Canterbury Tales Flashcards
Knight
true knight, not wearing fancy clothes because he just returned from war in his poor tunic
Squire
Only does a little training to gain women’s love, spent time curling his hair, all dressed up
Yeoman
Farmer, dressed in horn, armor, St. Christopher’s medal that guaranteed protection, only cares for himself
Prioress
Cares for animals only, fat (didn’t fast), dainty and proper, decked in gold
Monk
Fat, fancy boots, fancy horse, bridles that jiggled as loud as the church bells, uncloistered, didn’t follow the rules because it didn’t agree with his comfort zone
Sergeant
great lawyer, intimidating
Franklin
gives much food, angry at cook when not
Haberdasher
men’s furnishing
Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter, Weaver, Carpet-maker
wealthy, show off their mantles in church like a queen
Cook
excellent in cooking
Shipman
Thief - he stole wine from sleeping traders, killed any prisoners, excellent in sailing
Friar
doesn’t stay in monasteries, sold penances so that he could use the money on himself in bars, inns - he didn’t want to stay with the lowly
Merchant
Claims he is increasing in wealth, but he is in debt with loans and bargains
Clerk
He has education, but he loves books too much and loves teaching. Nerdy.
Doctor
extremely good in practicing, uses the course of favorable planets to medicate and examine
Wife of bath
Intimidating, sells merchandise of cloth, very large, married five times
Parson
Preaches gospel, gives to poor, loves God, follows Bible
Plowman
happy with job, loves God, cheerful doing all things
Miller
steals the grain instead of grinding it, charges three times the amount, had awful might, red beard, red wart, strong, foolish and said disgusting stories
Manciple
organizes food/resources for the lawyers, always wins over the educated men, hints he is cheating
Reeve
manages a master’s household, keeps treasury, uses that money to please the master
Summoner
Summon sinners, garlic breath, pimples incurable, bribed people for drinks, allowed immorality since its hinted he has prostitutes in his house
Pardoner
Gives out pardons by the church, likes to rob poor of 2 months pay, great speaker so he convinces them to pay
Host
jolly, creative, hospitable
When did Geoffrey Chaucer live?
1343-1400
What does Canterbury show a picture of?
medieval life
How good a writer was Geoffrey?
Third in line
Describe the age this was written in.
It was deeply Christian, highly Catholic
Describe Chaucer’s life
- Born into a family of wine merchants
- 14 years –> paige in the house of Countess Blanche
- When Blanche marries prince John of Gaunt, son of King Edward…
- 16 - squire, accompanies John’s armies to France
- John of Gaunt buys him back (16 pounds) from France (special relationship because Chaucer credited his work to Blanche
- Chaucer travels with John as diplomat (rich life) and secret missions.
- When King Edward dies, Chaucer writes more
- Even Shakespeare writes a play after a poem
- Marries Filopa (lady in waiting to Edward’s queen)
What was the language of Literature in that time and what was the Cant. tales written in
French (bc of William the Conquerer). Cant. tales written in vernacular (language of the common people). It was as popular as the Bible at that time.
What type of writing was it?
Satire - writing that makes fun of human follies (clergy)
Characterization - how the author presents, describes, and introduces a character with specificity
Iambic pentameter/heroic couplets - first English writer to do that
Who was he friends with?
Wycliffe (of the lollands/early protestants), who wrote about church corruption
What does the Canterbury Cathedral have specially?
bones of Sir Thomas a Becket (King Henry’s best friend. Henry gave him Archbishop of Canterbury title, but when Thomas knows god, he wants to do things a different way. Overhearing Henry, Henry’s knights kill Thomas)
Where do the 30 pilgrims meet?
Southwark in the inn The Tabard.
How many stories are in the book?
23 (he died)
Characterization
Various means by which author develops a character
Satire
Genre that makes fun at human vice or folly
Hypocrisy
Person who says one thing but does another
Theme
Statement the work is making
Motif
Physical object that is a theme, reoccurring idea
Exemplum
Dramatic tale inserted in a sermon to underscore the main point of the sermon
Philia
Brother love, close friendships
Storge
Family love, bond of mutual protection
Eros
Physical love between husband and wife
Agape
How god loves us, self sacrificial love
Summoner/friar
Friar complains, summoner and friar agree to tell stories mocking each other
Describe the holy friar
Purged fairies, incubus, hurts people, steals virtues
Knight
Steals maiden, saved from queen, what do women want most, asks around, finds old lady on last day, promises, tells after one year one day but must marry the old lady
Describe after wedding
Knight complains about her age, poor, not fair, not noble
Answer to question
Women want sovereignty over husbands and lovers
What does wife say in response about nobility/gentility
To be gentle one must be virtuous, not rich.
If gentility came only from wealth, Then the villains would be gentle an you won’t be a gentleman.
Gentility comes from doing gentle acts and obeying noble creeds. It only comes from god.
Wife’s response to poverty
Christ chose poverty. Wouldn’t have chosen something shameful
Poor are those who whine, fret, covet are rich. Rich who those who have none but don’t covet.
Poor can dance and be comforted that thieves won’t come.
Poverty brings one close to God and teaches holiness, knowledge, who are true friends
Response to age
In charge of chastity. Would you rather old and ugly but loyal true and humble or young and petty but unfaithful
When he submits to her what happens
Becomes young and fair
