I love this! Your explanation of the culture is very helpful. Seeing the narrator as niave helps explain the humor. And we are all what we do, aren't we?
Your more "literary" columns open insights that I haven't thought of in years. I had forgotten how much literature can open a window for understanding the hubris of our "modern" perspectives. This week's offering was so well summarized in the footnote, "it’s ironic how the horseshoe effect results in some Protestant fundamentalists being an awful lot like the medieval church they claim to reject." Keep up the good work.
As I was writing that footnote, I was thinking, "This could be a whole post in itself"! But I like keeping literature the main thing and showing how it reveals so much about life. Thank you for affirming that!
Reprising a previous conversation somewhere on here, I've just re-discovered a poem by Wendell Berry that begins with a quotation from Chaucer (albeit from his poem Truth and not from the Tales, so it's a somewhat tenuous connection - my apologies for that). I'd quite forgotten about it. On the off chance it's of interest to anyone, you can read it here: https://thewaitingcountry.blogspot.com/2022/08/a-standing-ground-wendell-berry.html
Oh. My. Goodness. That poem. Fun to have the connection to Chaucer, of course. But not 10 minutes ago, I just messaged a friend who was checking in on me and wishing me well that I am feeling the freedom of standing on ground the Lord has prepared. And then I read the Berry poem with similar ideas and images. Wow. Amazing. 🙏
For me, almost every line in that poem feels prophetic (in the declarative rather than predictive sense) and densely experiential. Glad it was so timely!
I really appreciate your commentary on The Canterbury Tales. With all my education -- math, music, theatre, communication, etc. -- I never had a course that covered the era of Middle English. You make Chaucer's work very accessible, and your writing is delightful! (I especially liked the rabbit hole I jumped in when I read the umbrella connection in your footnote.)
I’m very much enjoying this - I think my favourite so far is the fashionable squire simply because I have met so many like him. Are you going to do any of the tales as well ?
I had not seen the “connection” between fundamental hierarchialism and the medieval chain of being. Indeed their old time religion is very ancient in some aspects and very modernist simultaneously. I wonder if the chain of being concepts are part of Islamist mindset as well? Just my thoughts run amuck. I love the narrator’s naïveté. He tells us things about his band of travelers with a touch of irony. Looking forward to continuing the journey through the narrator’s framing of the tales.
Awe, Karen! So fascinating stories!! The depth and expansions from the center of each story are enormous. My imaginations fly beyond the times. I admire you, Karen. I’ll have to be a scholar to fully understand them! But I love your stories, so intriguing to know how medieval hierarchies affected some of our modern history and societies. Thank you!! 💓
This has sucked me in; I am replacing my "English" version for the Norton. Having not read Chaucer since HS back in the 60s, this is such a delight. Thank you.
I have finally got the bandwidth to respond to Week 2, prior (ahem) to reading the real Week 3. The confluence of Middle English and French has always fascinated me. An article on the subject sported this appropriate title: "They’re ‘cows’ (cou) in the field, but ‘beef’ (boeuf) on the table." Thank you Norman Conquest!
I love this slice of English history! So interesting that the Old English terms remain for the living animals (since the peasants were the ones caring for them) and the French terms express what we eat (since the conquerers were in charge at the table). Other examples, as I recall, include deer/venison and pig/pork.
Just getting on to commenting on Week 2, prior (ahem) to reading the real Week 3. I've always been fascinated by the confluence of Middle English and French. A related article I came across was aptly titled "They’re ‘cows’ (cou) in the field, but ‘beef’ (boeuf) on the table." Thank you Norman Conquest!
Karen, I was a little behind in my reading this week, but I’m loving your writing on Canterbury Tales! Please keep sharing with us and I pray that the responses are encouraging to your heart!
I'm with those who've said 'Yes please' to keeping going in this series. I've wanted to read it for ages but never had the proper incentive; this is it. Just a note re agape if I may - it's not a specifically Christian or godly love, not even in the NT. Its use there can be pretty negative - Demas agape'd the world, the Pharisees agape'd the best seats, some people agape the darkness, Balaam agape'd the wages of wickedness, we ought not to agape the world and so on. In the Greek translation of the OT (the LXX) it's used for the (romantic) love of the lovers in Song of Songs. Somehow it's taken on a philological life of its own and achieved almost mythical status but really it's just another word whose meaning depends on context. Hope that's helpful.
Oh, wow! I had never heard this history of agape love. That is very interesting and I am glad to be aware. It's very helpful. It truly has achieved a "mythical status" because I can hear in my head all the sermons over the years that talked about it, haha!
Thanks, as always, Richard, for your encouragement and contributions here!
Yes, I'm pretty sure I can hear the more youthful me intoning about agape love in sermons! Maybe there's more to be uncovered in this - like, why we have a propensity (if we do) for what we think of as special words, when most often the Bible co-opts words already in general usage and gives them a new twist. What's the psychology in that, I wonder? Perhaps a topic for an addendum to the 2nd edition of The Evangelical Imagination??
There surely is psychology in it but it is, I think, more about, as you suggest, our imaginary: the unexamined stories, images, and metaphors that get handed down.
I love this! Your explanation of the culture is very helpful. Seeing the narrator as niave helps explain the humor. And we are all what we do, aren't we?
I literally had that line at the end: that we all are what we do. And I cut it, haha!
Great minds ...
I'm flattered!
Your more "literary" columns open insights that I haven't thought of in years. I had forgotten how much literature can open a window for understanding the hubris of our "modern" perspectives. This week's offering was so well summarized in the footnote, "it’s ironic how the horseshoe effect results in some Protestant fundamentalists being an awful lot like the medieval church they claim to reject." Keep up the good work.
