15 seconds in -- concise introduction, clearly enunciated, good lighting, passionately spoken; your love for literature comes through in your presentation, and you've earned yourself a new subscriber. I have a feeling I'm going to binge this channel.
@Orange-tf3bf2 жыл бұрын
It's nice to see yo cover topics that give you joy :)
@kajielin43542 жыл бұрын
OMG I was so looking forward to exactly this video! Thank you so much! :D
@happymaskedguy19432 жыл бұрын
I've been wondering about this for a while, as linguistically, The Canterbury Tales can be pretty daunting to a first timer. I also just finished The Handmaid's Tale - apparently the title is directly inspired by the work of Chaucer. Not that it's relevant, but I'm now onto reading 'H is for Hawk', by Helen Macdonald, and so far it's superb - beautifully poetic and rich prose. Check it out if you're a fan of British wildlife, or animals in general.
@shystudyspy2 жыл бұрын
Love this! Thanks for this video! So interesting and it’s great to fall asleep too because there’s no sudden loud noises, just you talking and explaining something interesting.
@queenofdarkness23872 жыл бұрын
I wish I`d seen this video before heading to the library earlier. Will definitely have a look for Chaucer`s Canterbury Tales next time. Loved the video
@chloe.15962 жыл бұрын
What a wonderful video! Thank you so much for the recommendations! :)
@bunnycrofts81272 жыл бұрын
For some reason I've found it helps to read Old English out loud.
@deirdre1088 ай бұрын
True, but the conversation is about Middle English
@Lolzadoodle84842 жыл бұрын
On Kyra loving Chopin: my dog loves opera and classical western voice. Singing is one of my hobbies, and she has started to pick it up with me, down to attempting to match pitch 🤣 She's started to get into pop, too - only Whitney Houston has interested her enough to sing along.
@emily.g.9292 жыл бұрын
My dog loves Taylor Swift lol
@tuhtea60022 жыл бұрын
This was a wonderful video!! Thank you for taking the time to make it. I really enjoyed it. :))
@RachelOates2 жыл бұрын
Thank you!!
@lynseybowe8693 Жыл бұрын
I am a high school English teacher and love the Nevill Coghill version. It's easy enough for my students to understand the language but still has a lot of the beautiful language of the original Middle English.
@laurajarrell61872 жыл бұрын
Rachel Oates, I can't believe you'd try to do the middle English! I'm glad you're going to show the versions!👍🥰💖✌
@trapadvisor2 жыл бұрын
I’ve never heard of this. But you’re talking about it so I’m interested. Keep up the great work
@TheDolphace2 жыл бұрын
I went to secondary school in South London, one of my favourite memories is listening to typical South London rude girls reading Chaucer. Not even being mean or laughing, it was really fun to hear how they decided to pronounce words. We read a couple of different versions which was cool
@carpenoctumpoetry84002 жыл бұрын
I know these aren’t always your most viewed videos, but I am soooo here for you classic lit videos 🥰
@ArthurChappell2 жыл бұрын
A question of reading it or studying ot - best to read first in modern English translation and then go back to read it it in the Middle English - some characters really existed, including the landlord of the Tabard Pub who suggests the reading competition to the travellers. The pub sadly burnt down a few years after the Great Fire Of London (which it survived)
@lindsay65182 жыл бұрын
Wow what an interesting nugget!! Thanks for mentioning this
@pattube5 ай бұрын
1. Of course, the Coghill translation has been the gold standard for like 75 years. That's definitely the translation to get. 😊 2. However, perhaps surprisingly, Chaucer's Middle English isn't super difficult to learn. Any contemporary English speaker with a desire to do so can learn Middle English in a few weeks. Then one can read Chaucer in the original. 3. Penguin Classics publishes both the Coghill version as well as the Middle English text of The Canterbury Tales. And it's also available online to read for free.
