Summary of "The Book of the Duchess" by Geoffrey Chaucer:

Summary of "The Book of the Duchess" by Geoffrey Chaucer:

The poem begins with the narrator, who is suffering from insomnia, reading a book to pass the time. He comes across a story about the death of a beautiful woman, which prompts him to fall asleep and dream.

In his dream, the narrator finds himself in a beautiful garden where he encounters a grieving knight dressed in black. The knight is mourning the death of his beloved lady, whom he refers to as the Duchess. He describes her beauty and virtues in great detail.

As the knight continues to lament, the narrator asks him to tell the story of his lost love. The knight explains that he and the Duchess were deeply in love, and she was his source of joy and happiness. However, she fell ill and eventually passed away, leaving him heartbroken.

The knight's grief is palpable as he recounts the memories of his time with the Duchess. He expresses his sorrow and longing for her, describing the impact her death has had on him.

The dream ends with the knight bidding farewell to the narrator, who wakes up from his dream feeling both sympathetic and touched by the knight's story.

In summary, "The Book of the Duchess" is a dream-vision poem where the narrator encounters a grieving knight who mourns the loss of his beloved Duchess. Through the knight's recounting of his love and loss, the poem explores themes of love, grief, and the transient nature of life.