As I was writing that footnote, I was thinking, "This could be a whole post in itself"! But I like keeping literature the main thing and showing how it reveals so much about life. Thank you for affirming that!
I love the stories around the Prioress!! 💓and all the characters you described. 🩷
Reprising a previous conversation somewhere on here, I've just re-discovered a poem by Wendell Berry that begins with a quotation from Chaucer (albeit from his poem Truth and not from the Tales, so it's a somewhat tenuous connection - my apologies for that). I'd quite forgotten about it. On the off chance it's of interest to anyone, you can read it here: https://thewaitingcountry.blogspot.com/2022/08/a-standing-ground-wendell-berry.html
Oh. My. Goodness. That poem. Fun to have the connection to Chaucer, of course. But not 10 minutes ago, I just messaged a friend who was checking in on me and wishing me well that I am feeling the freedom of standing on ground the Lord has prepared. And then I read the Berry poem with similar ideas and images. Wow. Amazing. 🙏
For me, almost every line in that poem feels prophetic (in the declarative rather than predictive sense) and densely experiential. Glad it was so timely!
I really appreciate your commentary on The Canterbury Tales. With all my education -- math, music, theatre, communication, etc. -- I never had a course that covered the era of Middle English. You make Chaucer's work very accessible, and your writing is delightful! (I especially liked the rabbit hole I jumped in when I read the umbrella connection in your footnote.)
The umbrella was a rabbit hole for me, too! I had to cut some out!
I'm so glad you are enjoying this, Terri, and that it's filling a little hole in your repertoire!
I'm enjoying this. Keep it up!
Thank you! :)
I’m very much enjoying this - I think my favourite so far is the fashionable squire simply because I have met so many like him. Are you going to do any of the tales as well ?
Yes! I will decide those and announce soon. :)
I had not seen the “connection” between fundamental hierarchialism and the medieval chain of being. Indeed their old time religion is very ancient in some aspects and very modernist simultaneously. I wonder if the chain of being concepts are part of Islamist mindset as well? Just my thoughts run amuck. I love the narrator’s naïveté. He tells us things about his band of travelers with a touch of irony. Looking forward to continuing the journey through the narrator’s framing of the tales.
"Indeed their old time religion is very ancient in some aspects and very modernist simultaneously" -- yes, you put it so well.
And that connection to the Islamist mindset--wow! That is something to think about. Thanks, Laverne!
Awe, Karen! So fascinating stories!! The depth and expansions from the center of each story are enormous. My imaginations fly beyond the times. I admire you, Karen. I’ll have to be a scholar to fully understand them! But I love your stories, so intriguing to know how medieval hierarchies affected some of our modern history and societies. Thank you!! 💓
I can't claim to fully understand them either. But it's a delight to try!
This has sucked me in; I am replacing my "English" version for the Norton. Having not read Chaucer since HS back in the 60s, this is such a delight. Thank you.
Music to my ears! 🤗
The umbrella anecdote was worth the price of admission.
🤭
Love that the Prioress was sensitive and empathetic as a nun!
In a way, she is a real Romantic across the board!
I have finally got the bandwidth to respond to Week 2, prior (ahem) to reading the real Week 3. The confluence of Middle English and French has always fascinated me. An article on the subject sported this appropriate title: "They’re ‘cows’ (cou) in the field, but ‘beef’ (boeuf) on the table." Thank you Norman Conquest!
I love this slice of English history! So interesting that the Old English terms remain for the living animals (since the peasants were the ones caring for them) and the French terms express what we eat (since the conquerers were in charge at the table). Other examples, as I recall, include deer/venison and pig/pork.
Just getting on to commenting on Week 2, prior (ahem) to reading the real Week 3. I've always been fascinated by the confluence of Middle English and French. A related article I came across was aptly titled "They’re ‘cows’ (cou) in the field, but ‘beef’ (boeuf) on the table." Thank you Norman Conquest!
Karen, I was a little behind in my reading this week, but I’m loving your writing on Canterbury Tales! Please keep sharing with us and I pray that the responses are encouraging to your heart!
I am so encouraged and excited! And it looks like doing this very slow read serves many of us best. 😊
I'm with those who've said 'Yes please' to keeping going in this series. I've wanted to read it for ages but never had the proper incentive; this is it. Just a note re agape if I may - it's not a specifically Christian or godly love, not even in the NT. Its use there can be pretty negative - Demas agape'd the world, the Pharisees agape'd the best seats, some people agape the darkness, Balaam agape'd the wages of wickedness, we ought not to agape the world and so on. In the Greek translation of the OT (the LXX) it's used for the (romantic) love of the lovers in Song of Songs. Somehow it's taken on a philological life of its own and achieved almost mythical status but really it's just another word whose meaning depends on context. Hope that's helpful.
Oh, wow! I had never heard this history of agape love. That is very interesting and I am glad to be aware. It's very helpful. It truly has achieved a "mythical status" because I can hear in my head all the sermons over the years that talked about it, haha!
Thanks, as always, Richard, for your encouragement and contributions here!
Yes, I'm pretty sure I can hear the more youthful me intoning about agape love in sermons! Maybe there's more to be uncovered in this - like, why we have a propensity (if we do) for what we think of as special words, when most often the Bible co-opts words already in general usage and gives them a new twist. What's the psychology in that, I wonder? Perhaps a topic for an addendum to the 2nd edition of The Evangelical Imagination??
There surely is psychology in it but it is, I think, more about, as you suggest, our imaginary: the unexamined stories, images, and metaphors that get handed down.