@Diana-mu7pc2 жыл бұрын
Love that you made this video Rachel. Comparative Chaucer is my shit. One of my hobbies lately is buying antique versions of the Canterbury Tales presented for children on Etsy and secondhand book websites. I would love to know if you'd ever do a video like this on Beowulf, given the just as many (if not more) versions of that text! Especially with all the buzz that came out in 2020 with Maria Dahvana Headley's version. Stay well and take care of Kyra. :-)
@RachelOates2 жыл бұрын
Ooh I’m not actually all that familiar with many translations of Beowulf - I only read one a very long time ago - but if you give me some time, I can do some reading! :)
@RainE1362 жыл бұрын
I've recently started reading Beowulf too and I'd love Rachel's insight!
@SilentCanScream2 жыл бұрын
This video helps me a lot. I want to read Chaucer for my studies.
@khylle12 жыл бұрын
This was not a video I was expecting to see today but I'm delighted to hear people talking about their interests and I might just give Canterbury tales a look
@automotivebuff32022 жыл бұрын
20:30 I have the Franklin Library Edition of the Canterbury Tales, in contemporary verse by J. U. Nicolson with the woodcuts of William Caxton, the first English printer. I was following Nevill Coghill's version of the prologue line by line, and I cannot decide which version is better. I like both, but I don't know, I can't make up my mind. All I know is that I've found to love Chaucer again after academia made me loathe his wonderful works. Here is Nicolson's version: There was also a nun, a prioress, Who, in her smiling, modest was and coy; Her greatest oath was but "By Saint Eloy!" And she was known as Madam Eglantine. Full well she sang the services divine, Intoning through her nose, becomingly; And fair she spoke her French, and fluently, After the school of Stratford-at-the-Bow, For French of Paris was not hers to know. At table she had been well taught withal, And never from her lips let morsels fall,
@gregorsamsa45802 жыл бұрын
I just an hour ago started “The Good Wife of Bath” by Karen Brooks. About 50 pages in, I highly recommend it! Serendipitous that you picked today to do Chaucer.
@lindsay65182 жыл бұрын
The wife of bath is my favorite
@Kksaeyi2472 жыл бұрын
I bought a version of the original containing 9 tales and the general prologue at a second hand store. The preface contains a pronunciation guide as well as briefly explaining the morphology and syntax found in the poem. Half of the book is dedicated to sources, picked out translations to prose, or analyses. When I first skimmed through a few pages, I was reading it in my inner American English voice. But then I thought in Atun-Shei flims "Witchfinder General" character (based off of early colonial history around 1600s). The spelling and grammar was very similar and reading with his voice in mind helped me get into the flow a lot better. And I now just get a bit of a giggle reading it with a grouchy Puritan Witchfinder in mind, on a pilgrimage to the magistrate in the Shire in which he dwell. Obviously not accurate with them being centuries off, but funny nonetheless.
@terrylynn79362 жыл бұрын
Oh, it's been storming pretty badly overe here in Germany as well. I'm definitely checking this out sometime, it sounds awfully interesting.
@alacrity75912 жыл бұрын
Thanks! I'll keep a look out for the Coghill version! I'm not a native English speaker, so Middle English intimidates me too much, but Penguin Classics is a sign of quality and I do want "the full experience" XD
@The_Leftysaurus2 жыл бұрын
250K Whoooooooooooo~ Congratulations 🥳🥳🥳 I've heard of the Canterbury Tales but I haven't read any of them I think. They do sound interesting though.
@paulsciria89212 жыл бұрын
A Knights Tale is one of my families favorite films. I and my family burnt A Knights Tale, from a vhs we got from the library to dvd when I was little, it was also one of our first dvds.
@boshowa08402 жыл бұрын
You make me want to read these.
@FlightsoFantasy2 жыл бұрын
Great video as always, I'll now add Chaucer to my "things to read" list. Misha Collins (actor who played Castiel in Supernatural) recently released a book of poetry. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!
