CONTENTS:

General Introduction
The poetry of Chaucer’s age
Narrative poetry
Poetry for listeners
Familiarity
Diffuseness
Metaphor and simile
Description
Sound-effects
Variety and difference: dialect and literary tradition
Alliterative verse
Metrical verse
Literary genre
Social context
Spelling and pronunciation
Pronunciation
   vowels
   diphthongs
   spelling of vowels
   consonants
Grammar and vocabulary
Suggestions for further reading

Sir Orfeo
   Introduction
   Text

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
   Introduction
   Text

Patience
   Introduction
   Text

Langland: Piers Plowman
   Introduction
   Text

Chaucer: The Friar’s Tale
   Introduction
   Text

Short poems
   Introduction
   Lullaby
   Lenten is Come
   For Women
   Quia Amore Langueo
   Chaucer: Balade de Bon Conseyl
   Chaucer: Balade to Rosemounde
   Blacksmiths