Chaucer's Depiction of the Corrupt Church in the Canterbury Tales
Southerland Kirby Southerland English 2010 Section 101 September 11, 2012 The Corrupt Church in the Canterbury Tales The Canterbury Tales is a famously satirical piece written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century. Though there are many theories of what Chaucer was criticizing, he mainly was questioning the motives of the church. Chaucer used important figures in the church as characters in the story who go on a journey to Canterbury although the characters do not match the typical ideals of those who would be attributed with the church. Historically, according to the feudal system, the king was to give twenty-five percent of his wealth to the church, which proves the church had plenty of money to use in ways that would not agree with the typical morals of the church. Chaucer is making social commentary by highlighting on the religious hypocrisy and the church as it relates to money. Chaucer begins with his criticism in “The Prologue” by immediately characterizing those who are affiliated with the church in order of their social status, showing that there are many aspects of the church that fall short morally. For example, the Knight, though he is a nobleman and not a religiously affiliated character, is the most virtuous; he comes at the top of the hierarchy in terms of social status. Chaucer has nothing but good things to say about the Knight,
Think of this poem in terms of its storytelling - Were you surprised at the end? What clues are given to the identity of the Green Knight? How does the poet use description effectively? What is artful about the patterning of the action?
4. Think of this poem in terms of its storytelling. Were you surprised at the end? What clues are given to the identity of the Green Knight? How does the poet use description effectively? What is artful about the patterning of the action? In terms of storytelling, this poem is one of the most masterful ones I have ever read. The author (or perhaps Keith Harrison) manages to bring the reader into the poem by taking a story that could have been unremarkable and adding a fantastic twist at the end, but that was not completely unexpected as there were a plenty of hints provided along the way. At the end, I was definitely surprised, but not to the point where I did not understand the story. There is a twist, and a big one at that, but not so extreme as to leave the reader dumbfounded and questioning the poem. Of course, no one would have expected the Green Knight to have also been the host of the castle, or to have been the husband of Gawain's seductress. However, subtle hints are provided that leave some doubt in the reader's mind as to who the Green Knight really is, in addition to himself. The biggest (yet subtle) hint is the green girdle that is given to Gawain by Bertilak's wife. Being green, the girdle links itself to the Green Knight, though the reader may not realize this until after finishing the poem. As aforementioned, the end is unexpected, but the Green Knight's
Between the Lines of Happily Ever After.
Between the Lines of Happily Ever After Nan Ni After a long journey of travail and tribulation, the valiant hero returned to the arms of loved ones. Oh, Mr. Unknown Medieval Author, what a predictable ending, how you disappoint the readers of the twenty-first century! Is there is some artful insight that I am missing about this standard romance ending? Indeed, at first glance, the last fit of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight seems to leave our protagonist blissful, unscathed and morally correct once again. However, delving deeper, one finds that the ending of the novel is a series of events and revelations that profoundly changed Gawain. The conclusion informs the audience much about Sir Gawain's self-perception. Before accepting the "splendid stratagem to escape being slain", it is safe to assume that Gawain thought himself to be remarkably virtuous in his dealings thus far. In fact, even after he "swore outright" that Sir Bertilak should never know of the girdle, he did not seem to feel much guilt. This is because Gawain's confidence in his own morality is so strong that it did not allow him to recognize his own blunders in judgement. It is only after the Green Knight jocularly reprimanded Gawain that he relialized his wrongdoing and "shrank from shame". The Green Knight and the audience can easily forgive Gawain, for after all, his failing was not due to lust, but "for
I can not help but wonder why they would do this to me. I have been at peace with these humans for many years. The wrong that they brought upon me has driven me to the edge. I can not let them, these barbarians, take me for a fool.
