Date of Award Perhaps due to its seemingly straightforward
religious nature, the Second Nun's Cecelia Legend in The
Canterbury Tales is often dismissed by scholars and readers
alike. However, through analyzing Chaucer's earlier analogues,
it becomes apparent that Chaucer has left out key pieces of the
Life of Saint Cecelia. These omissions can be explained as
attempts to illustrate the humanistic beliefs of both St.
Augustine and Christine de Pizan. Further, the etymology of key
words which appear in the "Second Nun's Prologue and Tale" help
to reinforce the satire which Chaucer creates. Chaucer has
deleted the humanism from the Saint Cecelia Legend in order to
illustrate the potential for the corruption of female virtue.
Flewellyn, Meghan, "Medieval Feminine Humanism and Geoffrey
Chaucer's Presentation of the Anti-Cecilia" (2009). University
of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. Paper 998.