Courtly Love and Damyan. Chaucer uses conventions of courtly love throughout the Canterbury Tales, and The Merchants Tale is no exception.
Courtly Love & Damian Chaucer uses conventions of courtly love throughout the Canterbury Tales, and The Merchant's Tale is no exception. As an elaborate code of conduct governing the actions and relations of aristocratic lovers in the 14th century, it is described satirically by Chaucer, who perhaps thought of the whole process as farcical. As well as Januarie being sarcastically described as a courtly lover, his squire Damian is also shown to take part in the process of courtly love. The typical courtly lover in the 14th century is one of high social class or nobility. While Januarie does not display the characteristics of a courtly lover (he picks out May from a market), as a noble knight he is of sufficient social stature to take part in the action of courtly love if he so chooses. His squire Damian on the other hand is not of "noble birth" and therefore should not be expected or even allowed to become a courtly lover. The fact that he attempts to conform to these conventions could be seen as a satirical observation of courtly love by Chaucer, as Damian feebly attempts to win May's heart. While the typical courtly lover was supposed to be love-struck to the point of being completely overwhelmed by emotion, Chaucer has exaggerated Damian's courtly love to comic effect by describing him as "sikke". He shows Damian to be physically ill because of his affection for May, and
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.
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 declared a 'noble'. Gentillesse was a code of behavior associated with the noble class. This included a number of qualities. Generosity, chivalrous or gentlemanly deeds, bravery, social graces, delicacy of feelings, integrity and many others. A man could appear to be
The pardoners prologue and Tale show human nature to lack any redeeming virtues people are greedy, weak and hypocritical Discuss Chaucers poetic methods and concerns in the Pardoners prologue and tale in ligh
(a) 'The pardoner's prologue and Tale show human nature to lack any redeeming virtues - people are greedy, weak and hypocritical' Discuss Chaucer's poetic methods and concerns in the Pardoner's prologue and tale in light of this comment. PLAN Pardoner - greedy, weak, hypocritical. * Pardoner's greed is emphasised throughout the whole prologue and tale --> his sermons revolve around the latin biblical phrase 'radix malorum est cupiditas' (greed is the root of all evil) yet openly admits to preaching for 'nothyng but for coveityse' - portrays him as a hypocritical character as he is not putting what he preaches into practice. * During medieval times, religion was a way of life - life after death/salvation was more important than life on earth and therefore repenting sins was a way to ensure you went to heaven - pardoner is playing on his audience's weakness/fear for his benefit - shows him as immoral and weak. --> openly admits that he 'rekke nevere/than whan they have been beryed, though that hir soules goon-a-blackberyed!' - negative imagery proves his lack of compassion * Openly admits he is guilty of avarice (which was one of the 7 deadly sins - ironic and hypocritical seeing as he's a preacher and preaches ABOUT gluttony?) ''I preche of no thyng but for coveityse'' (x2) ''myn entente is nat but for to wynn and /no thyng for the correcicioun of synne' * General
Quotes from the Miller's Tale
Quotes from the Miller's Tale CHARACTERS John "A riche gnof"p33 A new emerging class bringing conflict to hierarchy emphaised trough word gnof lots of different words Chaucer uses analogue "deemed himself been lik a cokewold" p34 Prolepsis foreshadows tale builds tension takes away sympathy for John "he knew nat Cauton" p34 Shows he is not intelligent or educated due to allusion "Myn housbande is so ful of jalousie"p36 One of John's flaws emphasised through simile "The carpenter was goon till Osenay"p39 Associates him with religion and lack of knowledge as large abbey there "I am adrad, by Seint Thomas, It stondeth nat aright with Nicholas. God shilde that he deid sodeeinly"p40 Black death cliché Men shoulde nat knowe of Goddes privitee."p41 Proleptic warning John did not want vernacular bible as reduced Catholic churches power to tell people what to do "Jhesu Crist and Seinte Benedight, Blesse this hous from every wikked wight, For nightes verye, the whire pater-noster! Where wentestow Seinte Petres soster?"p42 This is part of the night spell part rubbish it is a satirical comment by Chaucher on John embracing his ignorance "I shal it nevere telle To child ne wyf" p43 Irony as does tell "As dooth the white doke after hire drake"p45 Emphasises john's childlike nature as there is a childlike expression and simile employed for him "to his wyf he tolde
How does Chaucer reveal his attitude towards the Church through his portrayal of the Prioress, the Monk and the Friar?
How does Chaucer reveal his attitude towards the Church through his portrayal of the Prioress, the Monk and the Friar? The way that Chaucer portrays the ecclesiasticals proves to be a stark contrast to how he portrays his first pilgrim, the Knight. He speaks highly of the Knight but with an air of mockery and distaste towards his three ecclesiasticals; the Prioress, the Monk and the Friar. The way that Chaucer tells of his religious pilgrims could be seen as a reflection of his attitude towards the Church. It seems that as Chaucer progresses through the ecclesiasticals, his portrayal of them seems far more extreme, and seems to go further from expectation, this is perhaps because he is easing the reader into what are his real attitudes towards the Church. Fashion and appearance can be seen as a reflection of the characters personalities. The Prioress, in particular, attempts to be fashionable and attractive in all aspects of her life. Although the prioress is wearing what is typically expected of a nun, there are some slight, subtle differences. On line 152 we are told that she has a fair forehead. At the time, a broad forehead was thought of as a mark of beauty. On line 159 Chaucer speaks of a 'piere of bedes' worn by the nun. It is common for a nun to wear rosaries but they are usually black, not the colour 'grene' as worn by Chaucer's prioress. On line 200 it says that
To what extent does the Pardoner manipulate his audience?
