Chaucer’s Tale of Sir Thopas

Chaucer’s Tale of Melibee-a close translation of Renaud de Louens’ Livre de Melibée et de Dame Prudence (c. 1336).

-Renaud’s Livre is a translation of Albertanus of Brescia’s moral treatise, Liber consolationis et consilii (1246)

“a moral tale vertuous”• What is the right and just response to insult and injury?

– And what makes it difficult to respond rightly and justly?• What is the difference between just punishment and

vengeance?• What is the difference between submitting to “maistrie”

versus good council?• How can one tell the difference between good and bad

council?• How does one find the truth among a diversity of

perspectives? (“Diverse folk diversely they seyde” [I.3857].)