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Chaucer the Alchemist

Physics, Mutability, and the Medieval Imagination

  • Authors
  • Alexander N. Gabrovsky
Book

Part of the The New Middle Ages book series (TNMA)

Table of contents

  1. Front Matter
    Pages i-xix
    PDF

  2. Physics

    1. Front Matter
      Pages 1-1
      PDF
    2. Introduction: Chaucer’s Sublunar Region of Mutable Forms
      Alexander N. Gabrovsky
      Pages 3-25
    3. Thought Experiments in Geffrey’s Dream: The Poetics of Motus Localis, Measurement, and Relativity in the House of Fame
      Alexander N. Gabrovsky
      Pages 27-64

  3. Alchemy

    1. Front Matter
      Pages 65-65
      PDF
    2. Alchemical Allegory and Transformative Action in the Franklin’s Tale
      Alexander N. Gabrovsky
      Pages 67-127
    3. “As Licour Out of a Lambyc Ful Faste”: Love and Alchemy in Troilus and Criseyde
      Alexander N. Gabrovsky
      Pages 129-198

  4. Logic

    1. Front Matter
      Pages 199-199
      PDF
    2. Counterfactual Conditionals in the Avian Debate: Ars Obligatoria and Possible Worlds Semantics in the Parliament of Fowls
      Alexander N. Gabrovsky
      Pages 201-224
    3. Conclusion: Chaucer and the Reality of Change
      Alexander N. Gabrovsky
      Pages 225-232
  5. Back Matter
    Pages 233-291
    PDF

About this book

Introduction

The secrets of nature's alchemy captivated both the scientific and literary imagination of the Middle Ages. This book explores Chaucer's fascination with earth's mutability. Gabrovsky reveals that his poetry represents a major contribution to a medieval worldview centered on the philosophy of physics, astronomy, alchemy, and logic.

Keywords

Chaucer Imagination logic Medieval Literature Middle Ages poetry

Bibliographic information