Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales English 12

Vocabulary lines 1-121 • liquor- fluid • engendering- bring into existence, produce • heath- moor, open wasteland • palmer- pilgrim returning from the Holy Land bringing a palm branch as a token; an emblem • strands- shores; land bordering water

hallow- honor as holy or sacred • shire- counties Great Britain is divided into • wend- direct • hostelry- inn or hotel • sundry- various, several • degree- rank

lists- place where knights fight tournaments • van- the front part of an advancing group • boorish- like a boar; rude, rustic • fustian- a coarse, heavy cloth made of cotton and flax used for clothing in the Middle Ages • yeoman- a person who owned land, but not a large amount, and usually farmed it himself.

Setting pg. 97 • early April • destination: St. Thomas Becket’s tomb in Canterbury • the narrator meets with the group at the Tabard (a famous inn at the beginning of the road from London to Canterbury) • narrator joins the 29 and takes it upon himself to offer the introductions

The Knight pg. 97-98 • characterized by chivalry, truth, honor, generousness, courtesy, and modesty. • fought in the war • has traveled to faraway places • Crusades, 15 battles, 3 competitions • his clothing is somewhat plain and rough

Squire pg. 98 • squire- a young man learning to be a knight through service • son of the knight • around 20 yrs. old, curly hair • dedicated to military training and courtly love • fought in the cavalry in battles closer to home

vain: Chaucer pokes fun at his vanity in wearing bright and stylish clothing & his acting the role of the lover • knows courtly customs how to ride, sing, write, joust, draw etc.

Yeoman pg. 99 • a freeman and a commoner, servant to the Knight • dressed in “a coat and hood of green” • dressed well, somewhat weathered • knows woodcraft • wears a St.Christopher medal patron saint of travelers and foresters

efficient • well-equipped as a yeoman • voc- • brace- armor for the arm • dirk- dagger • baldrick- leather belt worn from one shoulder to the opposite side of the body

Prioress pg. 99 • title means a religious woman who runs a convent • Madam Eglantyne sweet briar • meek, doesn’t swear “By St. Loy!” • courtly posing • speaks inferior French taught to her in an English convent

excellent table manners • “straining/ To counterfeit a courtly kind of grace” (line 142-3). • very emotional, concerned (mice) • she keeps small dogs (though she was not supposed to) • her physical description (lines 155) • her dress seems to be a mix of the courtly and the religious • “Amor vincit omnia” a gold brooch with an ambiguous motto • with her are a nun and one priest

vocabulary: • withal- in spite of all; nevertheless • solicitous- showing care or concern; anxious • span- the distance between the tip of the thumb and the tip of the little finger when the hand is spread out; about nine inches.

Monk pg. 100 • loves to hunt could have been an Abbot • St. Benedict, St. Maur, St. Augustine all had rules/ opinions • the Monk doesn’t value studying books in cloisters or manual labor • he owns greyhounds • dresses well (fur, boots) • bald & fat

vocabulary: • course- race; run; hunt with dogs • garnished- decoration, trim • prelate- member of the clergy of high rank, such as a bishop • palfrey- a gentle riding horse, especially one used by women

Friar pg. 100-101 • named Hubert • mellow, ill-behaved (loves $ and women), articulate and charming • spends a lot of his time with the prominent citizens • absolution for a price • light with his penances (in order to get more $)

if a sinner gives a lot of $ the Friar takes it as a sign they are being sincere • doesn’t deal with lepers and “slum-and-gutter dwellers” • an amazing beggar (ex: widow) • most likely based on a real-life character

vocabulary: • shrift- confession of one’s sins to a priest, followed by the granting of forgiveness • shriven- pardon after confessing • verity- truth • tippet- long, narrow, hanging part of a hood, sleeve or scarf • hurdy- gurdy- stringed instrument

eminent- outstanding, prominent • accrue- come as a natural product or result • farthing- a former British coin equal to ¼ a British penny • wantonness- recklessness; not restrained

Merchant pg. 102 • dressed very well • speaks “in solemn tones” about important topics • makes sure that no one knows he is deeply in debt • motley- cloth woven with a figured design

Oxford Cleric p. 102 • a cleric is any divinity student, not necessarily a priest • owns a thin horse, clothes look worn (poverty) • prefers owning 20 books to other material goods • borrows $ for more books • respectful, virtuous • psaltery- stringed instrument

Sergeant at the Law pg. 102-103 • one of the king’s legal servants; only about 20 existed in Chaucer’s day • an expert in real-estate law and acquiring land • “He was less busy than he seemed to be” (332). • knows every judgment since King William’s time • not very well dressed • assize- session of a court of law • screeds- writing

Franklin pg. 103 • “free man”, wealthy landowner • loved to eat, drink and provide for his guests • known for his hospitality • Member for the Shire • sanguine- cheerful and hopeful; healthy red color • bream- freshwater fish related to the carp

Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter, Weaver & Carpet Maker pg. 103 • the Guildsmen • new-looking clothing • silver, not brass on their knives • trying to appear like burgesses or aldermen • have wives who also want to rise socially

vocabulary: • livery- any special uniform adopted by any group or profession • avouch- declare positively to be true • burgess- citizen of an English borough • dais- a raised platform

The Cook pg. 104 • a good cook • good at distinguishing tastes • has an open sore on his knee • voc: • blancmange- chicken stew

Skipper pg. 104 • tanned • deals in wines (Bordeaux) , steals wines • from Dartmouth • made prisoners walk the plank • widely traveled • his barge = the Maudelayne • lanyard- loose cord around the neck to hang a knife or whistle

Doctor pg. 104 • believes in astrology, charms etc. • studies the elements (earth air, fire, water) & the humors • makes $ with the apothecaries • well-read in his profession • doctors had a reputation for free-thinking and impiety (didn’t read the Bible)

wears “blood-red garments, slashed with bluish gray and lined with taffeta” • loves gold…as a cure?!? (he keeps it instead) • voc: • ascendant- moving upward; controlling • apothecary- druggist; pharmacist • pestilences- plagues

The Wife of Bath pg. 105 • somewhat deaf why? • makes cloth, weaver • dresses extravagantly her Sunday handkerchiefs (10lbs.), red stockings • her procession to the altar (bold!) • pretty, gap-toothed, outgoing

has had five husbands (and still looking…) and is experienced • has been to Jerusalem three times • has visited shrines in Italy, France, Spain, Germany • voc: • ground- cloth used as background for embroidery or decoration • wimpled- veil • buckler- shield; protection

Parson pg. 105 • practices what he preaches the ideal priest • a religious parallel to the knight • no real physical characteristics • won’t excommunicate parishioners for failing to pay their tithes (1/10 of their wealth) • always loyal. If the highest weaken, what will the lowest do? • doesn’t abandon them for easier $

voc: • benefice- a church office and its income • mercenary- working for money only • estate- condition of stage in life; large piece of land • scrupulosity- strict regard for what is right

Plowman pg. 106 • the brother of the Parson • honest, good, true hard worker ! • pays his tithes on time • voc: • repined- fret, complain • tabard- coarse outer garment worn by the poor in the Middle Ages

Miller pg. 106 • 224 lbs= 16 stone • big, tough, strong guy • brags about breaking down doors • read beard, wart on his nose • carries a sword and buckler • knows a lot of stories, uses vulgar language

“thumb of gold”- cheats customers when he weighs their grain • blue hood, white coat • plays the bagpipes

Manciple pg. 107 • means an administrator for a society of London lawyers; purchased food for their meals • shrewd, practical • buys food, supervises the kitchen and cook • could humble the lawyers with his practical knowledge of how to buy and manage

illiterate and yet can “outpace” (cheat?) 30 men • voc: • victuals: food or provisions • abstruse: hard to understand

The Reeve pg. 107 • minor official serves between the lord of the manor and his serfs • old, irritable • thin has skinny legs • accounts for the harvest and the livestock • very organized knows the downfalls/ tricks of every person around him (feared!)

has hidden away money from his previous shrewd dealings. This money he technically steals and re-loans to his lord for gifts. • knows carpentry • gray horse named Scot • bluish overcoat, rusty sword • from Norfolk • rides last

vocabulary • choleric- having an irritable disposition • garners- storehouse for grain • bailiff- overseer or steward of the estate, boss to the Reeve • serf- slave of the land • sward- grassy surface, turf • splayed- spread out, extended

Summoner pg. 108 • paid messenger who summoned “sinners” to appear before an ecclesiastical court • red face, frightening skin • lecherous • loves pungent food and excess • parrots Latin phrases when he’s drunk • gets bribes to ignore sins or sell parishioners out

knows everyone’s secrets • wears a garland • carries a cake or a loaf of bread • voc: • cherubim- angel • carbuncles- swellings like boils • tag- familiar quotation • varlet- low, mean fellow

excommunication- • concubine- mistress; woman who lives with a man without being married to him • duress- use of force; imprisonment

Pardoner pg. 109 • sold remittance (forgiveness) to sinners • associates with the Summoner • thin long blond hair, goat’s voice, beardlessness (effeminacy, treachery) • a complete fraud • performs well in religious services (to earn trust and get more money from the crowds)

“relics” in the form of Our Lady’s veil (a pillow case) or a sail from St. Peter’s ship (not really) • voc: • gelding- a horse that has been castrated • gobbet- piece • ecclesiast- a member of the clergy

The narrator’s voice: • says he plans to use their words “however rudely spoken or unfit” or else he would be lying. • broad- outspokenly • scurrility- coarse joking; indecent abuse

Host pg. 110 • handsome, merry, hospitable • suggests telling two stories each way • winner of the best story gets a free meal • acts as a guide, referee

Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales