Paper #1 Assignment, due NEXT Friday, September 23rd by 5pm

English 2643

Paper #1: Don’t Shoot the Messenger!

 

But still I hope the company won’t reprove me

Though I should speak as fantasy may move me

And please don’t be offended at my views;

They’re really only offered to amuse.

--Wife of Bath’s Prologue

INTRO: It’s interesting that not only The Wife of Bath, but Chaucer himself, offers this apology to his readers, since the frank and vulgar nature of their tales could indeed offend some readers (then, and today). Of course, the same is true of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, which claims to only be telling a second-hand story of Gawain which the poet claimed had been “inked in stories bold and strong”. Why do both poets adopt this polite and obsequious mask? Were they really scared of censure or scandal? Or this an artistic ploy to set the satire of each work in greater relief? Maybe a bit of both??

PROMPT: In your paper, I want you to discuss TWO moments (one in each poem) where you see the ‘mask’ come off, and the author seems to speak loud and clear through his characters or the narration itself. In other words, where do the poets frankly contradict the idea that their stories are “only offered to amuse,” and/or were just accomplished works of literary transcription? Show us where the poet is obviously using the excuse of telling a ‘true story’ to introduce real-world satire, scandalous opinions, or outright ridicule against certain members of their audience. Where does the intelligent reader finally go, “no, I think you wrote this yourself, and you wanted to drive in the nail as far as it would go!” You can choose passages that are thematically linked, or even ones that slightly contradict one another. Just make sure we can see the satire that rises above the story.

REQUIREMENTS: At least 3-4 pages double spaced, though you can do more. Be sure to CLOSE READ two passages from each work to examine the satire, the author’s voice, and the targets of each poet’s critique. Focus more on the language than the plot, and try to avoid giving me an elaborate blow-by-blow of the action. However, do offer context for each quote, and then show me WHY things happen. Be sure to use quotations from each poem in your paper, and cite them according to MLA format as below:

IN-TEXT CITATION

In “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue,” Chaucer has the Wife make the lame apology that her story and its preface are “really only offered to amuse” (263).

WORKS CITED PAGE

Chaucer, Geoffery. “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue.” The Canterbury Tales. Translated

Nevill Coghill. New York: Penguin Books, 2003.