"The Clerk's Tale" is one of the most important tales among Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. The Clerk speaks to us as the representative from the academy, specifically he is an academic from 'Oxenford' (Oxford). He is the philosopher's voice in Chaucer. We have already heard the numerous charges brought against intellectuals by various tradesmen (like the … Continue reading The Scholar’s Desire for Power: A Reading of The Clerk’s Tale
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The Wife of Bath’s Tale: Autobiography and Arthurian Parody
The Wife of Bath is the most famous, albeit the most troubling character in Chaucerian literature. As with other speakers in The Canterbury Tales, we are only given her title at the outset, the "Wife of Bath." Later we learn her name is Alysoun, or she sometimes goes by "Aly" (recall that she shares a … Continue reading The Wife of Bath’s Tale: Autobiography and Arthurian Parody
Thoughts on Years of Grace
I am thoroughly enjoying reading through the Pulitzer-Prize winners. Years of Grace is a delightful novel. It is a surprisingly whimsical and light read for a 600-page book, yet it is sorely lacking in substance. Margaret Ayer Barnes spends a great deal of time describing the world of little Jane Ward; the books she reads, … Continue reading Thoughts on Years of Grace
A Story of “Joy after Woe” in The Man of Law’s Tale
"The Man of Law's Tale" is an episodic story of "Custance" (or Constance) that can be found in the Anglo chronicles of Nicholas Trivet, as well as in the poetry of John Gower. In his tale, The Man of Law presents the group with a more virtuous tale after the bawdy tales from both the … Continue reading A Story of “Joy after Woe” in The Man of Law’s Tale
The Story of Jerome’s Vulgate
Eusebius Hieronymus Sophronius, or "Jerome," is likely the most significant Biblical translator in history. He was born in northeast Italy in 345, and by the time he was 29, Jerome had become a devout and ascetic Christian. He claims to have had a dream chastising him for being a follower of Cicero, not of Christ. … Continue reading The Story of Jerome’s Vulgate
From Russia With Love
From Russia With Love (1963) Director: Terence Young The second James Bond film was again directed by Terence Young (he was the director of several early Bond films). After the tremendous success of 1962's Dr. No, United Artists quickly pushed for a sequel to be released, and the film was rushed to completion by October … Continue reading From Russia With Love
