Canterbury Tales Prologue
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Transcript Canterbury Tales Prologue
Canterbury Tales
Prologue
The character’s and their stereotypes:
revelations and perceptions*
Summaries borrowed from www.sparknotes.com
The Knight (lines 43-80)
Noble in battle—enjoys
adventure
The epitome of chivalry
Strong and brave
(especially to have
survived so many
battles—15 plus jousts—
always killed his man)
Wise
Modest “a true and
perfect gentle knight”
Has fine horses
Dresses in natural
clothing with smudges
Realistic/humanized
Going on the Pilgrimage
to show thanks to God
for his talents
Chaucer/the narrator admires the
Knight despite the decline of
chivalry. Most of his battles are
religious leading us to believe he is
a crusader.
Gossip!
You have 2 minutes to gossip with your
table mates about the traveler. Consider
discussing...
Your opinion of the traveler
If you would like to “get to know” them better
How you feel about them
Symbols that might represent them
REMEMBER TO STAY IN CHARACTER!
The most interesting table conversation will receive a prize at
the end of our presentation time!
The Knight (lines 43-80)
Noble in battle—enjoys
adventure
The epitome of chivalry
Strong and brave
(especially to have
survived so many
battles—15 plus jousts—
always killed his man)
Wise
Modest “a true and
perfect gentle knight”
Has fine horses
Dresses in natural
clothing with smudges
Realistic/humanized
Going on the Pilgrimage
to show thanks to God
for his talents
Chaucer/the narrator admires the
Knight despite the decline of
chivalry. Most of his battles are
religious leading us to believe he is
a crusader.
The Squire (lines 81-102)
The Knight’s son—
youthful (20 years old);
“lover” and “cadet”
Curly hair (as if pressed)
Does everything with a
passion
Destined to become just
like his father
Suggests he’s a dandy—
concerned with his looks
Served in the cavalry
and done valiantly
Likes to sing and write
songs
Contrasts with his father—the religious
chivalric knight—the squire is very
“romantic.” His dress is fancy and
there is a lot of social desire. Always
out to win his lady’s favor in the
cavalry. Chaucer is accepting of the
squire, but not admiring. He has
growing up to do, but will make a good
knight
The Yeoman (lines103121)
An attendant of the
Squire
Dressed in green;
carries peacock
arrows and a bow
and wears a bracelet
to protect his arm; a
sword; a shield; and
a dagger
Head like a nut
w/brown face
A hunter and
woodworker—attends
the Squire but has his
own personality
St. Christopher’s medal
Patron Saint of Travelers
Chaucer looks at the Yeoman
positively and uses no irony
in the description; Suggests
that like the Knight and the
Squire, the Yeoman is a
worthy occupation
Prioress (Nun)—(lines122168)
Eglentyen/sweetbriar
Exceptionally mannerly
when eating
Animal rights activist—
should be concerned with?
Coral trinket on her arm,
green prayer beads, “Love
Conquers all” on her golden
brooch suggests…
Rich tastes; worldliness
PEOPLE!
Sentimental and tender &
speaks elegant French
Smile is “simple and coy”;
“elegant” nose; “glass gray
eyes,”; small, soft, red
mouth suggests…
Perfect beauty
Irony of Chaucer: charity
should be for needy people,
but it is for animals; love is
very worldly rather than Amor
Dei, godly; expresses a desire
to show courtly manners,
rather than follow rules of
simplicity; expensive jewelry
suggests worldliness instead
of poverty.
The Monk (lines 169-211)
A Manly Man, fat,
prominent eyeballs,
supple boots, not pale,
Loves hunting & fine
food
Bridle “jingles”;
garnished sleeves; fine
tunic; owns many horses
and greyhounds;
suggests…
Wealth he should not
have
Ignores the rules of the
monastery
The Monk it Chaucer’s prologue
is corrupt; Loves good food,
expensive clothing and hunting
violate the monastic views of
poverty and simplicity and
displays no guilt. Hunting was a
big no-no for Monks.
