help with "The Canterbury Tales"
| Author | Topic: help with "The Canterbury Tales" |
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Warrior
Member # 5483
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written Tuesday, September 19 2006 15:12
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In English class we're being forced to read "The Canterbury Tales," but I can't understand anything in it, even in the "modern" translation. I tried Google for an understandable translation or a summary, but can't seem to find one! Can someone please help me? -------------------- Ignorance Is bliss -Cypher (Matrix) Don't think you can; know you can -Morpheus (Matrix) sanity is overrated :) Posts: 130 | Registered: Monday, February 7 2005 08:00 |
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Off With Their Heads
Member # 4045
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written Tuesday, September 19 2006 15:18
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This has a not entirely faithful translation side-by-side with the original and hyperlinked definitions for the least familiar words in Middle English. It takes some getting used to, but it's not really that hard after a while. Probably the first barrier to overcome is the fact that editors don't modernize the spelling the way they do with, say, Shakespeare. A word will appear that still exists and is pronounced essentially the same way now ("virtue") but will have an archaic spelling ("virtu"). Reading the text aloud helps with this, and once you get that, the text becomes far easier to understand. -------------------- Arancaytar: Every time you ask people to compare TM and Kel, you endanger the poor, fluffy kittens. Smoo: Get ready to face the walls! Ephesos: In conclusion, yarr. Kelandon's Pink and Pretty Page!!: the authorized location for all things by me The Archive of all released BoE scenarios ever Posts: 7968 | Registered: Saturday, February 28 2004 08:00 |
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Agent
Member # 2210
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written Tuesday, September 19 2006 16:03
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If you don't understand the basics of medieval life, you won't understand the Canterbury Tales. Also read a little bit of lighter medieval poetry. Something like Gawain and the Green Knight, or Sir Orfeo to get a better hang of the language. Pick up some kids books like life in a medieval village, life in a medieval castle, chivalry that kind of stuff with lots of pictures. It will give you an idea of what the basics are. Without these basics the Canterbury Tales is pretty much incomprehensible. Somehow you are supposed to understand what they are talking about in the Millers tale, the Priests tale, etc. without any background. [ Tuesday, September 19, 2006 16:06: Message edited by: I'll Steal Your Toast ] -------------------- Wasting your time and mine looking for a good laugh. Star Bright, Star Light, Oh I Wish I May, I Wish Might, Wish For One Star Tonight. Posts: 1084 | Registered: Thursday, November 7 2002 08:00 |
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Law Bringer
Member # 335
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written Tuesday, September 19 2006 16:08
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Maybe you should look for a good annotated Canterbury Tales. Barring that, which stories are you reading? Some are less accessible than others, and some were deliberately obtuse even for contemporary readers. —Alorael, who thinks anyone reading the Miller's Tale with emphasis on medieval life and culture is missing the big, obvious, coarse point. Posts: 14579 | Registered: Saturday, December 1 2001 08:00 |
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Off With Their Heads
Member # 4045
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written Tuesday, September 19 2006 20:06
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I also recommend, come to think of it, the Norton Critical Edition. The one for the Canterbury Tales has extensive glosses along the side to make the language more comprehensible. -------------------- Arancaytar: Every time you ask people to compare TM and Kel, you endanger the poor, fluffy kittens. Smoo: Get ready to face the walls! Ephesos: In conclusion, yarr. Kelandon's Pink and Pretty Page!!: the authorized location for all things by me The Archive of all released BoE scenarios ever Posts: 7968 | Registered: Saturday, February 28 2004 08:00 |
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Agent
Member # 1934
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written Tuesday, September 19 2006 21:57
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I recomend SparkNotes for all your literature comprehension needs. -------------------- You acquire an item: Radio Free Foil Posts: 1169 | Registered: Monday, September 23 2002 07:00 |
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Agent
Member # 6581
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written Wednesday, September 20 2006 06:18
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Whoa. Is the same for me! Same homework, I mean; but I don't had any problems by understanding it. My Teacher also gave me Beowulf - even at you? [ Wednesday, September 20, 2006 06:19: Message edited by: MagmaDragoon ] -------------------- Download Geneforge 4: Rebellion You have 6 posts. Nobody cares what you think. - Thuryl Wikipedia may be your friend, but UBB is not. - Dikiyoba Posts: 1310 | Registered: Tuesday, December 20 2005 08:00 |
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Agent
Member # 2210
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written Wednesday, September 20 2006 08:01
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Geoffrey Chaucer Blooms Major Poets might help. Blooms Notes are a little bit better than most of the cliff notes that can be bought. -------------------- Wasting your time and mine looking for a good laugh. Star Bright, Star Light, Oh I Wish I May, I Wish Might, Wish For One Star Tonight. Posts: 1084 | Registered: Thursday, November 7 2002 08:00 |
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Electric Sheep One
Member # 3431
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written Wednesday, September 20 2006 20:20
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From 1066 And All That, by W.C. Sellar & R.J. Yeatman. Beoleopard; or, The Witan's Whail Whan Cnut Cyng the Witan wold enfeoff Of infanthief and outfangthief Wonderlich were they enraged And wordwar waged. Sware Cnut great scot and lot Swingë wold ich this illbegotten lot. Wroth was Cnut and wrothword spake. Well wold he win at wopantake. Fain wold he brakë frith and crakë heads And than they shold worshippe his redes. Swingèd Cnut Cyng with swung sword Howlèd Witanë hellë but harkened his word Murië sang Cnut Cyng Outfangthief is damgudthyng. -------------------- We're not doing cool. We're doing pretty. Posts: 3335 | Registered: Thursday, September 4 2003 07:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 126
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written Friday, September 22 2006 21:44
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Did someone say the Canterbury Tales? Oh ho ho, good times. Lucky me, I got to use a translation when I studied it, and then we only covered a couple of the tales before moving on to Beowulf, which was much simpler. Oh man, what was it, the Miller's tale? People all kissing each other's butts and getting farted on, hah! It's not so much the very content of the story that I find amusing, but more the sheer fact that someone back in the day thought it up and wrote it out in ye olde engifhe. -------------------- Fly beyond the ocean, over the mountains, past the moon and across the face of the sun, never to come home again. Posts: 161 | Registered: Monday, October 8 2001 07:00 |
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Electric Sheep One
Member # 3431
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written Friday, September 22 2006 22:12
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Well, it wouldn't have gotten past the censors if they had written it in modern English. Middle English was all about beating porn filters. -------------------- We're not doing cool. We're doing pretty. Posts: 3335 | Registered: Thursday, September 4 2003 07:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 5483
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written Saturday, September 23 2006 05:01
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quote:We haven't had Beowulf yet, but the teacher informs us it's coming. I'm surprised to find an Italian who can understand this story when most of my native Engilsh-speaker class can't. You must be some student! -------------------- Ignorance Is bliss -Cypher (Matrix) Don't think you can; know you can -Morpheus (Matrix) sanity is overrated :) Posts: 130 | Registered: Monday, February 7 2005 08:00 |