Likely the second of four poems Geoffrey Chaucer composed in the form of a dream, The House of Fame has delighted readers with its experimental, funny, but ultimately oblique reflections on the art of poetry. Divided into three books, it recounts the dream journey of a narrator pointedly named “Geffrey” (729) as he travels in search of stories (“tydynges”) to use in his poetry. Chaucer’s most bookish poem raises questions about the “truth” of history, the value of poetry, the accuracy of interpretation, and the vicissitudes of fame and textual transmission without offering any clear answers.
Genre, History, and Manuscripts
The House of Fame, a philosophical …
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Citation: Smith, Nathanial B.. "The House of Fame". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 08 February 2019 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=520, accessed 21 November 2024.]