•Irony: “finest sort”, suitable to
be an abbot, agrees with point of
view, “fair prelaat”
The Friar (lines 212-279)
Brother Hubert has a white
Knows the taverns and the
neck
barmaids well suggests…
Supports himself through
Took confessions—and
begging—well rehearsed and
pardons them…for a
spoken
“gift”…suggests…
He manipulates people’s
Loved among the rich land
desire to be good
owners; Only deals with the
rich; avoids the poor beggars Arbitrates disputes for a
fee
and lepers…suggests…
He is corrupt and only cares about
worldly things
Sings and plays hurdy-gurdy
and lisps to attract women
Fixes up many young
women…after giving them
lovely gifts…suggests…
He has seduced them first
Chaucer paints a picture of the
corrupt clergy
•Irony: “strong pillar of the church”,
calls him merry, sweet, pleasant and
worthy
Merchant (lines 280-294)
Split beard, assorted
dress, Flemish
beaver hat, buckled
boots.
An expert with
money and
exchanging money
In debt but no one
knows because he
“cooks the books”
Representative of the
middle class; is in debt but
pretends not to be an hides
it cleverly; Chaucer says
he is a worthy man—
respects the middle class
despite the deception
The Oxford Cleric (lines
295-318)
Still a student
Thin horse; thin, hollow,
sober staring man;
thread bare coat
Prefers books to clothes
“philosopher’s stone”
reference—myth of
philosophy
Formal and extremely
respectful—gladly learn
and teach
Idealized character- a serious
student who cars for little but
studying and is so poor he cant
even keep clothes on his back
or books on his tables; When
he speaks, he speaks with a
purpose and he always prays
for others. Forfeits worldly
pleasure for knowledge.
The Lawyer (lines 319341)
Expert lawyer with
great import
Offers himself as a
judge
Discreet and
cautious
Homely parti-colored
coat, girt with a
silken belt of pinstripe stuff
Irony: Chaucer makes a point to
comment on pretending as a part
of human nature and the Lawyer
believes he is much more
important than society really
views him.
The Franklin (lines 341379)
Daisy white beard,
cheerful
Always has food and
drink ready at his house
Parliamentary
representative for the
country
Had a dagger and a little
purse of silk—white as
morning milk
Sheriff he checked every
entry
The Franklin as a social climber
and spends most of his time
pretending he is better than he
is. He is a hedonist (pleasure is
all important). He loves happy
people who will eat and drink
with him.
The Craftsmen (lines 371388)
Carpenter, haberdasher,
dyer, weaver, tapestry
maker
Dressed more mightily
than their rank suggests
Wives follow behind with
and insist on being
called “Madam” while
their mantles are carried
like royalty
The craftsmen are treated as
a group and none is given of
single. Chaucer again is
making the point that people
like to pretend they are
better than they truly are and
he seems to satirize them
through their wives.
The Cook (lines 389-397)
Good cook who
makes thick soup—
had an ulcer on his
knee (a crusty sore)
Travels with the
guildsman
The Skipper (lines 498420)
Very good at his job
Rides well
Wears a dagger on his
neck
Tanned from the
summer heat
Steals wine from the
captain while the captain
sleeps
Owned the Maudelayne
The Doctor (lines 421-454)
Talks really well about
medicine as related to
astronomy
Practice magic and medicine
according to the stars
Did not read the Bible but
knew all about Greek
mythology
Wore blood-red garments
with bluish-gray lines
Had a special love for gold
The doctor knew his art well,
which he used to his advantage
by making sure he could make
a profit by manipulating the
facts in cahoots with the
apothecaries. Suggests he is
very greedy, but is very
stereotypical of the doctors of
the time.
The Wife of Bath (lines
455-486)
Somewhat deaf
Makes wool
Gets married a lot (5
times already)
Wore scarlet red hose
and tight garter; bold,
handsome, red face with
a gap in her teeth
Been on many
pilgrimages
Knows everything about
love
Thinks of herself as the
best person and dresses
boldly. Gap toothed person
in the Middle Ages is very
lucky and travels far and
wide. She knows how to
enjoy herself and brags
about knowing the cure for
loves. Character appeals
for the liberation of
women—but she can be
offensive
Irony: “Amor Remedia”
rather than “Ars Amatoria”
(remedy over art)
The Parson (lines 487-438)
Rich in spirit, but
monetarily poor
Gives his own goods
to his people and
calls on people no
mater what
Always fair and wise
Always follows what
is right
Idealized figure: devoid of any
irony or satire. The most virtuous
of all the pilgrims but serves as a
criticism of the priests in the
Middle Ages. Opposed to
excommunicating poor
parishioners who could not pay
their tithes to the church and
sometimes gives his own money
to the poor even though he has
very little. Chaucer uses the
imagery of a shepherd tending
his flock because of his virtue. An
ideal stereotype of what
priesthood should be—contrast
to other religious figures
The Plowman ( lines 539555)
The Parson’s
brother, works hard
and honestly for his
living
Wears a tabard
(loose jacket) smock
and rode a mare
Idealized character—industrious
and a hard worker who lives in
peace and always helps out his
neighbors. He loves God and
always pays his tithes. Chaucer
admires his pride and is calling.
