Controversy Over Trigger Warning On ‘The Canterbury Tales’ Erupts At University

A controversy has erupted after Nottingham University placed a trigger warning on Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales due to its “expressions of Christian faith.” Critics have slammed the decision, arguing that the warning diminishes the importance of one of the most significant works of English literature.

The warning, which was issued as part of the Chaucer and His Contemporaries module, alerted students to themes of violence, mental illness, and Christian content. Many are surprised that a university would need to warn students about Christian references in a medieval work centered on a religious pilgrimage.

The Canterbury Tales, written between 1387 and 1400, follows a group of pilgrims traveling to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. While the stories include controversial themes like anti-Semitism and sexual misconduct, the university chose to focus its warning on the religious elements.

Frank Furedi, an emeritus professor of sociology, criticized the university’s decision, stating that it is “weird” to warn students about expressions of Christian faith in a medieval text. He believes this reflects more about modern academic trends than the needs of students studying historical works.

Nottingham University defended the warning, claiming it promotes inclusivity and helps students from different backgrounds engage with the text. A university spokesperson suggested that even Christians might find some aspects of the medieval worldview portrayed in the tales to be unfamiliar or unsettling.

However, many scholars argue that the trigger warning is unnecessary and undermines the academic study of classic literature. Historian Jeremy Black criticized the university for reducing education to a “tick-box” exercise, catering to modern sensibilities rather than engaging students with the historical context of the work.