Chaucers Pilgrims

Code of honor, chivalry, traveler. Wears battle stained clothing, 1 of 3 characters Chaucer approves of.

The Knight

"But first I beg of you, in courtesy, Not to condemn me as unmannerly If I speak plainly and with no concealings And give account of all their words and dealings, Using their very phrases as they fell. For certainly, as you all know so well, He who repeats a tale after a man Is bound to say, as nearly as he can, Each single word, if he remembers it, However rudely spoken or unfit, Or else the tale he tells will be untrue, The things pretended and the phrases new. " don't blame the messanger- it's just my job to be a reporter • it's ironic- he's not reporting the truth • although they rnt real, they r like really people, real people talk like this in real life- im just depicting real like which is the truth even though it's not true • im being offensive because people r offensive " Further I beg you to forgive it me If I neglect the order and degree And what is due to rank in what I've planned. I'm short of wit as you will understand. " • ironic because he is witty. he's having the chaucer character play witty and say he's a dumb character just telling the story

the chaucer

a story with a story in it The pilgrims going on a pilgrimage. Then the pilgrims tell stories of their ventures in Cantebury

frame tale

• comic story Absalom getting embarrased • Trick carpenter in the barrel- scheme of noah's arc • John woke up and fell off the roof and the whole town thinks he's crazy • John falls- slapstick humour- starts raining Don't blame me if I mess up on the tale- miller is drunk humorous tale- criticize women- miller's tale: alison- born a chaotic cheater and never gets punished- it's her nature- Saying , ridiculed womanhood- women are born cheaters and it's naturally for them absalom- kiss ass- desperate in love Nicholas- big ego- burned w/ iron carpenter- controlling, jealous--> town thinks he's crazy at end of the story when he says there's going to be a flood This tale lacks the serious intention • Absalom getting embarrased • Trick carpenter in the barrel- scheme of noah's arc • John woke up and fell off the roof and the whole town thinks he's crazy John falls- slapstick humour- starts raining