@RachelOates2 жыл бұрын
I’ll see if I can grab a copy, thanks! :)
@ArtOfD0CILE2 жыл бұрын
Obviously not the focus of the video, but I just had to say, I adore your top. The flamingo pattern is so fun and the colors really make your eyes pop. Super cute!
@RachelOates2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! It’s a dress from Collectif - I managed to get this secondhand but it’s so beautiful! :)
@EldritchGod666Ай бұрын
My personal exposure to Chaucer came from my eighth grade World Affairs class. My teacher made an offhand comment about The Miller’s Tale that piqued my interest. My great grandfather had been a professor of classics and we had a collection of his books that I still have which included a copy of the Canterbury Tails in Middle English. I found that if I pronounced the words out loud as they were spelled, my ear could pick up the words. This was a revelation to me and allowed me to get through much of the stories. 😁
@shbondful2 жыл бұрын
Ooh, interesting! Medieval literature is a side interest of mine (note: essentially invariably in translation or transliteration, I don’t have the education to read much in the original), so I am on board for this.
@marsmarz2 жыл бұрын
This is so perfect. I’m an American studying literature in Canterbury so obviously I want to read Chaucer. It’s just so daunting
@geraintthomas43432 жыл бұрын
Really interesting to get this review. We had to do some chaucer in year 8 and weirdly it's stuck with me. but also it's cute that kyra started getting up and snuffling when you started "speaking to dog voice"
@FreeTempest2 жыл бұрын
I think I'm going to check out either the Peter or Neville versions. I had never heard of this work until I watched this video. Thank you so much for the lovely recommendations ☺️
@lanahellebaut57282 жыл бұрын
You inspired me to take my copy of the Dutch translation of The Canterbury Tales down from my book case. I prefer to read books by English speaking writers in their original version but for this one, I'll try the translation.
@jacke.75022 жыл бұрын
When I was 17 my mum was in a theatrical adaptation of the Canterbury Tales. She played Pertelote, who, the director decided, would be a literal hen, so she dressed up as a chicken and, one day, decided it would be funny to show up to my Saturday job in her chicken costume. This is only tangentially related to the video but the image of my mother dressed as a chicken has haunted me for over a decade so I had to tell someone
@RainE1362 жыл бұрын
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@PunkWyrks2 жыл бұрын
Yes!!!!!!!! Yesssss!!!!!! Yaaaaaassssss!!!!!! Chaucer. Chaucer. Chau.Cer. Chau. Cer. Chau-cer..... “High on a stag the Goddess held her seat, And there were little hounds about her feet; Below her feet there was a sickle moon, Waxing it seemed, but would be waning soon. Her statue bore a mantle of bright green, Her hand a bow with arrows cased and keen; Her eyes were lowered, gazing as she rode Down to where Pluto has his dark abode.” ― Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales Don't mind me, I'm just gonna keep squealing with joy in the background!!!!!!!
@ycampbell76722 жыл бұрын
Whelp, I now feel like reading Chaucer.
@Dragoness-si2xr2 жыл бұрын
The senior Ap English class had to read this at my high school. Least I think they did because one of the seniors came to my class and read from it.
@ninawth2 жыл бұрын
I'm really hoping that this will turn into a series, because I'm always open to recommendations like this. I read some stories from the Canterbury Tales in high school (alongside a modern English translation), and I've always wanted to read the entire work, but I was unfamiliar with any translations. The Middle English text is a bit too difficult for me, especially considering that English is not my native tongue, but I know now where to look. Coghill's version sounds perfect for me. Are there also Modern English versions of e.g. Paradise Lost? Does anyone know? I already have Tolkien's version of Beowulf on the shelf, as well as an English translation of La Divina Commedia, so lots of things to delve into. I'm currently reading Anthony Yu's faithful translation of Journey to the West, which I earnestly recommend. The book is hilarious and insightful.
