Chaucer and the Making of Optical Space

The author links Chaucer's writings with the medieval optical tradition in its various forms (scholastic texts, encyclopedias, exempla, vernacular poetry) both in general cultural terms and through the discussion of specific examples. He shows how the science of optics, or perspectiva, provides an account of spatial perception, including visual error, and demonstrates how these aspects of optical theory impact on Chaucer's poetry. He provides detailed and sustained analysis of the spatial content of narratives across the range of Chaucer's works, relating them to optical ideas and making use of Lefebvre's theory of the production of space. The texts discussed include the Book of the Duchess, House of Fame, Knight's Tale, Miller's Tale, Reeve's Tale, Merchant's Tale, Squire's Tale and Troilus and Criseyde.

Autorentext

The Author: Peter Brown is Professor of Medieval English Literature at the University of Kent at Canterbury. He has also taught at the University of Exeter, University of Connecticut and the University of California at Los Angeles. He has published widely on Chaucer and other aspects of medieval culture including science and iconography.

Klappentext

The author links Chaucer s writings with the medieval optical tradition in its various forms (scholastic texts, encyclopedias, exempla, vernacular poetry) both in general cultural terms and through the discussion of specific examples. He shows how the science of optics, or perspectiva, provides an account of spatial perception, including visual error, and demonstrates how these aspects of optical theory impact on Chaucer s poetry. He provides detailed and sustained analysis of the spatial content of narratives across the range of Chaucer s works, relating them to optical ideas and making use of Lefebvre s theory of the production of space. The texts discussed include the Book of the Duchess, House of Fame, Knight s Tale, Miller s Tale, Reeve s Tale, Merchant s Tale, Squire s Tale and Troilus and Criseyde.

Inhalt
Contents: Prospect The Making of Optical Space Encyclopedias and Sermons Chaucer and Perspectiva Literary Models The Mind's Eye: The Book of the Duchess Chivalric Space: The Knight's Tale Urban Space: The Miller's Tale Trojan Space: Troilus and Criseyde (Part I) The 'covered quality of things': Troilus (Part 2) Retrospect.