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Contemporary Chaucer Criticism: by Beryl Rowland
Contemporary Chaucer Criticism: by Beryl Rowland
1
Oxford University Press, 1936. For an excellent with poet, time, and country, and in Chaucer's poetry it
summation of the characteristics of fine amour or 'fyn is never adulterous'. One might object that in the
lovynge', see the Introduction to D. S. Brewer's edition Franklin's Tale, the fine amour of Aurelius includes adultery
of The Parlement of Fovlys (London: Nelson, i960), pp. in its intent.
7—8. Brewer notes that 'the concept of fine amour varies
Contemporary Chaucer Criticism
with, however differently we may express the Robertsonian approach, often in an ex-
them . . .' (pp. 53-4). treme form. The erudition, complexity of
The study of the traditions which shaped suggestion, even the 'tendency towards polar-
Chaucer's aesthetic language coincided with ized judgements' of which his critics complain,
an examination of the concepts governing the make his works extraordinarily stimulating.
moral and spiritual attitudes reflected in his Undoubtedly, Robertson has restored to
poetry. Again the terminus a quo is 1950, when modern consciousness the important tradition
D. W. Robertson, Jr., gave his paper on of medieval li terary exegesis and has shown its
historical criticism at the English Institute. relationship to much of the visual art of the
Reviewers complain with some justice that period. He must be credited with awakening
occasionally a critic's style seems designed not an interest not only in patristic literature but