LeakyCon 2014

Geoffrey Chaucer and J.K. Rowling have something in common: both of these authors rely strongly on alchemical imagery to construct their plots and establish their thematic elements. This panel will explore the symbols of alchemy used in Fragment VIII of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. The Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale and the Second Nun’s Tale utilize parallel alchemical structures that suggest a motif of spiritual superiority over the materialistic physical realm. This structure will be likened to the overarching alchemical architecture of the Hogwarts Saga, displaying how Rowling, as a modern author, harnessed the literary strategy of the Father of English Literature.