 AM
Greetings, friends.
As a rule I do not like to discuss classwork here, but, as there is not really a "right or wrong" answer to be given in this case, I am a bit more at ease.
I am to be writing a paper over the course of this month (I assume somewhere in the neighborhood of eight or ten pages) on two of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, one which my British Literature class has read and one which we have not (I could have done a lot of different things - practically anything, really - but this appeals to me the most just presently). The basic idea of the assignment is, naturally, a "close textual analysis" of each piece, and obviously some manner of shedding light on the one (the read) through the study of the other (the unread). Anyway, I was just wondering if there was anyone around with some familiarity with the Tales who might have suggestions. For class, we only read the General Prologue, the Miller's Tale, and the Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale. I've considered doing a sort of comparison of the attitudes toward love (i.e. "courtly love") expressed in, say, the Wife's and the Knight's tales (Wife's Prologue would be alright as well, with her discussion all those husbands, and general mockery of such sentiment in general...), as I believe the knight tells a rather traditional romance.
I also considered putting the Miller's Tale beside the Reeve's Tale, as these are the two wildly comedic (and outrageously filthy) tales, perhaps exploring some disagreements between the two...
Anyway, I don't know. Any suggestions are welcome, as the proposal is due in two days and I've still scarcely begun. I would ask, however, that you please do not give me too much supporting evidence for your ideas (i.e. please don't write me a perfect thesis and make me force myself not to use it :D ), just some idea of what could be discussed between the two tales.
Please keep in mind, I must use one of those listed above from class.
With gratitude,
Jamesian
As a rule I do not like to discuss classwork here, but, as there is not really a "right or wrong" answer to be given in this case, I am a bit more at ease.
I am to be writing a paper over the course of this month (I assume somewhere in the neighborhood of eight or ten pages) on two of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, one which my British Literature class has read and one which we have not (I could have done a lot of different things - practically anything, really - but this appeals to me the most just presently). The basic idea of the assignment is, naturally, a "close textual analysis" of each piece, and obviously some manner of shedding light on the one (the read) through the study of the other (the unread). Anyway, I was just wondering if there was anyone around with some familiarity with the Tales who might have suggestions. For class, we only read the General Prologue, the Miller's Tale, and the Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale. I've considered doing a sort of comparison of the attitudes toward love (i.e. "courtly love") expressed in, say, the Wife's and the Knight's tales (Wife's Prologue would be alright as well, with her discussion all those husbands, and general mockery of such sentiment in general...), as I believe the knight tells a rather traditional romance.
I also considered putting the Miller's Tale beside the Reeve's Tale, as these are the two wildly comedic (and outrageously filthy) tales, perhaps exploring some disagreements between the two...
Anyway, I don't know. Any suggestions are welcome, as the proposal is due in two days and I've still scarcely begun. I would ask, however, that you please do not give me too much supporting evidence for your ideas (i.e. please don't write me a perfect thesis and make me force myself not to use it :D ), just some idea of what could be discussed between the two tales.
Please keep in mind, I must use one of those listed above from class.
With gratitude,
Jamesian