[Aislinn]

Chaucer, J.K. Rowling, and All of Us
A Journey from Harry Potter to The Canterbury Tales … and Back Again
By Fidelia


Abstract:
JK Rowling shared that her “The Tale of the Three Brothers” at the heart of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows draws upon Chaucer’s “The Pardoner’s Tale” in The Canterbury Tales for its inspiration. As I explored these two stories of two bands of brothers who seek to defeat Death, I uncovered a myriad of fascinating connections between Chaucer’s tales and characters, the HP series…..and all of us here at Leaky.

Biography:
Fidelia is a former international affairs specialist, with a love of travel and reading. She now lives on an island and is involved in leading literary groups for children and adults. This is her first foray into Chaucer, and she has fallen in love with his tales. She can be found with her toes in the sand, reading Chaucer and Harry Potter.

This essay may be read here

This post has been edited by mosaic: 01 May 2008 - 10:07 AM

[sue1308]

I really loved your essay. Coming from The Netherlands, I was not familiair with the Canterbury tales, but I was wondering about them for a while. Thanks for explaining the backgroundstory of them and enlightning the similarities and differences with the tales of the 3 brothers. Makes you wonder whether the other tales of Beedle the Bard were inspired by other Canterbury tales, though. I liked the way you compared Snape with the Pardoner.

Sue.

[WaggaWaggaWerewolf]

That comparison of Snape and the Pardoner was great, Fidelia. And it does explain much about our Sev. And much kudos for a lovely, touching essay. I could see the similarities you made between the Pardoner's tale and the Tale of the Three Brothers, but you went far beyond that comparison, including the emotional journey some HP fans may have taken, including myself.

I really loved your essay. Coming from The Netherlands, I was not familiair with the Canterbury tales, but I was wondering about them for a while. Thanks for explaining the backgroundstory of them and enlightning the similarities and differences with the tales of the 3 brothers. Makes you wonder whether the other tales of Beedle the Bard were inspired by other Canterbury tales, though. I liked the way you compared Snape with the Pardoner.

As part of the English-speaking world I did come across the Canterbury Tales, but not as something that was taught in schools, only as something I 'borrowed' from a young boy's bookcase without his knowledge, whilst staying in that place. Far from set reading it was considered not for my age group at the time. Even in their watered down, abridged version these tales do provide a good read, even today, when the English language has changed so much. I'd also like to know if the other four tales of Beedle the Bard correspond to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. But, on the whole, I would not be surprised if they had nothing to do with Chaucer at all, and more to do with other spinners of tales which are part of the English Language heritage.

One of the defining parts of a civilization is its mythology. Thus we encounter Greek/Roman mythology at every step of the way for its input into Western thought. As a primary school pupil I was regaled with Aesop's fables. But Hans Christian Andersen's tales of the Snow Queen, The Wild Swans and other tales were the stories I grew up with along with traditional tales like Snow White, Cinderella or Goldilocks. There were other similar collections of stories, such as Grimm's fairy tales, Andrew Lang's various compilations, and Jean De La Fontaine's fairy tales, among others. For millennia stories of the Dreamtime defined the existence of a whole people, spelling out what sense they made of their environment, their beliefs about it and their relationship to it and to each other until the white men came in 1788. And yet the tales of Australian Aborigines are only another compilation to rank among the legends of other peoples elsewhere in the world. There were truths in all of these tales.

Just as Chaucer is one of the founders of the English language as we know it, and others added to its mythology, perhaps Beedle the Bard was meant to play such a role in Wizarding Society to inspire, teach and outline values. Perhaps in drawing inspiration from Chaucer JKR is not alone.

This post has been edited by WaggaWaggaWerewolf: 02 May 2008 - 07:13 AM

[fidelia]

That comparison of Snape and the Pardoner was great, Fidelia. And it does explain much about our Sev. And much kudos for a lovely, touching essay. I could see the similarities you made between the Pardoner's tale and the Tale of the Three Brothers, but you went far beyond that comparison, including the emotional journey some HP fans may have taken, including myself.

