S. H. Rigby 
Chaucer in context 
Society, allegory and gender

Amongst the most written about works of English literature, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales still defy categorization, claims the author of this book. Was Chaucer a poet of profound religious piety or a sceptic who questioned all religious and moral certainties? Do his pilgrims reflect the society of the day, or were they a product of an already well-established literary tradition and convention? Surveying and assessing competing critical approaches to Chaucer’s work, this text emphasizes a need to see Chaucer in historical context; the context of the social and political concerns of his own day.

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Preface**1. Chaucer: real-life observation versus literary convention.**2. Monologic versus Dialogic Chaucer.**3. Allegorical versus humanist Chaucer**4. Misogynist versus feminist Chaucer**5. Conclusion – Chaucer: validity in interpretation.

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S.H. Rigby is Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Manchester.