English: The Canterbury Tales Test Flashcards
(35 cards)
What is a frame tale?
A narrative that provides a vehicle for the telling of other stories
How is the Canterbury Tales a frame tale?
It has stories within a story: people tell stories while taking a pilgrimage to Canterburry to see the shrine of St. Thomas a’Becket
Who mediates the story-telling contest? What happens to the winner?
The Host; they get a prize (a large dinner)
What is the goal of the Canterbury tales?
To expose hypocrisy, particularly in the Religious Group
What is Chaucer’s disclaimer?
He’s telling the story as it appears to him
How many characters are there?
29
Where to the characters gather at the beginning of the story?
The Tabard Inn
Who is in the Knightly Group?
The knight, the squire, the yeoman
Chivalrous, noble, truthful, honorable and generous. He is distinguished and perfect. Modest, gentle, courageous, wise
Knight
He is lowly and courteous, strong and young. He likes to draw and write and is “fiery.” He’s a ladies man.
Squire
Satire: he’s easily distracted by worldly things
Neat, Robin Hood-like, jack of all trades, young and in training, flighty but gives effort
Yeoman
Who is in the Religious Group?
The Nun, Monk, Friar
Name of the Nun
Madame Eglyntyne
Particular, entertaining, pleasant and friendly. Coy, sings nasally, fakes French speech
The Nun
satire: she’s very fake
Manly man, gaudy, uncloistered, unorthodox, a hunter,
Monk
(satire: Being a monk isn’t really for him, he’s a likable and good guy but he’s not good at monk stuff-not everyone should be a priest)
Greedy, in it for the money, concerns self with only wealthy people, a con-man, drunkard, a flirt, wild
The Friar (Hubert)
Satire in the Religious Group
They progressively get worse/more corrupt the higher up in rank the are.
In debt, but doesn’t appear to be. paranoid about the wool trade because he’s in debt, a good guy, but not good with money
Merchant
Satire: He’s good with other people’s money, but not his own
Studious, formal, respectful, educated, morally virtuous, poor in wealth
Oxford Cleric
Satire: smart, but stuck in a different world (of books) which prevents him from accumulating any wealth
Wise, arrogant, discreet, a big spender, successful, appears trustworthy and appears to know what hes doing; always appears busy
Sergeant at the Law
Happy, lives for pleasure, loves food and wine
Franklin (prosperous, lower-class land owner)
These 5 are listed together; formal in dress, they are like a fraternity, rich and hard–working but all their money goes to their wives who want to be treated like queens, need backbone
Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter, Weaver, Carpet-Maker
Dedicated to cooking, good at his job, a loner
The Cook
(Satire: he has an ulcer –> custard in pies; he’s a nasty cook–> people have no regard for others and their well-being)
tanned, experienced, skilled, hardcore (“walk the plank”), drunk, good at job
The Skipper