The works of Geoffrey Chaucer, such as the Canterbury Tales , frequently borrow from the works of the Italian humanists Petrarch and Boccaccio. [1]
For centuries, some scholars have further proposed that Chaucer might actually have met Petrarch and/or Boccaccio in person during a trip to Italy. [2] Notable proponents of Chaucer–Boccaccio and/or Chaucer–Petrarch contact include F. J. Furnivall (1825–1910), [3] W. W. Skeat (1835–1912), [4] and Donald Howard (1927–1987). [1] More recent scholarship tends to discount these speculations. As Leonard Koff remarks, the notion that Chaucer ever met Boccaccio in person is "a 'tydyng' worthy of Chaucer himself" [1] — alluding to the mingled true and false tidings that fill Chaucer's House of Fame .
There are government records that show Chaucer was absent from England visiting Genoa and Florence from December 1372 until the middle of 1373. [4] [5] He went with Sir James de Provan and John de Mari, eminent merchants hired by the king, and some soldiers and servants. [5] [6] During this Italian business trip for the king to arrange for a settlement of Genoese merchants these scholars say it is likely that sometime in 1373 Chaucer made contact with Petrarch or Boccaccio. [4] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
They believe it plausible that Chaucer not only met Petrarch at this wedding but also Boccaccio. [5] [9] This view today, however, is far from universally accepted. William T. Rossiter, in his 2010 book on Chaucer and Petrarch, argues that the key evidence supporting a visit to the continent in this year is a warrant permitting Chaucer to pass at Dover, dated 17 July. No destination is given, but even if this does represent a trip to Milan, he would have missed not only the wedding, but also Petrarch, who had returned to Pavia on 3 July. [13]
Chaucer's "Knight's Tale" is a condensed version of Boccaccio's Teseida . [14] Chaucer changes some scenes and deepens the philosophy of the original. In the tale, the disguised Arcite takes the name "Philostrate," [15] which may be an allusion to Boccaccio's Il Filostrato .
Chaucer's "Clerk's Tale" tells the story of Griselda. This story had previously appeared as the final tale of Boccaccio's Decameron. Petrarch then translated Boccaccio's story from Italian into Latin. [16] In the "Clerk's Prologue," the (fictional) Clerk himself claims to have traveled to Padua and there met Petrarch, who told him the story.
I wol yow telle a tale, which that I
Lerned at Padwe of a worthy clerk,
As preved by his wordes and his werk.
He is now deed, and nayled in his cheste;
I prey to God so yeve his soule reste.
Fraunceys Petrark, the lauriat poete,
Highte this clerk, whos rethorike sweete
Enlumyned al Ytaille of poetrie,
As Lynyan dide of philosophie [...]
[...] this worthy man,
That taughte me this tale as I bigan [...] [17]
Of course, that Chaucer made his fictional Clerk travel to Padua and meet Petrarch is no evidence that Chaucer himself (in real life) ever made such a trip.
Boccaccio's Filostrato is the major source of Chaucer's Troilus and Creseyde .
Chaucer followed the general plan of Boccaccio's work On Famous Women in The Legend of Good Women . [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]
And Philostrate he seyde that he highte.
Borghesi, Peter, Boccaccio and Chaucer, N. Zanichelli, 1903,.
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: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)Chaucer met Petrarch.
Dutton Donald Howard Chaucer 1987 His-life his-world His works.
House of Fame Chaucer Petrarch.
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