Thank you, Wagga! Considering that it was you who introduced me to Chaucer by sharing a precis of his "Pardoner's Tale", and then writing so wonderfully on JKR's tale in the Downstairs Drawing Room, I think you must share credit as the inspiration behind the essay! I am both indebted and so thankful!

I really loved your essay. Coming from The Netherlands, I was not familiair with the Canterbury tales, but I was wondering about them for a while. Thanks for explaining the backgroundstory of them and enlightning the similarities and differences with the tales of the 3 brothers. Makes you wonder whether the other tales of Beedle the Bard were inspired by other Canterbury tales, though. I liked the way you compared Snape with the Pardoner.

Thank you for your kind words. I too love the Beedle the Bard tales, and I think you hit upon something very interesting! JKR used both Chaucer's tales and her own "Beedle" tales in Deathly Hallows.....and I think we're all the richer for it. There's something about those timeless, symbolic stories which simply hits some readers at a core level (myself obviously among them). I think the inclusion of those tales adds a depth to DH and moves the story into a more profound reading experience. I didn't see any immediate correlation between Chaucer and Beedle when I was reading Chaucer for the essay writing.....but then again, I didn't think to look for it! And you know, that's the subject of another essay.

As part of the English-speaking world I did come across the Canterbury Tales, but not as something that was taught in schools, only as something I 'borrowed' from a young boy's bookcase without his knowledge, whilst staying in that place. Far from set reading it was considered not for my age group at the time. Even in their watered down, abridged version these tales do provide a good read, even today, when the English language has changed so much. I'd also like to know if the other four tales of Beedle the Bard correspond to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. But, on the whole, I would not be surprised if they had nothing to do with Chaucer at all, and more to do with other spinners of tales which are part of the English Language heritage.

One of the defining parts of a civilization is its mythology. Thus we encounter Greek/Roman mythology at every step of the way for its input into Western thought. As a primary school pupil I was regaled with Aesop's fables. But Hans Christian Andersen's tales of the Snow Queen, The Wild Swans and other tales were the stories I grew up with along with traditional tales like Snow White, Cinderella or Goldilocks. There were other similar collections of stories, such as Grimm's fairy tales, Andrew Lang's various compilations, and Jean De La Fontaine's fairy tales, among others. For millennia stories of the Dreamtime defined the existence of a whole people, spelling out what sense they made of their environment, their beliefs about it and their relationship to it and to each other until the white men came in 1788. And yet the tales of Australian Aborigines are only another compilation to rank among the legends of other peoples elsewhere in the world. There were truths in all of these tales.

Just as Chaucer is one of the founders of the English language as we know it, and others added to its mythology, perhaps Beedle the Bard was meant to play such a role in Wizarding Society to inspire, teach and outline values. Perhaps in drawing inspiration from Chaucer JKR is not alone.

I so agree! (I was/am a total Grimm's brothers fangirl myself.....the more authentic the version, the better.) The role of myth and fairytale is extremely important in defing the touchstone values of a people. I think that JKR is brilliant to have incorporated it as such a level in her work. I wonder what other mythological and ancient influences are at play? My mind is already turning this one over.....

This post has been edited by fidelia: 02 May 2008 - 01:58 PM

[LillianJames]

fidelia, I really enjoyed your essay. I enjoyed Chaucer in college (lo-ong ago!) but have read his work very little since. Your essay has me interested again! I loved Jo's use of tales in DH. Those kinds of stories are so timeless and thought-provoking. They are an interesting product of their time and place, yet they have such a universal meaning and depth that they speak through the centuries. Jo does capture that sense well!

[pottershrink]

Great essay, Fidelia! I studied English Literature (including middle english and Chaucer) at university, but had completely forgotten the pardoner's tale. Wonderful parallels across a millenium of literary history!