Hey Maraio, that's a really big question and I'm about to go out, so can't give a detailed answer. You're right there isn't much online material, you really need a good edition of the Canterbury Tales (eg the Cambridge one) which includes notes and guidance. Some points to consider on style are: Use of iambic pentameter/rhyming couplets to create a flowing narrative (ie you often don't notice that it's in rhyme when you read it - think about how he achieves this); humour and irony which are very important in Chaucer; variety of styles and genres ( eg romance, fabliau, allegory, sermon...); contrast and juxtaposition, eg the very serious with the comic, often in a pair of lines; use of striking images et of nature, animals etc ; and sound (if you don't have a recording of Chaucer being read aloud, eg Trevor Eaton, then you need one - it's impossible to get a feel for his style without knowing what Middle English sounded like.)
That's all I can find off the top of my head - good luck, and hope the Plath went well.

Hi, what a shame especially when you were well prepared. But everybody has one or two bad experiences with public speaking (the first time I gave one, I was so nervous I just couldn't stop laughing! Got a pretty poor grade.) I'm no expert on presentations but I do know that, next to preparing the material, practising giving the talk is the most important thing, especially the opening words. Knowing how you will start is a huge help. Then remember to breathe slowly and deeply, allow yourself to pause if you need to think - and always stand tall. Oh, and try to look and sound as if you're really interested in the material - imagine you have something to tell your audience that you know they will enjoy hearing (without sounding like a salesman!) Hope this helps and good luck with the next one

Hey Maraio, glad the presentation went well. I have read both the Rape of the Lock and Doctor Faustus - years ago now though I do remember seeing a brilliant stage production of Dr F. Hope you're enjoying both of them.

Hi Maraio, as far as I remember the play Oedipus is seen as a proof that you can't escape your fate, so I might agree with you. But there is also the idea of the 'tragic flaw' - that a man brings about his own destruction through flaws in his own character. You could say O shows wilfulness, arrogance etc in the Laius episode and others. I tried Googling 'Oedipus free will' and you get a lot of ideas that way - here is one example www.planetpapers.com but there were lots of others. Sparknotes is always good too. Hope you get this in time and it's of some use - good luck

60 sounds about right ... I just found my old MA thesis and there are over 30 authors listed on that - though of course with a lot of the background references you only need a couple of chapters or some sources are just journal articles or whatever. But I think you are right, you would have to really love reading - and enjoy critical writing as well as literature itself. If you do love reading and are analytical, an English masters is great fun. Hope this helps.