I can not help but wonder why they would do this to me. I have been at peace with these humans for many years. The wrong that they brought upon me has driven me to the edge. I can not let them, these barbarians, take me for a fool. For 300 years I have guarded my treasure. My family and I had taken it from a human's town that we once fumed upon. I took my share and placed it on the upland heath concealed in a barrow. No man should have seen it or even caught a reflection of these jewels sparkling in the light of the sun. I was isolated from this world because of what I am, the fire-drake, they call me. When Hygelac was king I did not bother his people often, even when the new ruler came to power for 50 years I did not bother his kingdom. A dirty human then snatched one of my treasure pieces right out of the barrow. The day I came back to my lair I knew something was missing. The precious cup made of gold and jewels had disappeared. Angry and full of rage I set forth to seek out the wretched thief, while returning to my barrow numerous of time to see if my eyes had deceived me. The gold treasure-cup was still no where to be found. I will burn them all to ashes. The fury that I possessed was uncontrollable. I could feel the anger slowly making its why through my body, and until I found the thief I was going to contain it. There were so many of these creatures
The Morals of a Knight, An Essay on "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight".
The Morals of a Knight An Essay on "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" By: Carly Young For: D. Laird Course: Engl. 211 Due: Sept. 25, 2003 Carly Young English 211 D. Laird Due: Sept. 25, 2003 The Morals of a Knight An Essay on "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" To be covetousness is to have a great desire for wealth and possessions, either of your own or belonging to someone else. In the poem "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," "Gawain, bound to chivalry, is torn between his knightly edicts, his courtly obligations, and his mortal thoughts of self preservation" (2). Thus, a main theme of covetousness versus being a noble and honorable knight is developed as Gawain moves through northwest Britain in search of the Green Knight. The idea of "temptation is an ancient Celtic theme, and retains its purpose to test the worth of the Christian knight" (1). This conflict becomes very evident when Gawain is given three tests by Bertilak (the Green Knight). Bertilak gives these tests to Gawain in accordance with him staying: Within a moat, on a mound, bright amid boughs Of many a tree great of girth that grew by the water - A castle as comely as a knight could own, On grounds fair and green, in a goodly park. (ll. 765-769) At this castle, Morgan le Fay (the host's lady) tries to tempt Gawain with her "bosom all but bare" (ll. 1741) in order to "fool him into actions
Discuss the ways in which the Gawain-poet develops the contrasts between the 'inner' and 'outer'.
8. 'In the hunting and temptation scenes of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Fitt III, several techniques...are run expertly together to give a complete picture of [Gawain's] inner and outer behaviour.' Discuss the ways in which the Gawain-poet develops the contrasts between the 'inner' and 'outer'. Burrow, J.A. A Reading of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight . 1965 London:Broadway House Intro Appearance and reality -Themes main theme of the poem Gawains front and what he is really feeling contrasted EG His dealing with the lady and his beheading scene 309 green knight in his words reveals what is to haunt gawain though the poem not whether he can keep his word but whether he can live up to the expectations of arthjurs court 01 Gawain and the court have a reputation to uphold but both cannot live up to it The poem asks is what gawain sees himself as or what he tries to uphold himself as his real self. His reputation exceeds himself. She does not believe he is gawain. Gawain, bound to chivalry, is torn between his knightly edicts, his courtly obligations, and his mortal thoughts of self-preservation Lady Berolik exterior shows that she wants |Gawain but this exterior is false as she is tricking him and leading him tio temptasion I s our exterior what we are really like inside? Green knight outside appearance supernatural because of morgan le fay but inside he
Grendel: The Hero of His Own Story?
