The franklins tale raises issues about what it really means to be "noble" Consider how this tale forms an examination of the values that held medieval society together and how this is subtly questioned by Chaucer.

The first 200 words of this essay...

January 31st 2006

Joshua Gray - The Franklins tale essay

The franklins tale raises issues about what it really means to be "noble" Consider how this tale forms an examination of the values that held medieval society together and how this is subtly questioned by Chaucer.

INTRODUCTION

Chaucer raised many questions through the Canterbury Tales dealing with events of the time including marriage, a woman's place in the world and changing attitudes. In the Franklins tale the most prominent issue he raises is to deal with what it means to be noble. Chaucer is questioning the social class system throughout England in Medieval society and raises many questions for the reader about it.

To be a noble in Chaucer's time you had to be born into nobility. To be a noble meant you were able to bear arms and were responsible for the protection of the whole community. They generally lived in castle, owned land and were supported in peace and war by inferiors. However, a knight might own a scrubby patch of land and have a small house in the country, but if he could trace his family back to nobility he was still