A Companion to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

(Hardback)

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Description

This do-it-yourself course for the first-time Chaucer reader is geared specifically to high school and undergraduate students because it systematically proceeds through a clear explication of each tale and makes the tales accessible to those unfamiliar with Chaucer's work. Reading this book along with the "Canterbury Tales", tale by tale, is intended to help the reader to understand and appreciate each tale, Chaucer's world, and his language. This book differs from other guides to the tales because it takes the reader along on the pilgrimage through each tale and assumes no previous experience with Chaucer's work. Middle English and modern English paraphrases of passages from the tales are arranged together for the ease of the novice. Whether the reader is seeking assistance with a single tale or with the whole work, this companion provides a level of instruction appropriate for high school and college courses. Teachers new to Chaucer's work should also find the book a useful aid to class preparation.

Reviews

"Readers, both novice and veteran bound for Cantebury, will find Hallissy's text a pleasant, enlightening road map. Hallissy;s thoroughness covers each character, each tale, fragmentary tales, and Chaucer's retraction. This engaging volume could interest English Literature teachers who want additional background, students doing independent study on Chaucer, and general readers who long to travel with a classic to Cantebury."-VOYA
[Hallisy's] explanation of Chaucer's world and language make for excellent introduction to the major medieval writer in English. Of special interest to the high school teacher in particular is the superb capsule analysis given of each pilgrim...Highly recommended for high school, undergraduate, and all public libraries.-Reference Book Review
[T]his well-written readable volume would be useful for high-school or college students making their way through the tales for the first time. Hallisssy provides a thorough discussion, helpful background information, and an annotated bibliography for each tale....a useful and informative book for novices who want to get to the heart of the tales...-Catholic Library World
A wonderfully lucid guide for the first-time reader, to accompany a reading of Chaucer either in the original Middle English or in translation. The guide is best used in the manner of a college course, read along with The Canterbury Tales, tale by tale.-Reference & Research Book News
Imagining her book as a "do-it-yourself course" on Chaucer, Hallissy writes for the first-time reader unfamiliar with Chaucer's work or with medieval studies. Hallissy's discussions are guided less by the "first-time reader" than by the reality of the modern reader who is no longer culturally literate in the constellation of terms, motifs, values, and genres that constitute the framework of medieval society and culture. Hallissy writes with a simple, jargon-free clarity accessible to high school students as well as college undergraduates. Highly recommended for public high school, and undergraduate libraries.-Choice
Readers, both novice and veteran bound for Cantebury, will find Hallissy's text a pleasant, enlightening road map. Hallissy;s thoroughness covers each character, each tale, fragmentary tales, and Chaucer's retraction. This engaging volume could interest English Literature teachers who want additional background, students doing independent study on Chaucer, and general readers who long to travel with a classic to Cantebury.-VOYA
This readable presentation of the often bawdy and lusty tales is designed specifically for first-time readers. It is indeed a companion and makes YAs feel the trmendous sweep of this pilgrimage across England with this motley crew comprised of knights, clergymen and women, scholars, tradespeople, laborers, and peasants. In addition, it provides students with simple interpretations and amplifications and makes their journey through this great unfinished work enjoyable and rewarding. Particularly helpful are the opening sections on Chaucer's world and language.-School Library Journal
"Hallisy's explanation of Chaucer's world and language make for excellent introduction to the major medieval writer in English. Of special interest to the high school teacher in particular is the superb capsule analysis given of each pilgrim...Highly recommended for high school, undergraduate, and all public libraries."-Reference Book Review
"This well-written readable volume would be useful for high-school or college students making their way through the tales for the first time. Hallisssy provides a thorough discussion, helpful background information, and an annotated bibliography for each tale....a useful and informative book for novices who want to get to the heart of the tales..."-Catholic Library World
"[Hallisy's] explanation of Chaucer's world and language make for excellent introduction to the major medieval writer in English. Of special interest to the high school teacher in particular is the superb capsule analysis given of each pilgrim...Highly recommended for high school, undergraduate, and all public libraries."-Reference Book Review
"[T]his well-written readable volume would be useful for high-school or college students making their way through the tales for the first time. Hallisssy provides a thorough discussion, helpful background information, and an annotated bibliography for each tale....a useful and informative book for novices who want to get to the heart of the tales..."-Catholic Library World
"A wonderfully lucid guide for the first-time reader, to accompany a reading of Chaucer either in the original Middle English or in translation. The guide is best used in the manner of a college course, read along with The Canterbury Tales, tale by tale."-Reference & Research Book News
"This readable presentation of the often bawdy and lusty tales is designed specifically for first-time readers. It is indeed a companion and makes YAs feel the trmendous sweep of this pilgrimage across England with this motley crew comprised of knights, clergymen and women, scholars, tradespeople, laborers, and peasants. In addition, it provides students with simple interpretations and amplifications and makes their journey through this great unfinished work enjoyable and rewarding. Particularly helpful are the opening sections on Chaucer's world and language."-School Library Journal
"Imagining her book as a "do-it-yourself course" on Chaucer, Hallissy writes for the first-time reader unfamiliar with Chaucer's work or with medieval studies. Hallissy's discussions are guided less by the "first-time reader" than by the reality of the modern reader who is no longer culturally literate in the constellation of terms, motifs, values, and genres that constitute the framework of medieval society and culture. Hallissy writes with a simple, jargon-free clarity accessible to high school students as well as college undergraduates. Highly recommended for public high school, and undergraduate libraries."-Choice

Author Bio

MARGARET HALLISSY is Professor of English at C.W. Post College, Long Island University, where her specialty is Chaucer and medieval literature. She is the author of Clean Maids, True Wives, Steadfast Widows: Chaucer's Women and Medieval Codes of Conduct (Greenwood Press, 1993) and Venomous Woman: Fear of the Female in Literature (Greenwood Press, 1987).