Week 8

Question 1

Subjunctive mood

Answer 1

states a non-fact
used when speaker is uncertain or for desires/possibilities
when translating: 'may' God save me
present singular: -e
past singular: ede
plural: -en

Question 2

Imperative mood

Answer 2

to express commands (MOVE!)
almost always 3rd person
singular: -e (loue) (or bind) [instead of -eth]
plural: -eth

Question 3

Influence of traditional estates satire on Miller in Millers Tale

Answer 3

Dishonest
Delight in telling dirty stories
Associated with gluttony and Lechery (Bagpipes)

Question 4

Physiological aspects of Miller and what they stand for

Answer 4

Red hair –> deceitfulness, millers were dishonest

Big mouth –> gluttony and a bold personality, bagpipes

Question 5

4 Bodily Humours (Physiology)

Answer 5

1. Choleric –> Yellow bile–> fire
2. Melancholy –> Black bile –> earth
3. Sanguine –> Blood –> air
4. Phlematic –> Phlegm –> water

Question 6

Humors in Millers Tale

Answer 6

Alisoun: Sanguine
Nicholas: Melancholic
Absolon: Choleric
John the miller: Phlematic

Question 7

Phlematic complexion

Answer 7

White/pale
Fat
Excessive sleeper
Slow
Dull in learning
Cowardly
Not interested in sex
--> JOHN

Question 8

Sanguine complexion

Answer 8

Red-cheeked
plump
merry
easily angered, easily out of anger
good sleeper
hopeful
sexually very active
--> ALISOUN

Question 9

Choleric complexion

Answer 9

Tall and lean
good memory
ambitious
very nervous
easily angered, stays angry a long time
vindictive
extremely lecherous
--> REEVE AND ABSOLON

Question 10

Melancholy complexion

Answer 10

Lean, thin but big eater
Bad sleeper
Opinionated
anxious or worried
long angered
fearful dreams
sentimental
bookish
--> NICHOLAS

Question 11

Animal imagery: John the Miller

Answer 11

Fox: cunning and trickery (makes sense because miller is dishonest and his tale is about trickery)
Sow: symbol of lecherousness –> miller loves dirty stories, and his tale is all about sex (Pigs were also known to play bagpipes)

Question 12

Animal imagery: Alisoun

Answer 12

Weasel: elongated mouse, moves from place to place within the house
Swallow: …

Question 13

Animal imagery: Absolon

Answer 13

Ape (imitates Nicholas)
Cat (to Alisons mouse) [John is likened to a cat too]
Goose (sensitive to human smells)

Question 14

Reasons for animal imagery (3)

Answer 14

1. degrading effect on characters
2. associated w/ certain behavioural aspects
3. lends authority to the story

Question 15

Nature as God’s second book

Answer 15

In Middle Ages: everything in nature was created for a reason
Everything is a sign from god and a lesson

Question 16

Medieval biology books

Answer 16

Herbals, lapidaries (stones), bestiaries
entries consists of:  
1. an illustration
2. natura (description)
3. significatio (moral/allegorical interpretation)