Saturn's Darkness

Brantley Bryant (author)

Alia (author)

Export Metadata

Raw

Metadata
Title	Saturn's Darkness
Contributor	Brantley Bryant (author)
Contributor	Alia (author)
DOI	https://doi.org/10.21983/P3.0018.1.04
Landing page	https://punctumbooks.com/titles/dark-chaucer/
License	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Copyright	Bryant, Brantley; Alia
Publisher	punctum books
Published on	2012-12-23
Long abstract	If we’re thinking of a dark Chaucer, Saturn’s speech in the Knight’s Tale comes quickly to mind (I.2453–2478). Although pop culture misguidedly loves The Canterbury Tales best for its fart jokes, the appearance of the old, pale god in the first of the pilgrim stories shows that Chaucer can get very dark indeed. Saturn’s darkness, this essay will argue, should remind scholars of Chaucer to be attentive to our own ineradicable darknesses. We should see our moments of collapse and chaos not just as unfortunate circumstances to be acknowledged (though that is needed desperately) but also as “ways in” to the most vital and distinctive aspects of our discipline.
Page range	pp. 13–27
Print length	15 pages
Language	English (Original)

Contributors

Brantley Bryant

(author)

Sonoma State University

Alia

(author)

If we’re thinking of a dark Chaucer, Saturn’s speech in the Knight’s Tale comes quickly to mind (I.2453–2478). Although pop culture misguidedly loves The Canterbury Tales best for its fart jokes, the appearance of the old, pale god in the first of the pilgrim stories shows that Chaucer can get very dark indeed. Saturn’s darkness, this essay will argue, should remind scholars of Chaucer to be attentive to our own ineradicable darknesses. We should see our moments of collapse and chaos not just as unfortunate circumstances to be acknowledged (though that is needed desperately) but also as “ways in” to the most vital and distinctive aspects of our discipline.