Fabliau

• Drunk Miller starts a story which he thinks is as noble as the knight's tale • Blame his slander on the fact he's drunk themes - purpose- class relationships- people being mocked or categorized because of their class- courtly love and chivalry courtly love- medieval love emphasized with nobilities and chivalry • class relationships o "That vulgar man should wed similitude. A man should wed according to estate, For youth and age are often in debate. " "Many good wives there are, as women run, And ever a thousand good to one that's bad," wealthy lout (carpenter) boarded Nicholas the clerk/poor scholar • clever nicholas- lines 20-34 o read books, knows astrology, plays musical instruments o "And thus this gentle clerk his leisure spends Supported by some income and his friends. " • Carptenter o His wife lies a lot, 18years old, young and wild o Carpenter controlled eveyrthing and jealous o Wife is young and innocent and attractive Nicholas is going to make love w/ Carpenter's wife. Swore to secrecacy not to tel wife's husband Absolam- parish clerk • "This Absalom, who was so light and gay, Went with a censer on the holy day, Censing the wives like an enthusiast; And on them many a loving look he cast, Especially on this carpenter's goodwife" • Carpenter's wife= mouse and absalon is the cat • Sings at wife (alison)'s window. Carpentar freaks out • Alison says: "It's always he that's nigh That makes the absent lover seem a sloth" Nicholas is going to trick alison into loving him • "This Nicholas should put in play a wile The simple, jealous husband to beguile; And if it chanced the game should go a-right, She was to sleep within his arms all night, For this was his desire, and hers also. " • locks himself in his chamber- make alison worry • carpenter thinks his intelligence and dedication to astrology makes him crazy • nicholas tells carpenter truth- wife will drown- like noah's flood • lines 396- 413- trick carpentar with his astrology knowledge and make him believe we'll all die and we have to save him and his wife. Or alison will drown • carpentar is gullible- he does what nicholas tells him to do. They quietly sit and pray as rain falls. Carpentar falls asleep and nicholas and alison go down the ladder and get in bed • Absalom pops outta no where and is asking where the carpenter john has been. John has disappeared. Absalom is so happy and plans to go after alison during the night and make love to her. • Absalom tries to seduce alison with his words. But alison is like- gtfo • Alison says yes if absalom leaves her alone. She sticks out her ass and absalom foolishly kisses his but thinking it's her lips. • Absalom is angry and wants revenge- he realizes alison is with nicholas • Absalom went to the smithman Dan Jarvis • Gets gold and goes back to alison and tries to seduce her with gold. Nicholas sticks his ass out the window and absalom burns him with a hot iron rod • Nicholas screaming for water on his burned butt wakes up sleeping carpentar • Nicholas anad alison told townspeople that carpentar was going crazy bc thinking noah's flood was coming. Cause and effect John the Carpentar is naïve, gullible, and jealous of his wife. • He has to have complete control of her bc shes young and wild • He went wrong into thinking he could control a wife much younger than he is • Similar because WOB the oldwoman says she could be young and unfaithful or old and faithful • Alison is young and unfaithful • Carpenter falls from roof and hurt his arm and townspeople think he's crazy bc he think's noahs arc is coming- he's been cheated on Nicholas • He's udnerhanded just like Miller - he's steals alison from Carpenter. Miller underhandss take money from tavern people • Jokester- gets absalom to kiss his arse • Nicholas is smarter for everybody else and he gets punished • Large ego, taking things too far. • Get's burned with hot iron Absalom • Absalom is like the Squire- love women • Miller is making fun of the same thing chaucer making fun of the squire. Chaucer making fun of absalom and the squire • Alison makes a fool out of him- she turns him down and uses him for hif gifts. She doesn't love him at all • He's made fun of for the method of courtship- silly bc he keeps on coming back to alison even though Alison doesn't love him. • Absalom goes to the bottom of her window and sing- cliché • Willing to sacrafice his job/vows to be with alison Alison • She commits adultery- she embarrases Absalom, she's not punished • It's the idea that miller has a wife like this • It's john's fault for thinking she wouldn't cheat on him • It's because she's young and unfaithful • Similar to the old woman Class system- • Be in bed with noble or marry yeoman • She's beuatiful enough for upperclassman to be attracted but the noble wouldn't marry her because she's poorer • Aim high but marry low

The Miller's Tale

Wants to make people feel more guilty of greed by making them donate money to the church Pardoner's tale is moral " Radix malorum est cupiditas. ​"- Greed is the root of all evil- exemplum- a story to teach a moral Teller is immoral and using it for immoral purposes; not trustful or honest- greedy a. 3 rioters are looking for death because he's killed many villagers in a plague b. 3 rioters want to kill death because he himself has killed their friends -Where does the old man tell the three rioters to look for Death? How do they treat him? a. The 3 rioters were rude to the old man and tell him he's so old and it's time for him to die b. The old man confidently says that Death can't control him c. The old man says Death is at the Grove under an oak tree -Describe the rioters' plan for the gold and how it proves fatal to all three men. a. Luckiesty rioter run to the town and fetch bread and wine b. At night they run away with the gold. c. Youngest rioter runs to town d. 2 other rioters plan to slay/poision the youngest rioter so they can gain more gold and split it equally b/w the two. e. There is backstabbing/distrust/betrayal f. Killing friends- irony bc death kills their friends -Why do the Pardoner and the Host quarrel at the end of the tale? Who patches up their quarrel? a. The quarrel over money. The Knight patches up their quarrel

The Pardoner's Tale

Sexual, knights son, wears red and white, curly hair. Sings, dances, writes poetry, athletic; replaces his job for sexual pleasures "He slept as little as a nightingale."- sleeps with a lot of women " He could make songs and poems and recite, Knew how to joust and dance, to draw and write. He loved so hotly that till dawn grew pale "- lots of hobbies and interests- servants were doing his chores so he had a lot of free time

