Chaucer's Poetic Alchemy: A Study of Value and its Transformation in The Canterbury Tales (Routledge Library Editions: Chaucer)

Synopsis

Originally published in 1988. The economic changes and the growth of commerce in fourteenth century England precipitated both social changes and a preoccupation with material wealth. This book examines Chaucer's treatment of economic and ethical value in The Canterbury Tales within the context of contemporary economic and social change and in relation to the scholastic economic theory that attempted to formulate ethical standards for commercial conduct. The importance of value and its determination and transformation is evident from the two enterprises that Chaucer defines as the motivating principles for his poem. The pilgrimage to St. Thomas's shrine should effect a transformation of their spiritual value. The story-telling competition that produces the tales themselves is established to judge the value of the pilgrims' literary productions. In the Middle Ages, economic value and ethical value were not perceived as unrelated phenomena. Chaucer's concern with the interrelationship of material and moral value is apparent in the number of pilgrims who are interested in material value at the obvious expense of moral value. This book examines this along with a discussion or money's growing importance in the late Middle Ages and the determination of its value.

Copyright:

1988

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

ISBN-13:

9781000682946

Related ISBNs:

9780429341694, 9780367357306, 9780367357306, 9780367357474, 9780367357474

Publisher:

Taylor and Francis

Date of Addition:

07/30/20

Copyrighted By:

Sheila Fisher

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

History, Reference, Literature and Fiction, Language Arts

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.