Today in literature class we started talking about Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. We’re not going to read the modern English translation, but we’re reading it in the original Middle English language, influenced by French, Anglo-Saxon, and Latin. It might be difficult, but it will be fun! We have to memorize and present the first twelve lines (it’s poetry) of the Prologue by the end of February. I’m so excited! But, I guess I’m probably the only one in my school who is. I suppose that makes me a geek. But hey, I have more emotional intelligence than Napoleon Dynamite and better-looking outfits than Steve Ercle…
P.S. This reminds me: If the Alan Waldeckers everr find any cheap, but nice/first edition books by Winston Churchill, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, GK Chesterton, Geoffrey Chaucer, etc., I’d be willing to pay you back fo them if you would get them for me. Not to say I need you to go look for one, but if you ever come across one… Thanks!
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
James, I would love to read the canterbury tales in Middle English. A year ago my roommate had to read it for an English class. He would read it aloud sometimes, and he said it easier/fun to read in a somewhat Irish accent.
But how can you understand it well if it’s in Middle English?
Andrea
Yeah, you are a geek. Who isn’t?
Cool! It’s wonderful to be excited about learning things. Will you be taught how to pronounce middle English also?
Middle English is relatively close to modern English. Plus, there are a lot of footnotes that explain what things mean. And yes, we’ve been taught how to pronounce it (it’s really fun).
I am very intrigued by this.
Dad
I am taking Greek. Does that make me a Geek? 🙂
Seth
Seth, by all accounts you are a Geek by taking Greek, only if you want to. But, in a sense of confusion I think that you are not a Geek, for I think you are my brother.
I can’t help myself. How about a Greek Geek? That sounds pretty cool, which would make you not a geek anymore. Oh well.
Aunt Janice