@pangalacticgargleblaster26102 жыл бұрын
I would recommend "Works of Geoffrey Chaucer : The William Morris Kelmscott Chaucer With Illustrations by Edward Burne-Jones" The Kelmscott Chauser is considered one of the most beautiful books ever. It is however a massive book, it is a display peice, it will go on top of your bookcase not on a shelf! It is in middle English but the art work is amazing
@miniflem12 жыл бұрын
This is great, I wish all the skeptic channels would concentrate more on this, than solely fighting the scum of the earth.
@johncarroll772 Жыл бұрын
Who's the scum of the earth
@rolux48535 ай бұрын
What does this even mean?
@miniflem15 ай бұрын
@@rolux4853 Rachel devotes a lot of her time to critiquing videos made by fascists and other lunatics. It was nice to see a video by her on a fun topic.
@h3y_bails2 жыл бұрын
It's been awhile since I've read Middle English. I think I'm gonna break out my old little copy of a few of the Tales and see what I remember 😁
@inanimatecarbongod2 жыл бұрын
If people think Middle English is hard, they should see medieval Scots. HOLY HELL, that really *is* another language. Have a look at Gavin Douglas' translation of the Aeneid and you'll wish you had a translation of it... Trivia: the Coghill translation was the basis for a stage musical adaptation of the Tales, of all things. Apparently it was a hit that ran for years, too.
@tintinaus2 жыл бұрын
Have you heard of Baba Brinkman's Rap Guide to the Canterbury Tales?
@northof-62 Жыл бұрын
Came here from Dan Simmons' "Hyperion" as I learned he based his novel on The Canterbury Tales. Bought the Dr. Lesley A. Coote version, (as it was the only one available here in my local store), and reading it with additional help from the Harvard UNI Canterbury Tales online pages. (Though the line numbering starts to differ in the Prologue at line 490 for some reason unknown) It's amazing to see how many words that were used then, are still in use in Norwegian. ME NOR ENG wiste / visste - knew hadde /hadde - had prest / prest - priest nonne / nonne - nun etc. PS. Rimsky Korsakov's Nocturne is good as well.
@smkh28904 ай бұрын
The stories are easy to understand in modern English, but the music is in the original.
@CollinGerberding2 жыл бұрын
Do you have any training in teaching? You are amazingly good at conveying things without being condescending. It might just be your knack, just this is a very good break down that shares a passion without alienating those that have a different level of interest, and many different levels at that. Another fine example of why I stay subscribed to this channel.
@htyh32 жыл бұрын
I just finished watching your poetry book review video and I loved it😂 also I feel so bad for the amount of money you wasted on those books. It should be illegal. I want to recommend a poetry book for you, if you ever do another review video, Eileithyia by Sarah Abdul( amazon). Cheap and quality content. I personally think is one of the best out there. Pretty complexe, especially the Vita and virginia poem. It gives me the chills every time. Now that I've watched your video, I'm so curious to see your reaction on this one. Looking forward to. Thnx anyways and keep it up!
@araline29052 жыл бұрын
Medieval history is super fun.
@jojodogface8988 ай бұрын
I really wish I liked the Canterbury Tales, but after reading 3 translations, then doing the work to read the original, I have to admit, It was to me the mooste shrewe; that feele I on my ribbes al by rewe, and evere shal unto myne endying day.
@studiouscamel3 ай бұрын
I recommend Norton's Second Critical Edition. It's a bit pricey, but it contains the original Middle English stories and textual annotations in modern English; which (for me) made reading Chaucer infinitely less intimidating.
@muahlakaparak2 жыл бұрын
Great video
@misti-step2 ай бұрын
so glad this showed up in my recommended! the algorithm probaly knows ive been wanting to read the canterbury tales lol
@johncarroll772 Жыл бұрын
Any movie about Medieval Knights, and has the song Golden Years in it, is a must watch movie.
@MissCaraMint2 жыл бұрын
Finally. A useful video on youtube.
@Sams9117 ай бұрын
she's beautiful, listens to Chopin, reads Chaucer, and can clearly hold down a conversation ... where do I find one like her in Las Vegas?
