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Stand up for true English!
01-14-2014 | WesternCulture

Posted on 01/14/2014 9:28:06 AM PST by WesternCulture

What was so great about Chaucer?

Some people seem to think he more or less invented the English language. Well, did he?

By no means.

Discussing authors, should anyone ever compare Chaucer to the likes of Hamlet, Petrarch or Dante?

Never.

Geoffrey's major source of influence, Giovanni Boccaccio, was a pretty good writer of short stories, but on the other hand, Western literature really could've done without him.

In style as well as content, Chaucer was an unaccomplished Boccaccio impersonator.

There are plenty of good reasons to admire Britain, but contrary to what is regarded as an axiomatic truth in the UK, Britain presently does not lead the World in English language.

America does. Check the Internet, the World of business and most books being published.

Speaking of short stories, Canadian Alice Munro was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature last year for her contributions to that particular form of art.

The last time Britain housed a notable writer of short stories was back in 1930, as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle still was alive then.

What world-renowned cultural figure could, today, pose as Britain's major contributor to the development of the English language?

Gordon Ramsay?

In the name of fairness and human decency, we must admit Britain, although presently lacking great authors, can pride itself of several natives in the acting business who truly have understood the greatness of English.

Fine examples are Brian Blessed, John Cleese and Stephen Fry.

Now, go ahead and comment whatever insufficiency, inadequacy or imprecision to be found in my English.

Being a Nordic brute, I have not developed a habit of going around bragging about my Scandinavian nation being a great contributor to the language discussed (or things like flamenco dancing), although my kingdom, Sweden, might display a better understanding of novellas to the keen intellect than yours.

If you know your World literature, the name of Strindberg will most certainly spring to mind at rather an instant.


TOPICS: Books/Literature; Chit/Chat; Humor; Poetry
KEYWORDS: britain; chaucer; literature; poetry

1 posted on 01/14/2014 9:28:06 AM PST by WesternCulture
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To: WesternCulture
Being a Nordic brute

You must have a good feel for the Nordic roots of the English language... have you tried to read through anglosaxon texts?

2 posted on 01/14/2014 9:32:09 AM PST by marron
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To: WesternCulture

Chaucer gave me pains. I preferred Milton even though he too was a tough read.


3 posted on 01/14/2014 9:32:50 AM PST by Resolute Conservative
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To: WesternCulture

We may need a Turing test — this sort of reads like it was auto-generated.


4 posted on 01/14/2014 9:33:20 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (Anti-Complacency League! Baby!)
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To: WesternCulture

English English is the way to go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgPH0tYXJrA


5 posted on 01/14/2014 9:37:25 AM PST by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; me = independent conservative)
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To: WesternCulture

I suffered through every single ‘English’ lit class in high school and college. Found them tedious and boring. Not my cup of teas, so to speak.

To this imbecilic American it always felt to me like British authors prided themselves on wordiness and far-too-proper use of the language. Damn dudes/dudettes: less is more. Stop trying to impress your deceased English instructor and say what you mean.


6 posted on 01/14/2014 9:39:07 AM PST by RonInNaples
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To: Resolute Conservative
I preferred Milton even though he too was a tough read.

Prof. Jennings; "Don't write this down, but I find Milton probably as boring as you find Milton.
Mrs. Milton found him boring too. He's a little bit long-winded, he doesn't translate very well into our generation, and his jokes are terrible."

7 posted on 01/14/2014 9:39:29 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts ("The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it." - George Orwell)
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts

Pinto, is that you?


8 posted on 01/14/2014 9:40:14 AM PST by Resolute Conservative
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts
Mrs. Milton found him boring too.

FYI: Milton didn't marry until he was in his 40's so that's probably right.

9 posted on 01/14/2014 10:19:03 AM PST by SeeSharp
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To: WesternCulture
Discussing authors, should anyone ever compare Chaucer to the likes of Hamlet, Petrarch or Dante?

Probably not Hamlet, at least. Which reminds me:

Said Hamlet to Ophelia,
"I'll draw a sketch of thee.
Which pencil should I use --
2B or not 2B?"

(From another famous author: Spike Milligan)

10 posted on 01/14/2014 11:06:32 AM PST by thulldud (Is it "alter or abolish" time yet?)
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To: WesternCulture

Do you like Kipling?

I don’t know, I’ve never kippled.


11 posted on 01/14/2014 11:47:25 AM PST by SoothingDave
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To: WesternCulture
Discussing authors, should anyone ever compare Chaucer to the likes of Hamlet, Petrarch or Dante?

Hamlet?

I thought he moped about in grave yards. Never realized he was an author.

12 posted on 01/14/2014 11:52:13 AM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
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To: WesternCulture
Well, Chaucer is certainly at the top of the list of late 14th-century English authors whose works have survived. It's a very, very short list. If you want to learn the state of the language in 1380, that's who you have.

Literary merit is very much in the eye of the beholder and I doubt if any two scholars' lists would completely agree. That's fine. I don't think my own list of 20 years ago would agree with its successor today, in fact, I can guarantee it. The difference between the 13th century and today is that then, there was more than you had read, and today, there is more than you can read. There's bound to be a few diamonds in that tremendous pile of dung. ;-)

13 posted on 01/14/2014 11:56:33 AM PST by Billthedrill
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To: Billthedrill

I find the Canterbury Tales fun to read. His poetry is good, his stories are entertaining and his characters are believable and often sympathetic. I’ve met a few of them in my life. It certainly is an easier read than the contemporary Piers Plowman (although I get a kick out of alliterative poetry; moderns should try it.)


14 posted on 01/14/2014 3:49:53 PM PST by Hiddigeigei ("Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish," said Dionysus - Euripides)
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To: WesternCulture

Now, go ahead and comment /* on */ whatever insufficiency, inadequacy or imprecision /* is */ to be found in my English.


15 posted on 01/14/2014 5:43:24 PM PST by dr_lew
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To: WesternCulture
Just another one of WesternCulture's 'America Sucks! Europe is Better!' threads. Thread #5.
16 posted on 09/11/2014 10:01:43 PM PDT by CodeToad (Romney is a raisin cookie looking for chocolate chip cookie votes.)
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