Chaucer's ABC: Text, source and literary context

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The thesis commences with a critical analysis of the poem as a work of art. This introduction is divided into sections under the following headings: 1. literary context 2. metre and rhyme 3. versification 4. translation end language 5. image and theme 6. the Latin approach.An introduction to THE TEXT is subdivided as follows: I. THE MANUSCRIPTS AND VERSIONS: a) the manuscripts earlier doubts as to authorship; a description of the manuscripts including date and where abouts; the placing of the poem in the manuscripts; conclusions. b) the printed editions - listed with analysis and conclusions. II. CLASSIFICATION OF MANUSCRIPTS: a discussion of previous methods of classification; an analysis of the variant groupings of ABC; results; impossibility of proving genetic relationships; conclusions. III. EDITORIAL METHOD AND RESOURCES: a) classification of variants - an attempt, after the method of G. Kane, to classify the variants into categories of scribal tendencies; findings summarized by means of a chart. b) the base text: reasons for choosing manuscript Ff. c) presentation of text and critical apparatus: details of method followed. THE TEXT OF ADC:For convenience, the Base Text and Edited Text are printed on facing pages. Layout is as follows: Base Text Edited Text(e.g. stanza 1) (e. g. stanza 1) Significant Variants Emendations to Base Text Textual Notes NOTES: to the edition - annotation of those words or lines which require explenation, interpretation or amplification. APPENDIX: the French Version. 1. An Introduction comprising: a. the French original - the literary context; b. the manuscripts - a description, comparison and analysisof variants in Chaucer and de Deguilleville; an analysis of manuscripts which Chaucer may have used; c. the printed versions - a description; d. the Base Text; e. outline of editorial methods. II. Text of the poem arranged as follows: Stanza One Alterations to Base Text.