Bryan J. Tanner December 19, 2002 Grendel Interpretation Grendel: The Hero of His Own Story? The hero in the story of Grendel is not defined as a particular person; rather, it appears Grendel has undertones of a hero in himself from his point of view. Since Grendel is telling his own life story, his pattern of thinking and logic must be unwoven to discern whether or not everything that he tells us is believable. This does not mean that he is completely wrong or completely right, however. What it does mean, though, is that the point of view that the story is told is biased to Grendel. One standpoint other than Grendel's which should be taken into account is the humans'. Their feelings about him were that he was not only the enemy, but that he was the definition of evil. After all, he ate several of their fellow men, not to mention the fact that he was a hairy beast that crept around the mead hall and wasn't able to be pierced or cut. To humans, often times, irregularity and uncommonness is just as much of a threat as an enemy itself. From the beginning of written history, different ethnic backgrounds, religious groups, or sexual orientations have been a very large part of arguments and even wars. To the people, Grendel was a threat to their well being before he ever attacked, killed, or ate a human. It should also be taken into perspective Beowulf's point of
Reinterpretation on Beowulf - A Homosexual Translation
Bryan J. Tanner December 11, 2002 Reinterpretation on Beowulf A Homosexual Translation In Beowulf you have several different characters portraying several different roles in their society. These roles can be translated into our society as well. However, the way the characters are portrayed can be taken in several different manners. An interpretation that is not usually or probably ever reached about Beowulf, is the analysis of Grendel homosexually. Many would ask how this could be done, but I think that it is quite possible. Take, for instance, the fact that Grendel is portrayed as an evil beast that is cast away from civilization and is forced from Christian views. This very thing is done with homosexuals in our present day world. Do you think that Grendel would have been accepted to marry another evil beast in their society, just as it is illegal in forty-eight states for homosexuals to marry? Additionally, the way that homosexuals are talked about in such a harsh and inhumane bashing, is much like the treatment of Grendel by society in Beowulf's time. Grendel is also cast away by God, just as Cain was cast away from every one he ever knew, which is not very coincidental considering it was believed that all monsters and evil beasts were direct descendants of Cain. Compare that to how homosexuality is frowned upon by so many religions in today's age. They are
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight vs. Beowulf
Sarah Pathammavong October 15, 2002 Brit. Lit. 3b "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" vs. "Beowulf" Many of the characters of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are similar. Both stories have the same basic concept of a hero and a monster a type of good vs. evil plot. And each character has in each story has a side by side character. Such as the main characters of both stories. Sir Gawain, in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", and Beowulf, in "Beowulf, are the heroes of their stories. They were the ones that came out on top. Even though both are heroes their heroic traits are different at times. They are both loyal to their lord and both of them are brave enough to take the any challenge. Beowulf shows the trueness of a perfect hero, a knight that shows no fear. Sir Gawain on the other hand has faults he does not have the whole of being a perfect hero. He does not have a glorious background as to Beowulf who defeats seas full of monsters to save others. Though Sir Gawain does prove that he has some courage, for he takes up the challenge against the Green Knight. Beowulf has unlimited courage, he takes up any challenge and shows no sign of being frightened at anytime. Yet when Sir Gawain is put up to his challenge he flinches with fright, but then after calming down he realizes his position and takes on what he has vowed he would do. His flinching shows how he fails to be a
In this excerpt from the story, Beowulf tells the people that he is not afraid of this fiend and that he will conquer Grendel at all costs.
"Grendel is no braver, no stronger than I am! I could kill him with my sword; I shall not, easy as it would be. This fiend is a bold and famous fighter, but his claws and teeth scratching at my shield, his clumsy fists beating at my sword blade, would be helpless. I will meet him with my hands empty- unless his heart fails him, seeing a soldier waiting weaponless, unafraid. Let God in his wisdom extend His hand where He wills, reward whom He chooses!" (Lines 677-687) In this excerpt from the story, Beowulf tells the people that he is not afraid of this fiend and that he will conquer Grendel at all costs. He also shows qualities of a hero when he talks as if the fight will be no match for him and that he will not even need weaponry to defeat the mighty Grendel. By speaking all of this the people begin to trust in him and believe that he could really be their hero and end their problems. Basically, Beowulf takes on the hero role and begins to show hero qualities to the people thorough this speech, which he gives. "The sounds changed, the Danes started in new terror, cowering in their beds as the terrible screams of the Almighty's enemy sang in the darkness, the horrible shrieks of pain and defeat, the tears torn out of Grendel's taut throat, hell's captive caught in the arms of him who of all the men on earth was the strongest." (Lines 783-790) In this excerpt from the story,