In brief
Two Cambridge scholars propose a correction to a long-standing error that may unravel the mystery behind "Tale of Wade," revealing its connections to chivalric tales rather than supernatural themes.
In the 14th century, readers would have understood Geoffrey Chaucer's references to a lost story known as the "Tale of Wade." Today, however, the narrative remains puzzling, known only through a fragmentary quote from a 12th-century sermon. Cambridge University academics James Wade and Seb Falk have published new findings, arguing that a scribe’s significant error might hide the key to this mystery.The scholars suggest that the surviving lines allude to a character surrounded not by supernatural elves, as previously thought, but rather by wolves. This correction implies that Wade is more closely associated with the traditions of knightly love narratives, resonating better with the themes found in Chaucer's "Troilus and Criseyde" and the “Canterbury Tales.” Published in "The Review of English Studies," the research provides a fresh perspective on a medieval tale once thought lost to time, potentially enhancing our comprehension of Chaucer's literary landscape.
