Courtly Love in Chaucer and Henryson

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English > Comparison
Literature > English

A contrast and comparison of the presentation of love and marriage in Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Nun's Priest's Tale" and Robert Henryson's "The Cock and the Fox."

1,086 words () | 0 sources | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses and compares Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Nun's Priest's Tale" and Robert Henryson's "The Cock and the Fox." It shows how both tales are two works that are parodies of epic poetry and courtly romance. The paper particularly examines the ways that the tales present love and marriage and contrasts the views of the characters in the works.

From the Paper:

"Chaucer and Henryson may both respect the institutions of love and marriage, but in these texts they are casting critical eyes on traditional ideas of courtly love and romance. Clearly they are making fun of the genre of love poetry which has dominated their literary culture. Chaucer shows the follies of dramatic love by having chickens play the prescribed hero and heroine roles, and Henryson creates characters that blatantly behave opposite to romantic conventions. Their works are evidence that courtly love was not always taken seriously."

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APA Citation:

Courtly Love in Chaucer and Henryson (2012, January 15). Retrieved February 14, 2012, from http://www.academon.com/Comparison-Essay-Courtly-Love-in-Chaucer-and-Henryson/112913

MLA Citation:

"Courtly Love in Chaucer and Henryson" 15 January 2012. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. <http://www.academon.com/Comparison-Essay-Courtly-Love-in-Chaucer-and-Henryson/112913>