Through an examination of Old Norse and Celtic parallels to certain works of Chaucer, McTurk here identifies hitherto unrecognized sources for these works in early Irish tradition. He revives the idea that Chaucer visited Ireland between 1361 and 1366, placing new emphasis on the date of the enactment of the Statute of Kilkenny. Examining Chaucerās House of Fame, McTurk uncovers parallels involving eagles, perilous entrances, and scatological jokes about poetry in the Topographia Hibernie by Gerald of Wales, Snorri Sturlusonās Edda, and the Old Irish sagas Fled Bricrend and Togail Bruidne Da Derga. He compares The Canterbury Tales, with its use of the motif of a journey as a framework for a tale-collection, with both Snorriās Edda and the Middle Irish saga Acallam na SenĆĀ³rach. McTurk presents a compelling argument that these works represent Irish traditions which influenced Chaucerās writing. In this study, McTurk also argues that the thirteenth-century Icelandic LaxdĆĀ¦la Saga and Chaucerās Wife of Bathās Prologue and Tale each descend from an Irish version of the Loathly Lady story. Further, he surmises that Chaucerās five-stress line may derive from the tradition of Irish song known as amhrĆĀ”n, which, there is reason to suppose, existed in Ireland well before Chaucerās time.
This book title, Chaucer and the Norse and Celtic Worlds, ISBN: 9781138378155, by Rory McTurk, published by Taylor & Francis (August 23, 2018) is available in paperback. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
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