ENGL 442 Chapter Notes - Chapter excerpts: Geoffrey Chaucer, Sir Orfeo
Document Summary
9:17 am: the harp plays an integral role in the story - it represents an innocence free from the sensuality of other worldly instruments of the time. The fact that orpheus is able to sway the fairy king by his playing plays up this christian ideal of the harp as an innocent piece that ignores the sensual sound of other instruments. This ultimately leads to him getting his wife back: it"s interesting to note that for a hero orpheus does not actively search for his wife or do anything particularly courageous. He stumbles upon her and ultimately wins her back without actively having done so save following her out of his obsession: the idea of metamorphosis plays an important role. The king does not look himself upon his return as he has been in the wilderness for years.
