Wisdom and chivalry : Chaucer's Knight's tale and medieval political theory / by Stephen H. Rigby.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rigby, S. H. (Stephen Henry), 1955-

Series:

Medieval and Renaissance authors and texts ; v. 4.

Medieval and Renaissance authors and texts, 0925-7683 ; v. 4

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Chaucer, Geoffrey, -1400. Knight's tale.

Chaucer, Geoffrey.

Chaucer, Geoffrey, -1400--Political and social views.

Chaucer, Geoffrey, -1400--Ethics.

Knights and knighthood in literature.

Politics in literature.

Ethics in literature.

Conduct of life in literature.

Ideology in literature.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (348 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2009.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The Knight's Tale is one of the most controversial of all the Canterbury Tales. Does Chaucer portray Theseus, the duke of Athens whose actions dominate the tale, as an ideal ruler, one who is noble, wise and chivalrous, or does the duke's behaviour reveal him to be immoral, self-seeking and tyrannical? This book ( now in a corrected second printing ) assesses the duke's conduct and thought in terms of the ideals set out in medieval mirrors for princes, particularly in Giles of Rome's De Regimine Principum . It argues that, when judged by the standards of these works, Theseus can be seen as a model prince in terms of his self-government ('ethics'), his rule of his household ('economics'), his governance of his realm ('politics) and his cosmography and philosophy.

Contents:

Preliminary Material / Stephen H. Rigby

Introduction The ‘Knight’s Tale’ in Context / Stephen H. Rigby

Chapter One The ‘Knight’s Tale’ as Ethics: the Aristotelian Virtues / Stephen H. Rigby

Chapter Two The ‘Knight’s Tale’ as Ethics: the Passions and the Ages of Man / Stephen H. Rigby

Chapter Three The ‘Knight’s Tale’ as Economics: The Good Rule of the Household / Stephen H. Rigby

Chapter Four The ‘Knight’s Tale’ as Politics: The Good Rule of the Community / Stephen H. Rigby

Chapter Five The ‘Knight’s Tale’ as Cosmography: The Good Rule of the Universe / Stephen H. Rigby

Conclusion Chaucer: Literature, History and Ideology / Stephen H. Rigby

Bibliography / Stephen H. Rigby

Index / Stephen H. Rigby.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-282-40141-6

9786612401411

90-474-2968-0

OCLC:

644523739

Publisher Number:

10.1163/ej.9789004176249.i-332 DOI