The Canterbury Tales Flashcards
Noble, wise, in battle
The Knight
talented, strong, devoted to love
The Squire
fake, simple, shy, tender hearted
The Nun
Intelligent, always learning, knowledgeable, buys books
The Oxford Cleric
Selfless, works hard, plays his tithe, loves God
The Plowman
What is the setting and why does it matter?
Tabard Inn; All the characters converged there and were traveling to Canterbury together.
What is the significance of the title?
They are telling stories on their pilgrimage to Canterbury
Explain some key points of imagery in the opening stanza
The stanza is talking about the vitality and richness of spring.
Some things we see are sweet showers that fall and flowers.
We hear birds chirping.
We feel (touch) the “piercing drought”, the air, and sundry lands.
We taste/smell the sweet breath of Zephyrus.
We feel (emotion) an engaged heart, and a longing to seek the shores.
Why do the characters begin to tell stories?
They each made a deal with the innkeeper to tell stories at the end of the prologue.
Explain the role of narrative in this piece
It is several stories within one; It’s a framed narrative describing the characters.
List the themes in the Canterbury Tales
Corruption of the church, Chivalry/Courtly Love, and Satire
Explain Corruption of the Church
Its a universal truth; used with multiple characters such as the nun, monk, and cleric. Refers to the misuse of tithes, blasphemy, etc.
Chivalry/Courtly Love
Both refer to and involve the Knight.
Chivalry-is doing good, acting selfless and respectful, and it also is part of the Knight’s code. (The Knight & Plowman are good examples of this)
Courtly Love- refers to the kings court, knights jousting, women swooning, and where people would hang out.
Satire
Sarcasm; Chaucer uses it with most of the characters, specifically those tied to the church. (The nun, monk, and cleric)
Essay Organization on Courtly love should look like
Intro- thesis
Body
Conclusion- theme statement
