Transcript The Friar: Canterburry Tales

Friar
The Canterbury Tales
Ashley Patrick 3A
What is a Friar?
Friar• A member of a religious
group sworn to poverty and
living off of charitable
donations to give back to
the poor.
• Also known as a Wanton.
What is a Friar?
• “In all four orders”
(L214).
1. Dominican
2. Franciscan
3. Carmelite
4. Augustinian
What is a Friar?
• A limiter was a friar
licensed to beg in a
limited area.
• Some Friars were able
to take confessions.
– Confessions are church
rites in which people
confess their sins
St. Francis
St. Francis
• Founder of the
Franciscan order of
Friars
• Known as one of the first
Friars
• Decided to live in
poverty in order to help
the poor and spend time
with them
• Most Friars aspired to be
like St. Francis
Hubert, the Friar
Hubert: Character Traits
• Physical Appearance
– “neck was whiter than a lily-flower” (L242)
– Wore expensive clothing
• “But much more like a Doctor or Pope of doubleworsted was the semi-cope”(L269-L270)
– Double-worsted- a strong, fairly costly fabric made from s
tightly twisted woolen yarn
– Semi-cope- a short cloak
Hubert: Character Traits
• A cheerful person
– “a wanton one and merry” (L212)
• Wanton- playful and joyful
– “festive fellow” (L213)
– “There was none so mellow” (L214)
– “H lisped a little out of wantonness” (L274)
• Sweet Talker and Well-Spoken
– “with gallant phrase and well-turned speech” (L215)
– His voice was “gay and sturdy” (L239)
• Female Friendly
– “He kept his tippet stuffed with pins for curls, and pocket
knives, to give to pretty girls” (L237-L238)
• The Friar is very flirtatious when it comes to woman, and would
give attractive woman random gifts
Hubert: Character Traits
• Crafty- Hubert was a very convincing beggar
– “He was the finest beggar of his batch” (L256)
• Hubert was one of the “best” Friars.
– “For though a widow mightn’t have a shoe…Before he
life, and so his income came” (L259-L262)
• Illustrates Hubert’s convincing nature by telling the reader
he could make a widow give up all she had left to him.
– “Therefore instead of weeping and of prayer, One
should give silver for a poor Friar’s care” (L235-L236)
Hubert: Character Traits
• Surrounded by the 1st estate (upper class/wealthy
people)
– Hubert thought that it was “not fitting with the
dignity” (L248) to hang out with the lower class or
“deal with a scum of wretched lepers” (L249-250)
• However, Hubert is supposed to surround himself with the
beggars and poor people
– “highly beloved and intimate was he with county folk
within his boundary, city dames of honor and
possessions” (L219-221)
– “and should he give enough” (L231)
• The friar gave leniency towards someone's sins if they gave
more money
Hubert: Character Traits
• Popular with the inns and bars of the town
– “He knew the taverns well in every town…better than
the lepers, and beggars and that crew” (L244-246)
• The bar and inn was where the Friar spent most of his money
• Musical Ability
– “For he sang well and played the hurdy gurdy” (L240)
• Hurdy gurdy- a stringed musical instrument, similar to a flute.
Played by turning a crank while pressing down keys
– “At sing-songs he was the champion of the hour”
(L241)
IRONY
• Chaucer portrays the Friar as a corrupt church
official who has selfish, self-centered behaviors.
– But Hubert, the Friar, tries to portray a “St. Francis
persona”
• The friar is supposed to be excluded to a life of poverty and
begging for the poor
• The friar is supposed to surround himself with the poor
• The friar is supposed to dress like the poor
– Corruption in confession
• Instead of collecting money for the church/poor, he wages
people a (high) amount of money in exchange for
forgiveness of their sins
Estate Satire
• Chaucer’s treatment of Hubert, the Friar,
portrays his opinions on the corruption within
the church due to social class standards
– Hubert, the Friar, is portrayed as a negative
character.
– The friar’s social class rankings are not of a true
Friar.
Discussion Question
• How does the Friar morally fit into the
Canterbury Tales? What key role do you think
he will play in the rest of the story?