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Later in college I received strong doses of Middle English, and strong doses of this particular work. I found it in this chunky edition.As has been stated, it does take some work; but that is okay as this edition is well footnoted, has a wonderful glossary of explanatory notes and gives the full tale, which makes the reading much less intimidating for someone like me. Enter this book.I have never been and never will be, nor do I have a desire to be an expert in Middle English. Taking it a story at a time, reading, listening and then reading again, it all fell in place for me. That being said though, and in lieu of my statement above, I have always been drawn to this particular work and have searched through many different translations and editions of Chaucer's writing to find just the right one, the one I could connect with.
Now I know that there is probably many a professor out there; indeed many a graduate student who have spent life times in the study of this work and others of its ilk that are probably scoffing at my feeble and rather time consuming attempts here. No, I hardly think so, but that has never really been my goal. Hey, will I ever be a wine tasting expert. I am also one of those people who has been blessed or cursed, depending on how you look at it, with an acute literary curiosity and can be at times, rather tenacious when I go after something.
Yes, I did the work and produced the grades as all must do if they want to graduate, but still, I just did not get it. I am sorry to report that most of it went well over my head, for the most part due to laziness on my part. This method worked for me, I am able to enjoy this work now and as it is for my personal satisfaction rather than gaining the ability to actually teach the subject to others, I am quite satisfied with my little endeavor. I was first introduced, to some degree, to this early ancestor of our language in high school. I then took this work being reviewed here, read it, and again, ordered a CD from the library which was read in Middle English. I dearly wanted to have some understanding (at least more than I had) of this particular work.
Now for those of you who are purest; I can fully understand where you are coming from. Now I have found that if I hear something and then read it, I get far more out of the work. There is no getting around the fact that I am one of those individuals who struggled with this work and struggled with Middle English. I know, it is sort of pathetic at some level. That is okay though.
Will I ever be an expert.
I have approached this work with a three pronged attack.
I feel much the same about fly fishing, birding and certain aspects art.
Being older helped; there was greater understanding on my part, but still, I felt I was missing much.
While I would never under any circumstances use worms to catch a trout, I can certainly understand why some would and I have no ill will toward them.This translation and edition was extremely helpful.
When I feel the need, this is the volume I turn to.
I first read several translations in Modern English and I then ordered from the library a set of books on tapes and actually listened to the reading of the Modern English Translation.
No, but I do enjoy a glass of good wine now and then and can appreciate the good from the bad; that satisfies my personal needs as to wine, much as this read has helped satisfy my personal needs as to the writings of Chaucer.
I received a great amount of joy from using it and can only give it high marks due to that.Don BlankenshipThe Ozarks
This is actually an incomplete work as Chaucer died before completing it, but it is a fine example of early English literature and one of the most important pieces of the English Canon.The tales here vary in length and content as to the prologues and epilogues containing the goings on of the party members. The Canterbury Tales is an entertaining romp through the Medieval English countryside. Chaucer writes with a great sense of humor and, since he is writing in the language of the common folk, the content contains many lewd and bawdy jokes and events. If you don't know what it's about, the Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims on their way to Canterbury Cathedral. The tales are told as a way to entertain each other on their journey and the one who tells the best tale will earn a fine meal paid for by the other travelers. It is a very entertaining read and if one wants more than just entertainment, there is a lot of social commentary about life in medieval England that can be gleaned throughout the text.I was a little unsure what to expect when I read this and don't be turned off by the introductory prologue in which our narrator introduces all of the characters. It can be a little long and dry in parts, but it helps to give a clear picture of the characters in the party as they interact with one another and tell their respective tales.
Coghill - a friend of Lewis - provides a very fresh and loyal translation (a verse translation) to Chaucer. Nothing of course is better than the real thing, but I suggest this always as a happy second.
You could treat it as a whole entity or as a collection of short stories centered around a group of persons on a pilgrimage. It is great fun reading the Canterbury Tales.
I too did begin (and sort of finished) the work in Middle English, which is not as hard as one might be lead to think, but is quite labourious and painstakingly slow at times. In order to understand English litterature and the English language, many have read, or at least tried to read, Chaucers "Canterbury Tales".
This is one of those times. With this version, a great compromise has been found, translating it as true to the original as possible yet in modern English.
I know that every time you make a rewrite or translation, things are lost, but sometimes it is necessary, or just quite convenient. The structure of the work makes it very accesible and easy to pick up after some time away.
One of the books that any decent home library shouldn't be without.
great buy got here in about one week definitely worth the wait. Great book for a great price
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