Canterbury Tales

Canterbury Tales Notes

Prologue • Time of year – Spring – April • People go on pilgrimages to Catholic Shrines • Pray to the martyrs, saints for help for illness, difficulties, etc. • Chaucer – narrator • 29 fellow travelers meet at The Tabard Inn • All going to Canterbury – Shrine of St. Thomas Beckett • Introduces each character for our enjoyment or education.

Satire • Use of humor, irony, and exaggeration to expose and criticize people’s vices. • The religious of the Church • The Lay people of the Church • The righteous of the Church • Sins of humanity • Greed • Arrogance • Pride • Woman equality

Knight • Christian • Back from the Crusades; fighting for the Church; list of battles • Example of chivalry- knight demonstrates honor, courtesy, truth, generousness • Humble; modest; not boorish (self- aggrandizing, boastful) • Chaucer sees him as an honorable knight

Knight • Good horses (necessary) • Clothing – useful, worn from battle • 1st concern – prayer to God – Thanks for still being alive. Not concerned about how he looks for the ladies. First priority God and country. • Truly honorable person

Squire – Knight’s son • Young • Good Looking – hair perfectly styled • Clothing – impeccable • Has had little experience in battle; but battles he won was for impressing the ladies. • Main concern – having fun; enjoying the girls • However, he remains respectful to his father. Serves him dinner.

Nun • Prioress – just under the abbess (superior in charge). Has responsibility as a role model to the novice. • Chaucer ridicules her through humor and irony. • Sang; spoke French (common, not sophisticated). • Well mannered to a fault; tries too hard to impress. “she could carry a morsel up and keep it from falling..” • Courtliness (refined behavior)…not a trace of grease…(lines 135..) • Chaucer is laughing at her. “ She certainly was entertaining.”

Nun • “straining to counterfeit a courtly kind of grace” • She is trying really hard to act like a nun should, but is failing. • She tries to show concern for animals. Cried over a dead mouse. She fed her food to her dogs (more concerned about her dogs than her true job of helping people). Was upset if someone hit her dogs. • Truth – Romantic, coral trinket, beautiful green beads, golden brooch (Love conquers all things). • Trouble with her vows.

Monk • Chaucer ridicules the monk • Hunter • Fine dogs, horses, clothing, all costly • Ignored his vows of St Benet, St. Maur, St. Augustine. • Prelate – high ranking priest • Should be setting example for the new priests beneath him. • Quiet life; agriculture • Enjoyed the life of freedom, expensive taste, did what he wanted.

Friar - Limiter • Corrupt • Had a license from the Pope to beg • Vow of poverty; lived off of what people gave him. • Heard confessions for a price • Blackmailed all with fear of Hell without sins being forgiven • Well spoken to get what he wants • Clothing – wealthy- represents how corrupt he truly is. (page 120 – lines 265-270)

Friar • Attack on this priest • He was a noble pillar to his Order – facetious • Flirted with the girls; gave them gifts • Scammed elderly with charm. Took their money without guilt. • Focus was where the money could be found • Taverns, innkeepers, barmaids • Stayed away from the very poor and needy. No money there. • Lepers, beggars, etc.

Oxford Cleric • Youth • Studies to the detriment of his health • Naïve • Can’t find work in the church; secular work gives him enough money to buy more books. He should be buying food. • Man of little words; soaked up what others said to educate himself. • Taught moral virtue when asked. Very respectful.

Franklin • Wealthy • Shares what he has with everyone • Has the best of everything • Beard – White as a daisy-petal –Santa Claus bringing gifts • Sanguine man, high-colored and benign. • Humors are in balance • Good humored man • Enjoys life • Unhappy with his servants if they do not do their jobs.

Cook • Chaucer shows the reality of the filth ongoing in society. • Cook – excellent • Cleanliness – irony – boils on his skin

Skipper & Doctor • Skipper • Did follow rules; stole alcohol from employers • Those who stole from him were killed • Doctor • Determined illnesses through astrology • Worked with the town druggist to scam his patients • Didn’t read the Bible • Lived a wealthy life off of the ignorance of people

Wife of Bath • Deaf • Gap teeth • Older woman- hefty • “experienced” – 5 husbands – 4/5 died • Considers herself to be an expert on love • Clothing – expensive • Considers herself to be a pillar of the church • Considers herself better than other women. No woman dared cut in front of her entering the church.

Parson • Chaucer considers him to be a truly holy man. • Rich – not in money, but in care for others. • Devout to his parishioners; taught them the Bible. • Patient and kind to all • Lived with the poor. No matter the weather, or illness, he came to them in need at all times. • He was forgiving of all men’s sins, no matter how grievous. He held the code of silence of confession.

Reeve • Overseer of the manor and its workers. • Old, choleric (yellow bile- outbursts of anger) and thin. • Unscrupulous; corrupt; greedy; mean. Demands more money than is owed. Lives a luxurious lifestyle, including buying gifts for his boss.

Summoner • Ugly • Face covered with boils; scabby eyebrows; scrawny beard. • Feared by children; face of nightmares • Alcoholic; bad smell; breath of onions • Chaucer’s attack - “He was a noble varlet (scoundrel) and a kind one, You’d meet none better if you went to find one.”

Summoner • Blackmailed ignorant. Give me wine and you can have your concubine…..give me money and I will not send you to the Church court for excommunication, damning you to Hell.

Pardoner • Travels with the Summoner. Both corrupt. • Chaucer’s attack – “a gentle Pardoner” • Hair –yellow wax; rat tails • Bulging eye like a rabbit • Voice of a goat • Wallet filled with “pardons”- payment for your sins. • Holy relics in his cap – FAKE • Chaucer’s attack – Gelding • Fake relics – pillow-case (Mary’s veil); pig’s bones • Chaucer’s attack – “he was a noble ecclesiast” (clergy)

Canterbury Tales