May in January's Tree: Genealogical Configuration in the Merchant's Tale

• Published in: The Chaucer review Vol. 45; no. 1; pp. 106 - 117
• Main Author: Blamires, Alcuin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: University Park Penn State University Press 01.01.2010; Pennsylvania State University Press
• Subjects: Literary criticism; Medieval literature

The episode of copulation between May and Damyan in a fruit tree at the end of the Merchant's Tale has by no means been neglected by critics, though they have often been reduced to coyness in writing of it. For instance, they soften the brazenness of sex in a tree with periphrases, writing obli...