Canterbury Tales
Prioress
"for courtliness she had special zest" Acted the complete opposite way that a nun should She was a slob and fake Just a really disgusting person She tries to hide all of that. Chaucer is sarcastic about her she's kinda just a joke Church
incisive
(adj.) clear, sharp, direct (The discussion wasn't going anywhere until her incisive comment allowed everyone to see what the true issues were.)
pretentious
(adj.) done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably; making demands on one's skill or abilities, ambitious
personable
(adj.) pleasing in appearance or personality, attractive
turgid
(adj.) swollen, bloated, filled to excess; overdecorated or excessive in language
encumber
(v.) to weigh down or burden (with difficulties, cares, debt, etc.); to fill up, block up, hinder
Wife of Bath
5 husbands wide hips thought neutrally of her Some what deaf, always had to be first to give at church (shows vanity and childish and need for attention) "had five husbands", made 3 pilgrimages to Jerusalem, wants to attract men, pleasent and easygoing nature.
epigram
A concise but ingenious, witty, and thoughtful statement.
metonymy
A figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it
Parson
A member of the clergy, a church leader
exposition
A narrative device, often used at the beginning of a work that provides necessary background information about the characters and their circumstances.
Wife of Bath's Tale
A noble Night rapes a virgin and is sentenced to death but the Queen saves him by giving him 366 days to find out what women most desire and after 16 people he meets an old ugly hag that tells him the answer in return for marriage after they give the queen the answer (which there is no real answer) the old lady asks if he would rather have a ugly faithful woman or a pretty unfaithful wife. When he chooses faithful the ugly hag turns to a gorgeous woman.
ad hominem argument
An argument attacking an individual's character rather than his or her position on an issue
When and Where
April 1300/1400s , going to England
contentious
Argumentative
What vice does the pardoner admit to having, even though he preaches against it?
Avarrice. He preaches to not be greedy yet he admits to being greedy himself. "My exclusive purpose is to win and not at all to castigate their sin."
terse
Brief and to the point
Miller
Bring the people out of Canterbury "But mostly all of sin and ribaldries./ He could steal corn and full thrice charges his fees;/ And yet he had a thumb of gold, begad. Strong built man Chaucer thinks he's a low life kinda represents a bully
Reeve
Brings up the rear He is a rich carpenter Chaucer thinks he is shady "Much better than his lord could he purchase./ Right rich he was in his own private right,/ Seeing he'd pleased his lord, by day or night,/ By giving him, or lending, of his goods
Plowman
Chaucers favorite person He thought so highly of him Christian Parson's brother Honest work, very moral and spiritual, works the soil honest worker, helped the poor, payed dues on time, sincere
secular
Concerned with worldly rather than spiritual matters
TWOBT: According to the old woman, what is the real answer to what woman want?
Control
TPT: Why is death a traitor?
Death is suppose to take you in your whole but in this case its taking an innocent man and doing no good.
Manciple
Dishonest Thin man illtetrate, low social class, but smart, frugal and good with money He presses financial wisdom that enables him
Merchant/Middle Class Group
Doctor Manciple Merchant Cook Shipman Wife of Bath The Host
TWOBT: How is her answer a reflection of a woman's place during the medieval period?
During this time women have no control especially the Queen because her husband is the King and she needed her husband to hear that.
elegiac
Expressing sorrow or lamentation
audacious
Fearless and daring
absolution
Forgiveness
Monk
He hunts and is fat, bald. Chaucer sees him as a fake person Church
What is his defense for his behavior, considering he is supposed to be a representative of the church?
He is a representative of the church so he is helping others repent for their sins. He is greedy but at the same time he is helping other so it "cancels out".
TWOBT: What does the Knight do and what is his punishment?
He rapes a virgin, his punishment from King Arther is to be beheaded
Friar
He takes peoples money He is fake and flirty Chaucer thinks he is kind of a perve and cool Church
didactic
Instructive
TPT: The story starts with three greedy young men. What other sins do the young men fall into after they find the treasure?
Murder Deception
Best Pilgrim in Chaucers opinion
Plowman
Yeoman
Poser Dresses well Fraud Chaucer questions his greatness Merchant
Church Group
Prioress Mok Friar Parson Summoner Pardoner
TWOBT: The Wife of Bath's story has a different setting than the frame story. Describe the time period in which the Wife sets her tale.
