Title: Canterbury Tales Prologue
1Canterbury TalesPrologue
- The characters and their stereotypes
revelations and perceptions - Summaries borrowed from www.sparknotes.com
2The Knight (lines 43-80)
- Noble in battleenjoys adventure
- The epitome of chivalry
- Strong and brave (especially to have survived so
many battles15 plus joustsalways 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.
3Gossip!
- 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!
4The Knight (lines 43-80)
GOOD GUY
- Noble in battleenjoys adventure
- The epitome of chivalry
- Strong and brave (especially to have survived so
many battles15 plus joustsalways 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.
5(No Transcript)
6The Squire (lines 81-102)
Potentially GOOD GUY
- The Knights sonyouthful (20 years old) lover
and cadet - Curly hair (as if pressed)
- Suggests hes a dandyconcerned with his looks
- Served in the cavalry and done valiantly
- Likes to sing and write songs
- Does everything with a passion
- Destined to become just like his father
Contrasts with his fatherthe religious chivalric
knightthe squire is very romantic. His dress
is fancy and there is a lot of social desire.
Always out to win his ladys 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
7(No Transcript)
8The Yeoman (lines103-121)
GOOD GUY
- 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 woodworkerattends the Squire but
has his own personality - St. Christophers 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
9(No Transcript)
10Prioress (Nun)(lines122-168)
- Eglentyen/sweetbriar
- Exceptionally mannerly when eating
- Animal rights activistshould be concerned with?
- PEOPLE!
- Sentimental and tender speaks elegant French
- Smile is simple and coy elegant nose glass
gray eyes, small, soft, red mouth suggests - Perfect beauty
Greed Pride (moderate)
- Coral trinket on her arm, green prayer beads,
Love Conquers all on her golden brooch
suggests - Rich tastes worldliness
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.
11(No Transcript)
12The Monk (lines 169-211)
Greed (extreme)
- 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 Chaucers 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
13(No Transcript)
14The Friar (lines 212-279)
- Brother Hubert has a white neck
- Supports himself through beggingwell rehearsed
and spoken - Loved among the rich land owners Only deals with
the rich avoids the poor beggars and
leperssuggests - He is corrupt and only cares about worldly things
- Sings and plays hurdy-gurdy and lisps to attract
women - Fixes up many young womenafter giving them
lovely giftssuggests - He has seduced them first
- Knows the taverns and the barmaids well suggests
- Took confessionsand pardons themfor a
giftsuggests - He manipulates peoples desire to be good
- Arbitrates disputes for a fee
Lust Greed (extreme)
- Chaucer paints a picture of the corrupt clergy
- Irony strong pillar of the church, calls him
merry, sweet, pleasant and worthy
15(No Transcript)
16Merchant (lines 280-294)
Misguided Good Guy
- 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 manrespects the
middle class despite the deception
17(No Transcript)
18The Oxford Cleric (lines 295-318)
- Still a student
- Thin horse thin, hollow, sober staring man
thread bare coat - Prefers books to clothes
- philosophers stone referencemyth of
philosophy - Formal and extremely respectfulgladly learn and
teach
Good Guy
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.
19(No Transcript)
20The Lawyer (lines 319-341)
Envy (moderate)
- Expert lawyer with great import
- Offers himself as a judge
- Discreet and cautious
- Homely parti-colored coat, girt with a silken
belt of pin-stripe 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.
21(No Transcript)
22The Franklin (lines 341-379)
Envy Pride (Extreme)
- 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 silkwhite 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.
23(No Transcript)
24The Craftsmen (lines 371-388)
Envy (moderate)
- 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.
25(No Transcript)
26The Cook (lines 389-397)
Gluttony (moderate)
- Good cook who makes thick souphad an ulcer on
his knee (a crusty sore) - Travels with the guildsman
27(No Transcript)
28The Skipper (lines 498-420)
Greed (moderate)
- 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
29(No Transcript)
30The Doctor (lines 421-454)
Greed
- 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.
31(No Transcript)
32The Wife of Bath (lines 455-486)
Pride Lust (Moderate)
- 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 womenbut she can be
offensive Irony Amor Remedia rather than Ars
Amatoria (remedy over art)
33(No Transcript)
34The Parson (lines 487-438)
Good Guy
- 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 becontrast to other religious
figures
35(No Transcript)
36The Plowman ( lines 539-555)
Good Guy
- The Parsons brother, works hard and honestly for
his living - Wears a tabard (loose jacket) smock and rode a
mare
Idealized characterindustrious 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.
37(No Transcript)
38The Miller (lines 561-584)
Wrath, Greed, Lust
- Robin weighs 224 lbs, very strong and wins at
wrestling because he broad, knotty and
short-shouldered 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
39(No Transcript)
40Manciple (lines 585-604)
Greed (moderate)
- 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 countryprofessional malpractice
41(No Transcript)
42The Reeve (lines 605-640)
Lust Greed
- Oswaldslender 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.
43(No Transcript)
44The Summoner (lines 641-688)
Greed, Sloth
- 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 winelikely 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 pardoneralso
hated by Chaucer physical deformities represent
an awful soul Sarcasm approval of the summoner
friendlier rascal
45(No Transcript)
46The Pardoner (lines 689-734)
Greed, Sloth
- Compared to Summonertogether 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
47(No Transcript)
48The Host (lines767-803)
Good Guy
- 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
49Chaucer
- 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
50The Ship of Fools
a boat populated by human inhabitants who are
deranged, frivolous, or oblivious, passengers
aboard a ship without a pilot, and seemingly
ignorant of their own direction.
51How can Chaucers Pilgrims be seen as a ship of
fools?
52- 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
53- 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
Chaucer?
54How can Chaucers Pilgrims be seen as a ship of
fools?
55Feudalism
56Parson
Knight
Plowman
57(No Transcript)
58Chaucers society is
- How does this compare to our own?
- Explain your response by using specific
comparisons between our stereotypes and Chaucers