When authors refer to other great works, people, and events, it’s usually not accidental. Put on your super-sleuth hat and figure out why.
Literary and Philosophical References
- Benedict, Rule of St Benedict (General Prologue 173)
- Augustine of Hippo (General Prologue 187)
- Aristotle (General Prologue 295)
- Seneca (Man of Law's Introduction 25)
- Ovid, Epistles (Heroides) (Man of Law's Introduction 54 – 55)
- Ovid, Metamorphoses (Man of Law's Introduction 93)
- Canacee (Man of Law's Introduction 78)
- Appollonius of Tyre (Man of Law's Introduction 81)
- Antiochus (Man of Law's Introduction 82)
- Francis Petrarch (Clerk's Prologue 31)
- Cicero (Franklin's Prologue 13)
- Cato (Canon's Yeoman's Prologue 135)
- Bacchus (Manciple's Prologue 99)
References to Medical Authorities (General Prologue 429 – 434)
- Aesculapius
- Deyscorides
- Rufus
- Hippocrates
- Haly
- Galen
- Serapion
- Averroes
- Damascien
- Constantyn
- Bernard
- Gatesden
- Gilbertyn
References to Chaucer's Own Work
- Legend of Good Women (Man of Law's Introduction 61 & ff, Retraction 6)
- Troilus and Criseyde(Retraction 6)
- House of Fame (Retraction 6)
- Book of the Duchess (Retraction 7)
- Parliament of Fowls (Retraction 7)
- Canterbury Tales (Retraction 7)
- Book of the Lion [not extant] (Retraction 7)
- Translation of Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy (Retraction 8)
Biblical References
- Genesis 1 (General Prologue 254)
- John 1 (General Prologue 254)
- The Gospels (General Prologue 498)
- Solomon (Cook's Prologue 6)
- Paul, Letter to Timothy (Parson's Prologue 32)
- Saint John (Man of Law's Introduction 18)