The Miller (lines 561-584)
Robin weighs 224 lbs,
very strong and wins at
wrestling because he
broad, knotty and shortshouldered; can heave a
door off its hinges
Wart on his nose; nostrils
were black and wide;
mouth like a furnace door
Carries a sword and
buckler; wears a hood of
blue and a white coat and
plays bagpipes (Irish
descent)
Representation of a dishonest
man; he is a rich and makes as
much of his own profits as he can;
physical description is
representative of his personality:
shameless, wordy, quarrelsome,
deceitful and lecherous. He steals
grain and yet has a golden thumb
Irony: “golden thumb” increases
his own profits only
Manciple (lines 585-604)
Buyer of provisions
for a college or court
Watches the market
precisely
Illiterate but outwits
the educated
As dishonest as the Miller and
always makes a profit on his
purchases
Irony: praise of financial
wisdom that enables him to
trick the wise of the country—
professional malpractice
The Reeve (lines 605-640)
Oswald—slender and
choleric; closely shaven
beard; shorn hair
abruptly stops above his
ears; docked on top like
a priest; chicken legs;
Wears an overcoat of
blue; has a rusty blade
at his side
Manages the estates of
wealthy land owners
Steals from the estate
Learned carpentry
Choleric temper and slender
legs indicate a lecherous
character; inferior position
indicated by facial hair; he is
deceitful because he cheats his
lord and blackmails the others
in the county and everyone
fears him as a result. He is
richer than his lord and lends
him money.
The Summoner (lines 641688)
Fire0red cherubinnish face with
pus-filled boils all over; has
narrow eyes and is lecherous;
black scabby brows and a thin
beard and his appearance scares
small kids
Loves garlic, onions and leeks as
well as strong wine and only
speaks in Latin when he is drunk
Blackmails everyone he can
Wore garland on his head
Allows sinners to keep mistresses
for a year in return for wine—likely
he commits the same sin
illiterate
Responsible for summoning
sinners before the church courts
but Chaucer shows extreme
loathing for the character; grouped
with the pardoner—also hated by
Chaucer; physical deformities
represent an awful soul
Sarcasm: approval of the
summoner “friendlier rascal”
The Pardoner (lines 689734)
Compared to
Summoner—together
they sing a song about
lustful love
Has yellow waxy hair
hanging down on his
head thin like rat-tails;
has bulging eyeballs;
small voice like a goat;
no beard
Wore a little cap
Personification of evil; sells holy
relics and favors to pardon people
form all their sins to ensure
purgatory; extorts money from
people by preaching against having
money; has repulsive physical
features; special skill is singing at
the offertory to extract money.
Sarcastic tone rather than subtle
irony
The Host (lines767-803)
Harry Bailey is
friendly, agreeable,
and sensible
very warm and inviting
Offers the story telling
contest to the pilgrims
Joins them on the
quest to serve as a
mediator
Chaucer
Author and appears as a pilgrim through
the narrative
Functions as a naïve narrator and the
guide on the way to Canterbury and we
learn about his society through the irony
and sarcasm he relates through the tales
and stories. His tone requires careful
reflection
Good Guys
Knight
Squire
Yeoman
Merchant
Oxford Cleric
Parson
Plowman
Host
Bad Guys
Nun
Monk
Friar
Lawyer
Franklin
Craftsmen
Cook
Skipper
Doctor
Wife of Bath
Miller
Manciple
Reeve
Summoner
Pardoner
“The Ship of Fools”
Good Guys
Knight
Squire
Yeoman
Merchant
Oxford Cleric
Parson
Plowman
Host
Bad Guys
Nun
Monk
Friar
Lawyer
Franklin
Craftsmen
Cook
Skipper
Doctor
Wife of Bath
Miller
Manciple
Reeve
Summoner
Pardoner
How can Chaucer’s
Pilgrims be seen as a
“ship of fools”?
Give examples.
Feudalism
Orare:
those who pray
Pugnare:
Those who fight
Labore:
Those who
work
Chaucer’s society
is…
How does this compare to our own?
Explain your response by using specific
comparisons between our stereotypes
and Chaucer’s