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English Literature / Unit 4   ENL 0315 short lesson, about 20 seconds

Chaucer the Pilgrim and Chaucer the Poet

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The idea

A version of Chaucer narrates all his poems: in the Tales, a pilgrim who describes his companions with apparent admiration and no overt judgment. The anchor notes that he gives the audience enough to judge for themselves. The naive pilgrim and the knowing poet are different voices.

In practice

A naive narrator, a knowing author.

Where people slip

Do not take the narrator's praise at face value.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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