Chaucer and the Culture of Dissent

Chaucer and the Culture of Dissent investigates the links between Chaucers Parsons Tale and Lollard discourse and ideas. From the moment the Parson is introduced in the General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales suggestions of Lollardy surround him. Chaucer therefore invites (or even dares) his reader to go in search of Lollard codes in the Parsons Tale. This book balances a literary and historical approach to reading Chaucers Parsons Tale. Here, Frances McCormack considers the evidence of Chaucers connection to the movement and analyzes the similarities between the Parsons language and Lollard sect vocabulary. She investigates whether Chaucer made use of a Wycliffite version of the Bible in writing the tale, and considers whether the Parson expounds any points of Lollard doctrine.