ABSTRACT
John's borrowings are different to Chaucer's but the effect he aims at is the same, in so far as he encourages his reader to think critically about those borrowings, rather than accept them passively as authorities:
The material is intended to be 'helpful' in the sense that it encourages the young courtier to think critically about court culture, its narratives and practices, and to exercise sound judgement, which enforces a stable sense of self. Chaucer's method is different in that he is writing in the form of verse, and therefore providing aesthetic delight for his audience is also a major part of his authorial intention. Entertainment is certainly a major factor in the process of reading as it is presented to us via the narrator.
