Chaucerian Obscenity

ABSTRACT This introduction outlines the scope of this special issue on “Chaucerian Obscenity,” which looks closely at the phenomenon of obscenity in Chaucer’s works and uncovers some of the history of how obscenity is and has been judged to be Chaucerian since his death in 1400. In addition to short descriptions of the articles included in this issue, the introduction explores the complications of defining what obscenity is, as well as the question of what constitutes obscenity.