Astronomical References in Chaucer: What Can Modern Students Learn from Studying Ancient Texts?
One of the problems in the field of English literature studies is that, with compartmentalization and specialization, it becomes introspective to the point where it devolves into the study of metafiction and metacriticism. At its heart, however, literature has to be about something: Thackeray claim...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani)
2005-06-01
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| Series: | ELOPE |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.uni-lj.si/elope/article/view/3384 |
| _version_ | 1797949452769558528 |
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| author | Victor Kennedy |
| author_facet | Victor Kennedy |
| author_sort | Victor Kennedy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
One of the problems in the field of English literature studies is that, with compartmentalization and specialization, it becomes introspective to the point where it devolves into the study of metafiction and metacriticism. At its heart, however, literature has to be about something: Thackeray claimed its subject is human nature, but human nature is based in the interface between human and nature. This paper explores some of the problems in the interface between human knowledge, institutions, and nature, and will offer an example of cross-disciplinary, historical study to illustrate a well-known but, to most modern readers, impenetrable medieval text, Chaucer’s Treatise on the Astrolabe. It ends with three recommendations: look to history, cross boundaries between academic fields, and use practical, as well as theoretical, teaching methods.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T22:00:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6d54f53f91bf4cdf880d86cb99254ddb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1581-8918 2386-0316 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T22:00:52Z |
| publishDate | 2005-06-01 |
| publisher | University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | ELOPE |
| spelling | doaj.art-6d54f53f91bf4cdf880d86cb99254ddb2023-01-18T09:33:49ZengUniversity of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani)ELOPE1581-89182386-03162005-06-0121-210.4312/elope.2.1-2.139-154Astronomical References in Chaucer: What Can Modern Students Learn from Studying Ancient Texts?Victor Kennedy0University of Maribor One of the problems in the field of English literature studies is that, with compartmentalization and specialization, it becomes introspective to the point where it devolves into the study of metafiction and metacriticism. At its heart, however, literature has to be about something: Thackeray claimed its subject is human nature, but human nature is based in the interface between human and nature. This paper explores some of the problems in the interface between human knowledge, institutions, and nature, and will offer an example of cross-disciplinary, historical study to illustrate a well-known but, to most modern readers, impenetrable medieval text, Chaucer’s Treatise on the Astrolabe. It ends with three recommendations: look to history, cross boundaries between academic fields, and use practical, as well as theoretical, teaching methods. https://journals.uni-lj.si/elope/article/view/3384Chaucer astronomyastrologyastrolabe |
| spellingShingle | Victor Kennedy Astronomical References in Chaucer: What Can Modern Students Learn from Studying Ancient Texts? ELOPE Chaucer astronomy astrology astrolabe |
| title | Astronomical References in Chaucer: What Can Modern Students Learn from Studying Ancient Texts? |
| title_full | Astronomical References in Chaucer: What Can Modern Students Learn from Studying Ancient Texts? |
| title_fullStr | Astronomical References in Chaucer: What Can Modern Students Learn from Studying Ancient Texts? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Astronomical References in Chaucer: What Can Modern Students Learn from Studying Ancient Texts? |
| title_short | Astronomical References in Chaucer: What Can Modern Students Learn from Studying Ancient Texts? |
| title_sort | astronomical references in chaucer what can modern students learn from studying ancient texts |
| topic | Chaucer astronomy astrology astrolabe |
| url | https://journals.uni-lj.si/elope/article/view/3384 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT victorkennedy astronomicalreferencesinchaucerwhatcanmodernstudentslearnfromstudyingancienttexts |