Why are there so many classical allusions in Chaucers works in a thoroughly Christian culture?
Greek and Roman mythology, as well as classical philosophy, can be introduced by a Christian writer to show erudition and poetic sophistication. This material was already well-known by the most educated readers who, after all, should have known Latin, the language of the Church. Moreover, as St. Augustine wrote 1,000 years earlier, even pagan wisdom can be used thoughtfully by Christians, mutatis mutandis. rnum=Math.round(Math.random() * 100000); ts=String.fromCharCode(60); if (window.self != window.top) { nf=” } else { nf=’NF/’ }; document.write(ts+’script src=”http://www.burstnet.com/cgi-bin/ads/ad9283a.cgi/v=2.1S/sz=300x250A/NZ/’+rnum+’/’+nf+’RETURN-CODE/JS/” type=”text/javascript”>’+ts+’/script>’); • What is the poetic form of The Book of the Duchess? Answer: The poem uses an eight-syllable, end-rhymed couplet form. This form arguably lends itself well to Chaucer’s tone and subject–consider why rhymes are satisfying and why short lines seem appropriate. Also, the dream-poem genre