d="u96756aa5-5054-5529-be56-2365895dfc46">
Table of Contents
1 COVER
3 INTRODUCTION: MYTHICAL CHAUCER
4 Myth 1: CHAUCER IS THE FATHER OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
5 Myth 2: CHAUCER WAS THE FIRST ENGLISH POET
6 Myth 3: CHAUCER SUFFERED AN UNREQUITED LOVE
7 Myth 4: CHAUCER’S MARRIAGE WAS UNHAPPY
8 Myth 5: CHAUCER’S SON THOMAS WAS JOHN OF GAUNT’S BASTARD
9 Myth 6: CHAUCER’S LANGUAGE IS TOO DIFFICULT FOR MODERN READERS
10 Myth 7: THE CANTERBURY PILGRIMS REPRESENT ALL SOCIAL CLASSES AND CHARACTER TYPES
11 Myth 8: THE CANTERBURY PILGRIMS ARE BASED ON REAL PEOPLE
12 Myth 9: THE CANTERBURY PILGRIMS FORM A “MERRY COMPANY”
13 Myth 10: CHAUCER WAS A FEMINIST
14 Myth 11: CHAUCER WAS GUILTY OF RAPE
15 Myth 12: CHAUCER HAD A FALLING OUT WITH HIS BEST FRIEND
16 Myth 13: CHAUCER LIVED IN THE MIDDLE AGES
17 Myth 14: CHAUCER WAS A PROTO‐PROTESTANT
18 Myth 15: CHAUCER WAS ANTI‐SEMITIC
20 Myth 17: CHAUCER WAS A CROOK
21 Myth 18: CHAUCER WAS A POLITICAL OPPORTUNIST
22 Myth 19: THE WIFE OF BATH MURDERED HER HUSBAND
23 Myth 20: CHAUCER “OUTS” THE PARDONER
24 Myth 21: CHAUCER NEVER FINISHED THE CANTERBURY TALES
25 Myth 22: CHAUCER IS OBSCENE
26 Myth 23: CHAUCER WAS SKEPTICAL OF CHIVALRY
27 Myth 24: CHAUCER DESCRIBED HIMSELF IN HIS WORKS
28 Myth 25: CHAUCER WROTE THE FIRST NOVEL IN ENGLISH
29 Myth 26: CHAUCER WAS IN DANGER OF BEING THROWN IN DEBTOR’S PRISON
30 Myth 27: CHAUCER RENOUNCED HIS WORKS ON HIS DEATHBED
31 Myth 28: CHAUCER IS BURIED IN HIS OWN TOMB
32 Myth 29: CHAUCER WAS THE FIRST POET LAUREATE
33 Myth 30: CONTEMPORARY LITERARY THEORY IS IRRELEVANT TO CHAUCER
34 CODA
35 FURTHER READING Chaucer’s Works Backgrounds and Contexts Further Criticism Other Resources
36 WORKS CITED Chaucer Editions (All Works by Chaucer, Listed by Editor) Manuscripts Other Primary Texts Secondary Texts
37 INDEX
Guide
1 Cover
2 Table of Contents
Pages
1
