Questions About The Riverside Chaucer

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Riverside Chaucer, please sign up.

Answered Questions (2)

Is this book written in modern or ole English (medieval) ?

A.E. Chandler The front info, end notes, and introductions to each piece are written in modern English. The pieces themselves are as Chaucer wrote them, in Middle E…moreThe front info, end notes, and introductions to each piece are written in modern English. The pieces themselves are as Chaucer wrote them, in Middle English. He wrote in a southern/East Midlands dialect that's relatively easy to figure out (for Middle English). I think all of the letters we no longer use have been replaced by their modern equivalents. It's a scholarly book rather than a translation.(less)

flag

What are "thorn" and "yogh"?

A.E. Chandler These are two of the letters used in Middle English that are not used in modern English.
Thorn: Þ þ
Yogh: Ʒ ʒ
Thorn makes a "th" sound and was replaced b…moreThese are two of the letters used in Middle English that are not used in modern English.
Thorn: Þ þ
Yogh: Ʒ ʒ
Thorn makes a "th" sound and was replaced by "th" (and sometimes "y.")
Yogh has been replaced with "gh," or "g" (also used in Middle English, but for somewhat different purposes than yogh), and sometimes "y."(less)

flag

Unanswered Questions

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more