It was not only Chaucer who read Ovid’s love poetry; every educated person with the slightest interest in the subject did so. Unfortunately much of his humor was lost on Medieval interpreters, and they often discussed his ideas over-seriously in the context which came to be known as “courtly love”–a concept which would have been alien–and ridiculous–to Ovid.

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About these Study Guides

1) Some of them provide background to help readers understand what they are reading and why they are reading it (the historical status of the works).

2) They provide useful information, explaining allusions, obscure terms, etc. in the texts and provide translations of passages written in languages other than English.

3) They try to focus students’ attention on issues that we will discuss in class.

It is the only poem I have ever read that motivated me to run out and chase skirt.