The Squire

1. What were the knight's crime, his original sentence, and his second sentence? a. He raped a virgin maiden b. Should be condemned to death 2. What bargain do the knight and the old woman strike? a. Queen saves King Arthur from being sentenced to death b. Gives knight 12 month and a day to find out: what women desire the most i. Appropriate because he needs to learn more about women ii. Why is she trusting him? You are a knight I have to trust you 3. What payment for her help does the old woman demand, and what is the knight's response? a. The old woman tells him the thing that women most desire b. In return: he does whatever she ask of him i. Asks for she becomes his wife c. Knight responds bad- he's upset/sad- feels as if this is his punishment in hell 4. What final choice does the old woman offer the knight at the end of the tale? What is his response? a. "Choose, now," said she, "one of these two things, aye, ​ To have me foul and old until I die, ​ And be to you a true and humble wife, ​ And never anger you in all my life; ​ Or else to have me young and very fair ​ And take your chance with those who will repair ​ Unto your house, and all because of me, ​ Or in some other place, as well may be. Now choose which you like better and reply." ​ " b. Makes the knight choose between her as a old, fould, true, and humble wife or a young, fair wife c. Knight lets the wife choose d. Wife chooses to be a balance b/w an old and young wife. e. Happy couple. Knight is joyful. The wife did everything he wished. 1. The knight's quest is to find out what women want. What irony do you see in this? a. It's ironic because the knight previously was sentenced for raping a maid. He raped the woman by not obeying her "no." however, he let the old wife choose 2. In lines 276-278, the knight moans about having the old woman for his wife. How does she respond to each objection he raises? a. The old woman says that character is more important than being rich b. Knight moans because she's old and ugly but she says that her experience and maturity will benefit him 3. How does the knight's response to the choice given him by the old woman show that he's learned his lesson about what women want? a. He learned his lesson that women want sovereignty over men. He learns that he needs to let women have the right to choose. 4. How is the Tale suited to the Wife's character? How is it consistent with her Prologue? a. The Wife is a character that has power over her relationships. In the tale about power, it concludes with the old woman having the power over the knight to choose. 5. The Wife's Tale contains a series of inversions - a crime goes unpunished, the criminal is rewarded, the Queen rules the King, majority opinion defines justice, etc. List all of the inversions. What is the point? a. Knight rapes- he's not punished- he rapes a women and the queen is a women b. Knight is rewarded c. Queen overules the king- inversion of gender role d. Knight talks with bunch of women but can't find what women want the most e. Meets old woman- give him the secret if he marries her- but she's old f. Old women gives him choice- he lets her choose g. In the beginning of the story he didn't let the young maid choose, at the end of the story he lets the old woman choose. • You have to have an earned gentility • Learn from your mistakes • Gentility doesn't come from rank and place • We get our nobility and gentility from Christ and not from our dads • I can still behave like a noble person bc I hv noble actions and do good deeds- even though I'm not from higher clsas • Chaucer is criticizing classes • There's nothing wrong with being poor if jesus was poor • If you are happy poor and then you are rich • Poor person- if you are content with what you have and then you are not poor- you r rich- • Lets not judge people by their wealth • Honor your elders • Bc the old woman is old and ugly she wont cheat with anyone else • If shes young and wild she'd be mor likely to cheat • She'll still sleep with him no matter what

The Wife of Bath's Tale

Servant to the knight, wears St. Christopher Medal. Brown faced "He was a proper forester, I guess."- doesn't really understand the yeoman- doesn't appreciate him as much as the squire and knight; not a memorable person

The Yeoman

Has an ulcer on his chin, servant to guildsmen; gross and nasty

The cook

really good guy; Lives. Life of pleasure, always has food and drink, gives hospitality easily, holds many offices, sanguine "He was a model among landed gentry. "- noble " He lived for pleasure and had always done, For he was Epicurus' very son, In whose opinion sensual delight Was the one true felicity in sight."- priorities about food • Epicurean- a person that likes good food • Classy- food and wine lovers

