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THOPAS is the hero of The Tale of Sir Thopas, Chaucer's parody of the romances current in his day. He is named for the semiprecious stone topaz, which, in medieval lapidaries, was linked to all the virtues, including chastity. It was prized among the nobility in Chaucer's day. Sir Thopas is to other splendid knights of renowned romances as the topaz is to other gems. [Beves: Gy: Horn: Lybeux: Oliphant: Percyvell: Pleyndamour: Termagaunt: Ypotis]

Thopas occurs seven times in medial positions, Thop 724, 750, 772, 778, 827, 836, 891; and twice in final rhyming position, Thop 717, 830.


J. Conley, "The Peculiar Name Sir Thopas." SP 73 (1976): 42-61; A.T. Gaylord, "The Moment of Sir Thopas: Towards a New Look at Chaucer's Language." ChauR 16 (1981-1982): 311-329; A.S. Haskell, "Sir Thopas: The Puppet's Puppet." ChauR 9 (1974-1975): 253-261.
From CHAUCER NAME DICTIONARY
Copyright © 1988, 1996 Jacqueline de Weever
Published by Garland Publishing, Inc., New York and London.

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