Chaucer Flashcards
What was Chaucer’s childhood like?
-dad was a vinter and a wool merchant
-middle class
-grew up in court around royals
-traveled to Europe
Why are The Canterbury Tales influential?
First major works written completely in English to celebrate the ordinary person
Why the pilgrimage to Canterbury?
In 1200s, Beckett is killed by Henry II. He was very well liked so people dipped their coth in his blood. This pilgrimage happened year after year.
What type of story is The Canterbury Tales?
Frame Story
What is the name of the inn? Where is it? Who owns it?
The Tabbered Inn; Southark; Harry Bailey
How many characters are professionally religious? Who are they?
5/30; Madame Eglantine, Monk, Friar, Priest, Pardoner
When was it written? What was happening at the time?
1380s; the plague
What is the symbol of a pilgrim?
seashell
Why did people think the plague happened?
-last judgement
-sinners
-airborne?
-did someone poison the air?
What was the Peasant’s Revolt?
1381; went on strike for higher wages and better conditions
What was peasant life like before and after the plague?
Before: dreadful, hard
After: highly desired, skilled, got land and money from dead, and higher wages
What was the reawakening?
100 years; Renaissance, classical pride, outbursts in culture, art, politics, science (all converged)
What were solutions to stop the plague?
-Eat lettuce
-Sleep on both sides
-Breathe sweet smelling flowers and herbs
-Pray
Who was the doctor?
-good at talking about medicine
-learned astronomy, humours, and horoscopes
-mercury in retrograde=bad
-he was well-versed in every illness
-would always prescribe medicine
-compared to great physicians
-fact over faith
-clothes that are blue, red, and white; barber poles; also signify doctors
-was very healthy
-loved getting money
Who was the franklin?
-sanguine
-cheerful and lived for pleasure
-had lots of wine
-loved eating, drinking, and having people over
Who was the friar?
-well spoken
-a people person
-has no tan (meaning that he does no hard work)
-strong enough to beat someone up
-compared to a puppy
-took the people’s money and was good at it
-good at playing music
Who was the knight?
-well traveled
-humble
-Out of order because he wore distressed clothes; usually he should wear nicer uniforms
Who was Madame Eglentyne?
-nun/prioress
-coy~flirtatious
-calculated and fake for attention
-dramatic
-sensitive and charitable
-had grey eyes = drop dead gorgeous (also the repeated “Her” for descriptions)
-sympathy towards animals
Who was the merchant?
-beard=barbaric
-very rich and had nice clothes
-dramatic storyteller
-he was involved in international trade which was illegal
-smooth talker and dramatic storyteller
-polite
Who was the monk?
-antithesis of Madame E
-likes hunting
-“manly man”
-usually monks are quiet, he is loud
-a modern approach to faith
-fine clothing and weapons
-prominent eyeballs=greedy
-choleric
-has the ideal horse
Who was the Pardoner?
-gentle and charismatic
-phlegmatic
-thin hair=stingy
-rat tails
-yellow hair=gay; showed it with pride
-bulging eyes=greedy
-makes money off of sincere sorrow but using fake relics
-voice of a goat
-gelding or mare= feminine
-he targeted naive people
-loved money
Who was the squire?
-a lover
-choleric/passionate
-cared about his outward appearance
-compared to the spring day/happiness
-accomplished
-was up all night/busybody
Who was the Wife of Bath?
-was a bit deaf
-had 5 husbands
-she made cloth very well
-no one was better than her at making cloth
-went to church and sat front row wearing her cloths
-red tights
-made money, didn’t need a man
- fiery, loving
-well traveled and empowering
-gap tooth=sexual tendency
-she is good at giving advice
-abortion doctor?
-knew how to gain and lose love
