The Canterbury Fails Wright's Chaste Wife
Jan 15, 2022
Dive into the whimsical world of a late Middle English poem featuring a magical garland that tests a daughter's fidelity. The hosts explore the enigmatic author Adam of Cobsem, dissecting themes of gender and labor as suitors find themselves trapped in a comical twist of fate. They pair the discussion with a refreshing rosewater gin fizz, drawing colorful comparisons between the cocktail and floral motifs in the tale. The conversation critiques poetic metrics while unraveling why this overlooked gem deserves more attention in classrooms.
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Probable Yorkist Dating
- The Rights Chaste Wife likely dates to the Yorkist period between 1461 and 1485 based on internal references.
- Dating shapes how we read its political symbolism, like white-rose imagery tied to Yorkist identity.
Part Of A Global Separation Tale Tradition
- The poem belongs to the long tradition of separation tales found from Sanskrit to the 1001 Nights.
- That pedigree situates the poem within a transregional narrative form, not a strictly English invention.
Cocktail Match: Rose Water Gin Fizz
- Matt Hussey pairs each poem with a themed cocktail and explains his choices for a rose water gin fizz here.
- He links gin to London origin, roses to the poem's imagery, and egg white foam to the poem's whipping of flax.