CANTERBURY TALES (I)

Prologue to Canterbury Tales (pages 90-115)

• Biography
• Geoffrey Chaucer (1343? - 1400) → varied experiences as a page, son of a merchant, soldier, diplomat, and royal clerk prepared him to write The Canterbury Tales
• Early poems based on works of European poets followed by translations of French poetry
• No one knows the reason behind Canterbury Tales → his experience during a participation in a pilgrimage to Canterbury might’ve inspired him to write
• A Closer Look: Chaucer’s Guided Tour of Medieval Life and Literature
• The Canterbury Tales begins with a prologue → Narrator, presumably Chaucer, meets 29 other pilgrims at Tabard Inn  where they are preparing for the pilgrimage
• Harry Bailey, host of the Inn, sets out a challenge: each pilgrim tell two stories en route to Canterbury and two other stories on their way back
• Prologue → Chaucer uses vivid imagery to capture each pilgrim
• Chaucer’s day = no science fiction stories or murder mysteries → popular genres  were romance (chivalry), fabliaux (short, bawdy, humorous stories), allegories and church-based

• from The Canterbury Tales: The Prologue
• Knight → distinguished man who followed the road to chivalry
• Wise, modest as a maid, never bore about his life, gentle knight
• He told stories about his heroic battles
• Possessions: horses; he wore fustian tunic stained and dark along with his armor
• He brought his son along → a squire with curly locks ( around 20 years old), and moderate stature; he is described as being young, fresh in personality and physique, but experienced in service with the cavalry
• Yeoman (attendant) → alongside the Knight and his son
• wore a coat and a green hood, peacock-feathered arrows, bright and keen
• had a mighty bow in his hand, face is described like a nut (brown face) → great in woodcraft; he also had a shield and a sword hung at his side
• Nun (a Prioress) → smiled a very coy and simple smile
• known as Madam Eglantyne
• would sing a service, and speak in French
• courtliness and manners → she was entertaining, friendly and pleasant
• she was sensitive, showed her concern
• Monk → one of the finest of sorts; rode the country
• liked to hunt, a manly man that owned a horse
• sleeves were decorated at the hand with fine fur, and his hood had a wrought-gold fashioned pin; bald in the head → fat priest
• Friar → a wanton and merry one; festive fellow
• he fixed many marriages, noble pillar to his Order
• highly beloved and intimate
• finest beggar of his batch
• Merchant → had a forking beard and motley dress
• his head had a Flemish beaver hat and his feet were buckled boots
• told of his opinions and pursuits
• expert at currency exchange, no one knew of his debt
• Oxford Cleric → still a student
• horse was thinner than a rake
• he was not fat → had a hollow look and sober stare
• he prefered books over fine clothing, fiddle, or psaltery
• never spoke a word that wasn’t needed → extremely formal, short and to the point
• Sergeant at the Law → wary and wise
• he was discreet → a man to reverence
• a busy man, but less busy than he seemed
• knew every judgement, case, and crime
• Franklin (alongside the Sergeant at the Law) → his beard was white as snow
• a confident man, high-colored and benign
• his motto was essentially “live a happy life”
• he lived for pleasure and his opinion was sensual delight
• A Haberdasher, a Dyer, a Carpenter, a Weaver, and a Carpet-maker → among the ranks, all in livery
• were trim and fresh → gear could pass as something new
• knives wrought with purest silver
• each seemed worthy burgess
• Skipper → hailing far west
• came from Dartmouth → rode a farmer’s horse
• wore a woolen gown that reached his knee
• he had a dagger on a lanyard
• an excellent fellow
• Doctor → he talked of medicine and surgery, of astronomy and charms
• a perfect practicing physician
• he had a special love of gold
• worthy Woman → somewhat deaf
• her herchiefs were of finely woven ground
• shoes were soft and new
• she’d have five husbands → all at church door
• Parson → rich in holy thought and work
• a learned man, a clerk
• knew Christ’s gospel and would preach it
• benign and diligent
• disliked extorting income or fee
• Plowman (Parson’s brother) → an honest worker, good and true
• lived in peace and perfect charity
• loved God with all his heart and mind
• a Reeve, a Miller, a College Manciple, a Pardoner, a Church-Court Summoner, and the narrator
• Miller → chap of sixteen stone
• stout fellow, brawn and bone
• broad, knotty, and short-shouldered
• mighty mouth was like a furnace door
• Manciple → came from the Inner Temple
• never rash, whether buying credit or cash
• used to watch the market with precise
• Reeve → old and choleric, and thin
• beard shaven closely to the skin
• short hair stopped above his ears
• kept his bins and garners very trim
• Summoner → had a fire-red cherubinnish face
• had carbuncles → eyes narrow, hot and lecherous as a sparrow
• he spoke only in Latin
• a gentle and kind varlet