Chaucer's Literary Soundscapes in the College Classroom

Chaucer's poetic works are full of references to sound and music, incorporated variously as part of thematization, characterization, and rhetorical structure. Attending to Chaucer's repeated interest in sound in his poetry allows scholars and students to consider how the field of literary sound studies can be applied to these works, providing another point of access for students as they become acquainted with and interrogate Chaucer’s poetry. For those interested in trying this approach to teaching Chaucer in the college classroom, this essay provides resources for instructors and students, including an overview of the field of literary sound studies, its intersection with Chaucer’s poetry, and two sample activities for use in both undergraduate and graduate courses.