@smkh28904 ай бұрын
The Paulo Pasolini movie of the Canterbury Tales is really enjoyable and celebratory, part of Pasolini's 'Trilogia della Vita' . Wikipedia describes it, enticingly, as " a 1972 medieval erotic black comedy Italian film".
@StygianEmperor2 жыл бұрын
14:04 sounds like a good asmr video concept
@persbaderse2 жыл бұрын
he put his whole chaucussy into it
@rundeldejesus83812 жыл бұрын
Can you do a review on Joey Kidney’s book? What’s the rush? And Dreaming with my eyes wide open
@deirdre1088 ай бұрын
Is there a version that has the translation on one page (say, Coghill’s) and the Middle English on the facing page?
@JFlower76 ай бұрын
I read a modern English version every April.
@Johnm.4992 жыл бұрын
I will read and get all of them if i can :)
@Johnm.4992 жыл бұрын
Me thinkth it accordant to reason
@melodye142 жыл бұрын
I love this especially since I exclusively vibes with the Wife of Bath in college and wrote a paper and a research paper on that section through a feminist lens.
@scottfraundorf16792 жыл бұрын
Really, Chaucer? Wasn't he friends with John of Gaunt?
@liamodonovan66102 жыл бұрын
You are stunning rachel love your beautiful dress love yout intelligent interesting videos love you rachel you always catch and hold my attention
@dariasdouble2122 жыл бұрын
I'm still traumatized, 19 years later, from my awful English teacher who really ground us into The Canterbury Tales. I honestly don't even remember what it's about. 🙃
@northof-62 Жыл бұрын
That I can imagine. We have/had something called Old Norse her in our schools. Equally dreaded/hated.
@jrr24802 жыл бұрын
Is there a bilingual version? 🤔
@jerraldwest85312 жыл бұрын
Hey, Rachel; you should check out Dominic Noble's Channel. He deals exclusively in liturature. God, I'd love to see my two fravorite British youtubers do a collab of some kind.
@debmunsell1720 Жыл бұрын
Prunella Scales an another man did the best rendition i ever heard.
@colonelweird2 жыл бұрын
Really appreciate this video, but I think there was one minor error: most modern versions, including Ackroyd and Coghill, do not include the complete Parson's Tale. The only version that does include it (to my knowledge) is Burton Raffel's translation, published by Modern Library.
@StartingFromNothing8 ай бұрын
Why do you call the Tale of Melibeus "dry, dull and boring "? That tale is a masterclass in the laws of human nature.
@jsigur1574 ай бұрын
Somebody put a straight jacket on that girl
@michaelsommers23562 жыл бұрын
Saying that one should read literature in the original language is not snobbery, it's simply telling the truth. All literature, especially poetry, should be read in the original language. Unfortunately, very few people can read more than a couple of languages with enough fluency to do that. Therefore, translations are necessary. However, Middle English is not a foreign language; it is an earlier form of English, the language that we here are all using right now. We should all be able to understand it, at least in part. It will take more effort than reading a current best-seller, but that effort will pay off. I would recommend starting with the pronunciation. Getting that right, or close to right, will help a lot, as it may make it clearer associations of old with modern words that the spelling obscures. It also helps with the meter of the verse, since some things were pronounced that today are silent. Take a look at the first two lines: "Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote, The droghte of March hath perced to the roote, " At first glance, that may look incomprehensible, but it really isn't. You may need to rely on glosses to get some of the words, but that's true of more modern works, too. _Moby Dick,_ for example, uses a lot of nautical and whaling terminology unfamiliar to most readers.
@CulturedCarlo7 ай бұрын
I like you.
@edwardkirby52252 жыл бұрын
What do you think think of Ukraine.
@gradyratliff20345 ай бұрын
Youre...beaufitfu..ll....❤
@davidregi75712 жыл бұрын
Can you speak about the blackpill?
@newromantic2226 ай бұрын
im an english lit major who has a class just about chaucer, i will check out these versions for myself, it was really helpful! thank you 🤍