The franklin

Sexual, named Hubert, famous in taverns, has a lisp. Seduces young women, avoids lepers and poppers • He's not married • Seductive • His women- r pregnant • Intimate • Noble pillar to his order • Sexual predator • Spends all his time with the women or the rich people- • He's worst than the monk (the monk is the worst than the prioress) • Friar did it to an extent- using his position and livelyhood to do exactly what his lively hood isn't supposed to do • Friar is actively damaging people • Not helping the poor • Taking money from the poor who can't have it • Hypocritical and damaging

The friar

• Wives are greedy and want to advance their position but the men don't care • Had enough respect in the community that he could be an alderman (have capital and revenue) • Emphasizes that the wives are greedy and what money does to people • Guildsmen are not criticized- but their wives are. "Each seemed a worthy burgess, fit to grace A guild-hall with a seat upon the dais. Their wisdom would have justified a plan To make each one of them an alderman; They had the capital and revenue, "- good/high classs "Besides their wives declared it was their due. And if they did not think so, then they ought; To be called "Madam" is a glorious thought, And so is going to church and being seen Having your mantle carried, like a queen- wives are greedy

The guildsmen

owner of tavern; authority, good guy; Deus ex machina, the leader, judgmental o goal: best story telling- full of morality and pleasure

The host

Huge, breaks doors with his face, leads the group with bagpipes, steals corn, rival to the reeve, wart with hairs on it, tells dirty stories, cholera Large- brawny- being compared to farm animals Tell dirty, tavern stories Mill the grain "It's quality and took three times his due- a thumb of gold, by God, to gauge an oat"- cheating a little- making people pay more than they should; cheats people

The miller

Hunter, lovers knot, buys items for himself, wears a gold pin, ignores cloister. "Where my lord Monk was Prior of the cell. The Rule of good St. Benet or St. Maur As old and strict he tended to ignore" -ignores rules "Into a lover's knot it seemed to pass. "- breaking chastity vowels "And I agreed and said his views were sound; "- Chaucer is sarcastic and making fun of how ridiculous the Monk is- IRONIC "his Monk was therefore a good man to horse; ​ Greyhounds he had, as swift as birds, to course.​ 195 Hunting a hare or riding at a fence ​ Was all his fun, he spared for no expense. ​ "- spending money on hunting, breaks the vowels of poverty and monk; wears stuff more finer than he should have

The monk

Superficial, shows forehead, wears an A. Grey eyes, good figure, feeds milk, bread, and metro animals She was so charitably solicitous She used to weep if she but saw a mouse Caught in a trap, if it were dead or bleeding. And she had little dogs she would be feeding With roasted flesh, or milk, or fine white bread." She eats meat- she's upset for dead animals. And she feeds them them with roasted flesh or milk.- hypocritical- she's fake- seems dignified but she really isn't "and she spoke daintily in French, extremely, After the school of Stratford-atte-Bowe; 130 French in the Paris style she did not know"- wants to be higher class

The nun

Yellow stringy hair, bulging eyes, gay, leader of groupsounds like a goat/high voice, sings well, summoners friend, fake holy relics • Greed is the root of all evil • How does the Pardoner describe his own character and morals in his Prologue? o Pardoner boasts about how greedy he is for money and materials o He isn't respectful, trustworthy, and honest o He's a drunk and can tell gr8 stories • Wants to make people feel more guilty of greed by making them donate money to the church • Sells indulgences • he's corrupt because he's guilty of what he speaks against (possessing material wealth) and he wants people to repent so that they pay him to be "pardoned" o people would pay him to pardon their sins

The pardoner

admirable/noble clergyman "if gold rusts what shall iron do?"- gold is the iron as the clergy is to the laity if the gold rusts, the iron is going to rust more quickly if the clergy is corrupt, the laity will become corrupt if the church isn't ideal, how do we expect the people to be good "he was the shepard, no mercenary"- Bout the people not the money • He ministers the people • Housecalls to the sick • Poor country parson • He ministers to his parish • Compared to a shephard • Christ like • Practiced what he preached