Daniel Lovell To what extent does the Pardoner manipulate his audience? The Pardoner has had a graduate education in the rhetoric of confession. Chaucer might intend it to be merely cutely ironic that this confessor confesses -- as in "isn't that a turning of the tables, la!" On the other hand, it may well be that the Pardoner is practicing his rhetorical prowess on the other pilgrims, and on us, with the extreme skill of a cynical and perceptive man who's heard every villainy and mastered every deception. His intention, in his "confession" to the pilgrims, is obviously not to manipulate them into pity, forgiveness and acceptance, any more than it is to get them to actually pay to touch his "holy relics"; it is a confession, but one entirely without contrition. His objective, however, is not to garner sympathy; it is to showcase his manipulative talents, to expose the gullibility and selfish depravity which underlie many displays of religious belief, and to shock, mock and violently strip his listeners of their illusions. In the Canterbury Tales, the Pardoner is the cynical but authoritative voice of truth at its most foul. If a man is clever and perceptive -- if he is not prone to self-delusion, if he has keen insight into himself, into others and into human nature -- then that man will have an ability to manipulate and exploit others -- that is, a consequent temptation
Explore your relationship with the wife of bath
Explore your relationship with the Wife of Bath "Gilbert and Gubar see the wife of bath as a independent character who stands for female supremacy in a misogynistic time." " Hanson reminds the audience that the wife is a fictive creation of Chaucer, a man with little empathetic knowledge of women." This essay is going to explore my relationship with the Wife of Bath, bearing both critical viewpoints in mind. Chaucer exploits the notion of the female stereotype in his creation of the Wife of Bath. The misogynist's idea of women as a source of all trouble and evil is an important one. This idea came from the Old Testament, where Eve ate the apple and succeeded in getting herself, Adam and all their descendants expelled from paradise. This story remained influential throughout the middle ages, where women were seen as weak and unintelligent, fond of causing trouble and bound to make any man miserable who was foolish enough to marry them. During this time period, women had little status within society. However, the wife achieves her "authority" through marriage, by manipulating men to get what she wants, namely money and sex. Wives were thought to be nagging, vicious, and yet in complete subordination to their husbands. The wife knows that women are supposed to be irrational, stubborn and emotional whilst men are supposed to be calm, rational and reasonable. For example, she
"Too weird, too ugly, too depressing"To what extent do you agree with this criticism of Carter's writing
"Too weird, too ugly, too depressing"To what extent do you agree with this criticism of Carter's writing. Angela Carter's three short stories are a re-creation of old fairy tales which are melded into feminist tales of love, loss, lust, and sexuality. Her stories find their genesis in the childlike versions of Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, and others, Ms. Carter transforms these fantastical stories into adult renditions where pretty girls lie down with wolves, and a Count "thrust his virile member into the dead girl". In each of these stories, Ms. Carter creates an unexpected, erotic feel which is intertwined with mystery and an adult edginess that goes far beyond the original versions of these fairy tales. I think that the fact that Angela Carter mixes the idea of faity stories with sex and black humor is weird and ugly. She also is very adept at giving the reader just the right amount of clues, never being too obvious, and respecting her reader's intelligence in unraveling the webs she weaves with these stories. She constalty unsettles us and creates an atmospehere of confusion and oddness. Her writing in many ocasions is disturbing. Angela Carter is a master of symbolism: the kiss in The Company of Wolves as the conquest of men and the clothing in The Snow Child as a representation of power. Fairy tales are storeis told to children Girls learn
In Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, the element of irony is frequently used in order to enhance the moral principles of the tales and to mock the flaws in society.
In Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, the element of irony is frequently used in order to enhance the moral principles of the tales and to mock the flaws in society. This usage of irony is noticeably seen in the Wife of Bath's tale of a knight whose penalty for raping a maiden is to discover what women truly desire above all. Irony is present in the interceding of the queen, the offers of the old hag, and the transformation of the hag into a beautiful young woman. First and foremost, the knight comes upon an unaware maiden and takes advantage of her resulting in the serious punishment of beheading. Immediately the reader shall recognize and think it strange that the knight is indeed the traditional hero of the story although he happens to be a rapist. The queen then speaks upon his behalf and presents him with the challenge to find what women want most in the world. This is ironic itself considering the fact that although the knight rapes a woman, it is yet another woman who "importuned the king so long for mercy that in the end he granted him his life and gave him to the queen to dispose of" (Chaucer 241). Furthermore, the king is the one who gave all of his power into his wife's hands, allowing her to do as her will with the knight. Thus, the king symbolizes the idealness that the knight is lacking. The queen's proposal is clearly also ironic due to the fact that
To what extent are Nicholas and Absolon courtly lovers?
To what extent are Nicholas and Absolon courtly lovers? Nicholas and Absolon both execute elements of the courtly love tradition, though the elements they express differ from each other and from the ideal courtly lover. Both Nicholas and Absolon attempt to use the language of the courtly lover to win Alison. When Nicholas attempts to seduce Alison into sleeping with him, he declares "For deerne love of thee, lemman, I spille." At first glance this may appear to be the elevated language of courtly love, with Nicholas revealing to Alison that he loves her so much that if she were to reject him, he would die. Upon closer inspection, however, we notice that his term of affection for Alison is "lemman" which was often used in medieval times in a sexual context. Furthermore, the word "spille" can mean to die, though its cruder meaning (and the meaning more fitting with Nicholas' physical treatment of Alison in this section) is to ejaculate. Here, the overall impression that Nicholas gives is that he uses the language of courtly love to cloak his dishonourable intentions. Absolon uses the language of courtly love in a different way. He utilises more romantic terms of endearment than Nicholas, such as "hony-comb", "faire brid" and "sweete cinamome" and at the same time, unknowingly, uses highly unromantic imagery to describe himself. He tells Alison "for youre love I swete",