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“ Prologue” to The Canterbury Tales

“ Prologue” to The Canterbury Tales. Purpose. Spring – rebirth, Pilgrimage to Canterbury Pay homage to the martyr Saint Thomas a Becket Tales characters create to pass the time. Purpose. Characters = various aspects of society Presented in order of their rank

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“ Prologue” to The Canterbury Tales

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  1. “Prologue” to The Canterbury Tales

  2. Purpose • Spring – rebirth, Pilgrimage to Canterbury • Pay homage to the martyr Saint Thomas a Becket • Tales characters create to pass the time

  3. Purpose • Characters = various aspects of society • Presented in order of their rank • Each pilgrim tells four stories

  4. Terms • Satire – a humorous writing or speech intended to point out errors in order to reform human behavior or human institutions. • Physiognomy - the art of determining character or personal characteristics from the form or features of the body, esp. of the face. (dictionary. COM)

  5. Terms • Frame structure & Frame Tale – a story that provides a vehicle for the telling of other stories • Characterization – the use of literary techniques to create a character. Indirect & Direct? • Irony – a difference between appearance and reality.

  6. Setting & Narrator • Southwark, The Tabbard Inn • 29 travelers • Narrator (+ 1) – meets travelers and will go on pilgrimage with them • Offers descriptions of each of the travelers

  7. Setting & Narrator • Will be repeating the tales of everyone • Going to speak plainly • “The word should be as cousin to the deed” – Narrator quotes Plato

  8. Knight • An honored fighter…he always wins • Dress – shabby and stained • Sin?

  9. Squire • Son of the Knight • 20 yrs. Old • Danced, wrote poetry, sang • Lover (“He slept as little as a nightingale” • What is his motive for following his father? • Sin?

  10. Yeoman • With the Knight and the Squire • Dress of the forester – bright green, geared up for hunting • Sin?

  11. Nun, Prioress • Mother Superior; had another Nun and 3 Priests • Feigned knowing French – knowing French would mean having status • How did she eat? • Courtliness – politely or flatteringly • Counterfeit courtly grace - clumsy • Physical Features – fat, ugly • Jewelry – bright and expensive • Amor vincitomnia – Love conquers all • Sin?

  12. Monk • Hunting regularly • Strict with his religious duties? - “took the modern world’s more spacious way” • Sin?

  13. Friar • Wanton – extravagant, unrestrained • “knew taverns” • “giving each/Of his young women what he could afford/Her” – fascinated with women (lustful) • Good beggar • Where is the money going? = Sin?

  14. Merchant • Stately, rich in dress • “In solemn tones, he harped on his increase/Of capital” – talked about all of his assets (money) • “none knew he was in debt” • Sin?

  15. Oxford Cleric • Very skinny…sickly, weak • Couldn’t work in Church or outside of Church • What did he actually do with his time? • What should he be doing? • Sin?

  16. Sergeant at the Law • Lawyer • “He was less busy than he seemed to be” – feigning being busy…why?...sin?

  17. Franklin • Landowner; dressed well (colorful) • Dagger and purse – some sort of threatening nature • What is the contrast that exists in this character? • If he’s a social-climber, what’s his sin?

  18. Guildsmen • Tradesmen • What are their aspirations? – to be aldermen • Tools were all polished, perfect, and matching • Wives – stately airs; showing off their place at Church • What is their sin?

  19. Cook • Are the foods listed difficult recipes? • Ulcer – disgusting element to someone that makes delicious foods • He is not so appetizing to see = irony • Sin?

  20. Skipper • Captain of a ship • Enjoyed drinking – “Many a draft of yellow and red/He’d drawn at Bordeaux” • “The nicer rules of conscience he ignored” – what does this mean? • Harsh and unforgiving - “He sent his prisoner’s home; they walked the plank” – What is “home” here? • Sin?

  21. Doctor • Guile – slyness & cunning • “….each make money from the other’s guile” – who were all the people involved in the guile? • Did not read Bible – what is the irony in his attendance on this particular trip? • “Gold stimulates the heart, or so we’re told./He therefore had a special love of gold.” • What are the Doctor’s vices (bad habits/sins)?

  22. Wife of Bath • Excellent seamstress • What would upset her at the altar? What would she do if she didn’t get her way? • Men? – plenty of experience! • Gap-teeth – gluttonous • Self-proclaimed “love doctor”

  23. Parson • Poor • Knew and taught the Bible • “Nay rather he preferred beyond a doubt/Giving to poor parishioners round about/Both from Church offerings and his property” – Where would he get the money from to give to the poor?

  24. Parson • “This noble example to his sheep he gave/That first he wrought, and afterwards he taught;/And it was from the Gospel he had caught/Those words, and he would add this figure too,/That if gold rust, what then will iron do?” • What is the Parson’s ideal in this passage? • What literary device does he use to portray it? • “Christ and His Twelve Apostles and their love/He taught, but followed it himself before”

  25. Plowman • Worked in fields: tilled soil, planted corn, made manure, dug ditches • “….and, as prompt as any,/He paid his tithes in full when they were due/On what he owned, and on his earnings too” • What is his sin?

  26. Miller • Stout and red-headed • “His was master-hand at stealing grain” - How would he steal it? • Sin?

  27. Manciple • Victuals – food supplies • Illiterate – can’t read • Gifted at the market • How does Chaucer compare the Manciple to the men that he works for (lawyers)? • Sin?

  28. Reeve • He was in charge of the farming of his landowners • He was knowledgeable in every aspect of his job and could not be swindled • Had his own staff of riches; How did he use them? (How was his lord involved?) • Sin?

  29. Summoner • Ugly – “His face on fire…/for he had carbuncle. His eyes were narrow…/Black scabby brows he had, and a thin beard./Children were afraid when he appeared”; puss-filled pimples • Drunk & loud • Lines 660-663 – How does Chaucer describe this man’s talents?

  30. Summoner • “Why he’d allow-just for a quart of wine-/any good lad to keep a concubine [(whore)]/A twelvemonth [(year)] and dispense [(to grant exemption from a law or promise)] him altogether!” • “He knew their secrets, they did what he said.” - Blackmail

  31. Pardoner • Stringy, blonde hair; hare-like eyeballs • “He’d sewed a holy relic on his cap;/His wallet lay before him on his lap” – What do you think this juxtaposition means? • “For in his trunk he had a pillow-case/Which he asserted was Our Lady’s [Mary’s] veil” – What is the truth about the relics? • Taught lessons well!

  32. Host • Delicious food and amenities • Fair, fun man • Comes up with the contest • Acts as their “Governor”

  33. Contest • Two stories there • Two stories back • Best tale (good morality and pleasure) gets a free supper • Host = judge (will join the pilgrimage) • Don’t play by rules = paying for expenses on trip (everyone’s) • Draw straws to see who goes first - Knight

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