Abstract
Two major works of literature, Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales and Attar’s The Conference of the Birds , display a number of strikingly similarities, in addition to a number of prominent differences. This paper tries to shed light on similarities and differences between these two works; therefore, the story direction, narrative techniques, characterization techniques, and settings of both works are compared. The results shows that both authors used figurative pilgrimage or journey as the mean for self knowledge, both works are the collections of stories that all fit in a larger story and characters present their true personalities through their speeches and their clothes or appearances; Meanwhile The ideas which each author attempts to impart to his readers differ greatly from each other. Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales shows the Roman Catholic influences in England society, while Attar’s book is influenced by Islamic and Sufism values and principles of his period.
Highlights
Comparative literature is the study of nations' literature and other cultural expressions across languages and cultural boundaries
Social and historical issues of the nations appear in their literary works; Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales is reflective of the Roman Catholic influence in England during his lifetime, while Attar’s The Conference of the Birds is based on the doctrine propounded by the mystics of Islam
Each answer usually contains with two or three stories which illustrate the particular point the hoopoe is making; the stories are linked together by admonition and commentary (Davis, 1984). Attar divides his poem into forty five articles which can be presented as follow: 1- introducing eleven of thirty birds which are the most important characters of the poem, 2Describing birds gathering and acknowledging the need to have a king, 3- Hoopoe’s speech about Simorgh and the necessity of joining him, 4- birds excuses and objections to the journey and Hoopoe’s reply to each one, 5- Starting the journey and seven valleys description and difficulties, 6- Reaching Qaf mountain and discovering Simorgh
Summary
Comparative literature is the study of nations' literature and other cultural expressions across languages and cultural boundaries. This article attempts to portray and analyze the similarities and differences of the two great literary works in English and Persian Literature; The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer and The Conference of the Birds by Attar Neishabouri. None of these authors ever met or read each other’s works but after close reading of both texts, one can find striking similarities in their writing style, mood, characterization and perspectives. Constance Woo and William Mathews (1970), discussed the concept of journey in The Canterbury Tales in an article entitled "The Spiritual Purpose of the Canterbury Tales"; According to them Journey is an important motif in a wide range of medieval texts.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