Takes place during the ruling of King Arther
gothic tale
Tale with elements of mystery, passion, and the supernatural - Originated in England during the 18th Century
The Host
The Host (Harry Bailey) of the tavern speaks to the group. He welcomes and compliments the company, telling them they are the merriest group of pilgrims to pass through his inn all year. He says that he is sure they will be telling stories as they travel, since it would be boring to travel in silence. Therefore, he proposes to invent some entertainment for them if they will unanimously agree to do as he says. The Host also declares that he will ride with the pilgrims and serve as their guide at his own cost. If anyone disputes his judgment, he says, that person must pay for the expenses of the pilgrimage.
Feudal group
The Knight Squire Yeoman Franklin Miller Reeve Plowman (Probable Chaucer)
TWOBT: The women asks the Knight if he would rather have an unfaithful pretty woman or an ugly faithful woman, what does he choose?
The Knight choses to have a ugly unfaithful woman rather than a gorgeous faithful wife. After she turns pretty because he chose the right answer.
TPT: By showing the Pardoner as he does, what is Chaucer saying about the role of the Church during this time period?
The church doe things that they know are wrong but no one points it out. They believe it is important to believe the Church members are good because they are the leaders of the church and are the direct reflection of what the church stands for so no one wants them to be/do anything that is unbiblical.
TWOBT: What will he have to do to escape the consequences of his actions?
The queen shows him mercy and she gives him 366 days to find out what women desire most.
TPT: What sort of men are they? Give an example of the description.
They are drunken brothers who stick together but are up to no good, "these three to live and die for one another as brother-born might swear to his born brother."
TPT: What do the lines "We will kill this traitor Death" (119) and "If we can only catch him, Death is dead!" (130) tell us about the young men?
They are more determined in the first quote but not so much in the second so its showing a little lack of determination. They are trying to kill death so that they will be known to everyone for "heroes"
TPT: When the old man tells the rioters that they will find death under the tree
They end up killing one another for the money and die under the tree.
TPT: What do the three rioters swear to do?
They swear to kill death. They are personifying death.
TPT: We mee the young rioters. Where are they, and what are they doing at the opening of the tale?
They were at the tavern drinking beer early in the morning and as they drink they hear the bell ring which means that a coffin is going by.
Why did he include characters of the church
To show how corrupt they were
Why did Chaucer include the people in the middle class
To show the rise of the middle class
prevarication
a false or deliberate misstatement; lie.
picaresque narrative
a person has an insightful experience that inspires him or her to go on a journey
The Knight
a true quiet gentle night he is wise and wears a uniform the Chaucer is favorable towards him After raping a young woman, the knight is sentenced to death, but spared by the queen, who decides that the knight will receive mercy if he can answer the question "what do women want?"
admonitory
adjective: serving to warn; expressing reproof or reproach especially as a correctiv
denouement
an outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot
TPT: What do the rioters find under the tree?
bag of coins
sedately
calmly, quietly, or in a composed manner
paranoid
characterized by suspiciousness and a feeling of being persecuted
irreverent
disrespectful
courtliness
elegant, polite manners or behavior
TWOBT: On his quest what are some of the answers he finds as to what women want from men?
good in bed please treasure clothes
felicity
great happiness
Merchant
he is a hug cocky dude Chaucer thinks he is a bafoon
Squire
he is fruity he is also feminine and loving the Chaucer makes fun of him Acted as a servant to the knight.
TWOBT: From the Knights behavior, what problems with the Estate system do you think the Chaucer is pointing out
i do not know the answer someone tell me
malady
illness
punitive
inflicting or aiming at punishment
TPT: The Pardoner is quite open about his ability to mislead and swindle common people. Does the Pardoner's motive take away from the moral of the story?
no it does not take away from the moral of the story. (come back to this, unsure of the answer)
Franklin
old very wealthy Chaucer likes him and believes he is kind More nuetrall
deferred
postponed or delayed
sanguine
ruddy; cheerfully optimistic
accrue
to accumulate over time
Pardoner
yellow hair Official authorized to sell indulges (church pardons) for their sins, deft-interest. Chaucer hates him