| Medieval Literature
Dr. Debora B. Schwartz English Department, California Polytechnic State University Chaucer's "Truth" and "Gentilesse":
Read Chaucer's lyric poems "Gentilesse" (online reading) and "Truth" (trouthe), NA 317. Don't neglect the footnotes; you may also wish to consult the translations in CH 602-4 (note to ENGL 203 students: the translations of the two poems are on reserve in the Library Resources section of Blackboard). Are the values implied by these terms similar to the values you found in our readings from the Old English period? Keep an eye out for the use of these key terms/themes in subsequent readings of the Middle English period. 1) GENTILESSE/GENTIL. What do these terms mean or imply? To what extent is gentilesse a function of social class? ("gentil" is related to the modern term "gentleman," which originally meant someone of noble -- i.e. aristocratic -- birth.) Would this concept be relevant in the Old English period? What values does it imply? Remember to look for references to the idea of "gentilesse" (or the adjective "gentil") in other readings throughout this term. Note how different characters and/or narrators define these terms. Note also how this virtue relates to the stories being told. 2) TROUTHE/TREWE. What does the term "trouthe" imply? Is it more than simply the idea of truthfulness or trueness to one's word? (cf. modern English, to "pledge one's troth," meaning to agree to marry; see also comments in the headnote to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, NA 161.) Would this value be "at home" in the epic world of Beowulf and The Dream of the Rood? Is it related to "gentilesse"? How? (Cf. line 9 of the poem on "Gentilesse.") Remember to look for occurrences of the term "trouthe" (and the related adjective form "trewe") as you read other works of the Middle English period (Chaucer's Troilus and Cressida or the Franklin's Tale, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, etc.). What is the importance of this virtue? How is it defined by the various characters/authors, and what does it imply? Given the importance of these terms, can you make some generalizations about the different values and world view of the Middle English period as compared to the epic-heroic world view and values found in Beowulf? Contents of this and linked pages Copyright Debora B. Schwartz, 1999-2008 Click here for Bede and Caedmon's Hymn Study Questions Click here for Dream of the Rood Study Questions Click here for Beowulf Study Questions Click here for Troilus and Cressida Study Questions (not read in ENGL 203) Click here for Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Study Questions Click here for The Franklin's Tale Study Questions (not read in ENGL 203) Return to ENGL 203 Home PageReturn to ENGL 330 Home PageReturn to ENGL 512 Home PageReturn to Dr. Schwartz's Teaching Page |