Reading Geoffrey Chaucer
This series of lectures aims to introduce the works of Geoffrey Chaucer and guide readers toward a greater appreciation of his poetry through literary contextualization, historical analysis, and close reading.
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Course begins October 8, 2025
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This 8-week course includes live sessions with the instructor each week
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Sessions are from 12:00 - 1:30pm Eastern U.S. time
Week 1
14th century England and Chaucer's place in it
This first lecture takes a broad look at England in the 14th century, considering significant events such as the plague of 1348-53, the reigns of Edward III and his successor Richard II, and international affairs. Then the view narrows to Geoffrey Chaucer’s place in this historical moment and his early life.
Week 2
What is Middle English?
This week a brief introduction to Middle English, what it is and how to read it. Then we pivot to the earliest known completed work written by Chaucer, The Book of the Duchess. We consider major themes, subject matter, and style.
Week 3
On the Road to Canterbury
We start with a discussion of poetics and how to read and appreciate Chaucer’s poetry, without getting too tangled in the weeds. Then we begin our study of The Canterbury Tales with the ‘General Prologue,’ and take a fresh look at some of the most famous lines of English poetry.
Week 4
'From Every Shire's End'
This week we continue with The Canterbury Tales, considering a few of the characters described in the ‘General Prologue,’ and how this work radically broke with literary precedents.
Week 5
Each with a Tale to Tell
This week we look broadly at the tales as a whole, then consider individual portions of The Canterbury Tales. The lecture ends with a discussion of the wild and ribald ‘Miller’s Tale.’
Week 6
The Wife of Bath
This week is dedicated to ‘The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale.’ We look at the constituent parts that combine to make this remarkable work of literature and discuss the prologue and narrative.
Week 7
'Thrope's ende'
We conclude The Canterbury Tales and discuss Chaucer’s aversion to conclusive endings. I will then provide a brief discussion of his other works such as The House of Fame.
Week 8
Flying Chaucers: astronomy and astrology in Chaucer’s texts
The course ends focusing on Chaucer and astronomy. We will discuss The Treatise on the Astrolabe and The Complaints of Mars and Venus, with a brief overview of astronomy and astrology in Chaucer’s day.
Meet your Instructor
Shelley M. Williams
Shelley Williams recently completed her doctoral degree at the University of Oxford, focusing on Middle English and the works of Geoffrey Chaucer. Her thesis focuses primarily on Chaucer’s astronomy and astrology, combining the history of science, visual art, and poetics. She has taught broadly on the Middle Ages as a lecturer and adjunct professor and presented her research to groups such as the American Friends of Chartres, the Churches Conservation Trust, and the Royden Planetarium. She was recently featured in the Bodleian Library’s exhibition, ‘Chaucer Here and Now.’ Shelley is currently writing and publishing several articles, turning her thesis into a monograph, and searching for a university teaching position.