Canterbury Tales (II): WHAT A CHARACTER

Character: A Knight

Approach to Characterization (In/direct, when, why):

Indirect and direct characterization are used in multiple instances.

Direct: used to describe his personality (“truth, honor, generousness, and courtesy”); Chaucer also directly states his will to fight, “riding into battle”;   

Indirect: it is used with his actions → “in Granada, Algeciras sank//Under assault, he had been there” → indirectly stating of his noble character; his grand clothing also characterizes him as an aristocrat, born in power

Direct

"To ride abroad had followed chivalry,

Truth, honor, generousness and courtesy.

He had done nobly in his sovereign’s war"

"And though so much distinguished, he was wise

And in his bearing modest as a maid.

He never yet a boorish thing had said"

Indirect

"In Lithuania he had ridden, and in Russia,

No Christian man so often, of his rank.

When, in Granada, Algeciras sank

Under assault he had been there"

Tone(in regard to characters):

Chaucer uses an appreciative, admiring tone when he talked of the Knight. He is respectful of the knight’s actions, using dictions like “wise,” “modest,” and “honorable.” He describes the Knight in the ideal way a “knight” is believed to have acted, to the point of calling him a “perfect gentle-knight.”

Humor:

Humor is used throughout the whole story. Chaucer uses it to heighten his usage of satire. The irony, juxtaposition, is added to create a more humorous environment. This allows a serious topic about society to be easily broken-up, making the readers think.  

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