The parson

Brother to parson, rides on a mare top of admirable • Pays his taxes, does his job (hard worker) • Solid worker and solid member of the church • He doesn't want to take money from the poor people • Even though he is poor

The plowman

Red face, pimples, shield of cake, loves strong smelling foods and drink, yells Latin when drunk, has a general disease o scary and ugly • ugly on the outside and in the inside too o takes bribes- against laws o policeman for the church- corruption of the church

The summoner

Somewhat deaf, dressed in scarlet, attractive lady; sexual; loves control, gapped teeth, married 5 times so far; occupation- makes clothes, travels a lot (independence); low in society, but worthy; Freedom and not tied down by her husbands- experiences, open, not afraid to share, cultured-skilled in wandering "In company she liked to laugh and chat ​ And knew the remedies for love's mischances, ​ An art in which she knew the oldest dances. "- how open she is- lot's of attention, not hypocritical- she might be scandalous but she's not ashamed by them. o gave relationship advice o how open she is- not hypocritical- she might be scandalous but she's not ashamed by them. o She has the ability to get out of bad things. She knows the cures for love's mistakes. She knows how to get you out of a bad love relationship o Makes sense bc she has been married a lot o Art of love- dance of love- sexual nature o Remedy of getting pregnant from having a lot of sex- abortion "A worthy woman all her life, what's more She'd had five husbands, all at the church door, Apart from other company in youth; No need just now to speak of that, forsooth."- other relationships from her youth- it's her past Chaucer hates hypocrisy. Men would have lovers all the time during their marriages too. Itd be hypocritical to judge her if men do it all the time master/experienced wedded woman. • She picks out what she believes is the best of the best- she thinks shes good at choosing the men • Age of first marriage- 12 • She's not old- u don't have to be old to be married 5 times • Justified having lots of marriages because god tells them to marry she talks about how she blames her husband for things they didn't do. Shows that she doesn't think of marriage seriously • she manipulates her husband so she can do what she wants to do. Control and pow she always has a plan for the nxt person that can provide for her. • She isn't wealthy btu she's subsufficient says how women are bad and put wives in bad positions. She rips books out of her book and her husband hits her. She's stubborn he allowed her to be in charge of his life • lines 530+ she has full power in the relationship • she wins the power- same as the old woman who wins the power in the end of the tale

The wife of bath

Applicable Examples from Chaucer: Knight- "here was a Knight, a most distinguished man, Who from the day on which he first began To ride abroad had followed chivalry, Truth, honor, generousness, and courtesy. He had done nobly in his sovereign's war And ridden into battle, no man more, As well in Christian as in heathen places, And ever honored for his noble graces. " Bravery and humble. A gentle-knight Aggressive, does his job, fight for his faith Like no other night, he's victorious Chivalry- Medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, social code Faithful to authority, wives, god- to stop the corrupt

chivalry

Absalom- physically has to kiss Nicholas's butt and mentally because he keeps on coming back to aslison thinking she loves him but she turns him down. • Alison makes a fool out of him- she turns him down and uses him for hif gifts. She doesn't love him at all • He's made fun of for the method of courtship- silly bc he keeps on coming back to alison even though Alison doesn't love him. • Absalom goes to the bottom of her window and sing- cliché • Willing to sacrafice his job/vows to be with alison Mocked and satirized for their pretentions. Courtly love- code of conduct b/w two lovers. medieval love emphasized with nobilities and chivalry. The knight or courtier falls in love with a noblewoman who is usually married but pretends not be important- woman try to keep reputation

courtly love

• A tale whose purpose is to support or reveal a moral • Like a homily • An example of something • Pardoner- money/avarice is the root of all evil o Radux maloram est cupiditas o Pardoner is greedy himself. He preaches against the only vice he is. Pardoner is guilty of what he tells o Why is it good to preach greed if you want to be greedy o Give away money to pardoner if you are guilty of greed wants people to feel guilty of greed so they donate money to church to repent/pardon of their sins

exemplum