J.R.R. Tolkien As A Philologist: A Reconsideration Of The Northernisms In Chaucer's Reeve's Tale

Horobin, S.C.P.

English Studies 2001 82 (2)97-105
(ReLIS:jul:juljig:y:2001:v:82:i:2:p:97-105)

Abstract:

In his analysis of the portrayal of Northern dialect in the Reeve’s Tale Tolkien assumed that Chaucer was aiming at complete consistency in his representation of Northern dialect features.1 Tolkien’s article presented Chaucer as a philologist and argued that his ‘linguistic joke’ could therefore only be truly appreciated by philologists.2 In the critical text appended to the article Tolkien attempted to reconstruct a Chaucerian original which was ‘very purely and correctly Northern’ (16); a text free from the ‘mongrel blends’ and ‘corruptions’ introduced by scribal copyists with no formal philological training.

Keywords: literatura inglesa ; Crítica ; Filología
Pages: 97-105
Volume: 82
Year: 2001
Issue: 2

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