Commentary on 'Keeping Mum'
Commentary 'Keeping Mum' is a dramatic monologue, written for a broad teenage and adult audience, with the purpose to entertain and create an aura of unease within the audience. When writing 'Keeping Mum' I anticipated how it would be performed on stage and subsequently tailored it for this use. Because the pace is erratic, reflecting the confusion in the character, I felt it would have a greater impact if it were being watched on stage with the use of paralinguistics to enhance the piece. 'Too Late?' is similarly written for a broad audience although its purpose is to give a true representation of Fuerteventura thus informing the reader of the country. Humour is also employed, to entertain and maintain the audience's attention. Primarily, I expect the readership to be single, intrepid travelers who are looking for adventure, rather than the more common tourist retreats, although I believe it would appeal to couples of all ages also. I wrote 'Too Late?' in the style of a feature article in a magazine or newspaper. I have employed two main styles when writing; persuasive and entertaining, from the point of view of a traveler. These two contrasting styles maintain the audience's attention whilst reflecting the stimulating and varying style of holiday they may have, is they visited Fuerteventura. The linguistic techniques and literary content used in both pieces has
A culture that evolves and changes through time is a healthy culture indeed. From the early pagan warriors to the knights of the Middle Ages, the European world dramatically reformed.
A culture that evolves and changes through time is a healthy culture indeed. From the early pagan warriors to the knights of the Middle Ages, the European world dramatically reformed. The literature of each era indicates the profound cultural innovations. The Anglo-Saxon's arguably most important literary piece, Beowulf, is a story of a brave warrior who fights Grendel, described as, "A powerful monster, living down/ In the darkness..." This fight demonstrates the timeless battle of good versus evil. The universal struggle is maintained in the Medieval plight for an ideal of perfect chivalry. Knights were guarded with utmost respect and sincerity as Chaucer's "The General Prologue" from The Canterbury Tales mentions, "There was a Knight, a most distinguished man, / Who from the day on which he first began / To ride abroad had followed chivalry." Although the fight of good versus evil is consistent, the moral code is held above pure strength in battle. However each culture stems from the previous development and is therefore similar. The Anglo-Saxon and Middle Age eras each possess characteristics of warfare, leadership, and religion that intertwine and reticulate among themselves. The Anglo-Saxon period paved the way for years to come by forming a basic civilization to be shaped and molded into the world, as we know it today. This era (beginning in 449 A.D. and ending in 1066
The Wife of Bath's Tale is an exemplum, providing an answer to the question, "What do women want?" Chaucer uses the Wife of Bath to explain and give an example
Amanda Nauman Mr. Rhodes English II H / Period 3 1 March 2005 The Selfish Hedonist "I'll have a husband yet / who shall be both my debtor and my slave / [...] for mine shall be the power all his life" (Chaucer 262). In The Canterbury Tales, the Wife of Bath, also known as Alison, presents herself as the authority on marriage and marital life. She comments on the social and legal position of women in marriage and daily life. She claims she has her knowledge from experience, not from scriptural authority. She dictates her life story of her five previous relationships with her fellow pilgrims to show her experience. Rather than rejecting scriptural authority, she appeals to logic thus rejecting too strict interpretations of scriptural rules and commandments. She gives ridiculous details of her marriages, including her marrying old wealthy men so that she could get their money once they died. After telling the unreasonable details of her relationships, she goes on to tell a tale about an old hag and one of King Arthur's knights. The old hag forces the knight to marry her after she helps him with a life-saving question of "What do women most want in life?" The Wife of Bath attempts to portray the idealness of a woman's domination in the end yet she fails because the old hag becomes passive again. Through the Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale in The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey
Consider the Significance of the Extract (Lines 816-844) and Discuss its Relevance to the Tale as a Whole.
Consider the Significance of the Extract (Lines 816-844) and Discuss its Relevance to the Tale as a Whole. The significance of this extract is extremely dimensional as the narrator once again provides the reader with additional examples of January's mindset and lifestyle and also continues to foreshadow the remainder of the tale. The immense sexual imagery present during this extract reinforces January's marriage intentions, foreshadows the future and also includes a flair of comedy. The garden January built has been constructed especially to avoid any prying eyes and to achieve the utmost privacy as the garden is 'walled al with stone.' The impounding enclosure of the walls signifies and reinforces his sexual prowess and desire to 'menace (L.540)' May which can also be construed to consider January's tendency for sexual violence. The introduction of Priapus, God of Gardens yet also personification of the erect phallus is ironic and is a comedic devise used to signify the importance of the garden as neither could 'telle the beautee of the gardyn and the welle.' The significance of the key and gate represent January and May respectively as the key to the garden, carried only by January signifies his desire to keep May to himself, allowing no one else to have access to her as she represents the 'smale wiket' which January was able to unlock when he wished. Keys and keyholes
Chaucer's use of biblical material in ‘The Miller’sTale’.
CHAUCER'S USE OF BIBLICAL MATERIAL IN 'The Miller's Tale' The biblical references and implications in 'The Miller's Tale' mockingly inter-relate the tale's sexual and vulgar content and its religious elements. It is a parody on and critique of the Church, mocking all sacred: the stories from the Bible, the saints, even the Holy Family. The 'dronken' miller commences his tale in 'Pilates voys', implying that the story will be condemning Christianity, since Pilates, according to the Bible, has condemned Jesus with his words. As the scholar clerk Nicholas and parish clerk Absolon represent St. Nicholas and Absalom, Son of David, miller sinfully compares two saints with two lustful and immoral men, who are concerned more with secular than the spiritual matters. Since carpenter John metaphorically represents Joseph and Noah, and his young wife Alison therefore represents Virgin Mary and Noah's wife, the miller this time immorally correlates Joseph/Noah and Virgin Mary/Noah's wife with a madman and a promiscuous, sly wife, when the Church forbids promiscuous behavior and implies that mad behavior is associated with the Satan. Further religious mocking is portrayed by the actions of Nicholas in the tale, as he does exact the opposite of what St. Nicholas did. While St. Nicholas was very zealous in his efforts to maintain ecclesiastical discipline and honor, especially in
How do Bennett and Chaucer present women in their texts? Refer to 'The Outside Dog' in 'Talking Heads 2'.
Laura Westwood How do Bennett and Chaucer present women in their texts? Refer to 'The Outside Dog' in 'Talking Heads 2' The main female characters in these two texts are Alison in 'The Miller's Tale' and Marjory in 'The Outside Dog.' However, it may also be possible to consider the prominent feminine qualities in Absolon, and also Tina, the dog in the Talking Heads 2' monologue. It can also be said that Stuart's victims are presumably female. Alison, in 'The Miller's Tale' is largely presented as the stereotypical young wife, which follows the genre of the tale itself. The Miller says, 'fair was this yonge wyf,' so the reader immediately sees her as the attractive and beautiful stereotype, which is intensified by the fact that the Miller does not give her a name until line 258, effectively objectifying her as a character, giving her no individuality. Also, the repetition of this title reduces her own personality and makes her seem almost like the property of her husband. Alison's two-dimensional image is furthered by Chaucer's frequent references to colour, in this case, black and white. The colours usually describe what she is wearing, for example, 'a bamcloth eek as whit as morne milk' and 'of col-black silk.' Chaucer sees Alison, and possible women in general, as a contrast of black and white; the white of her apron is contrasted to the black of her hair and
Discuss the ways in which Chaucer introduces the character of The Knight to the reader in "Cantebury Tales"
Remind yourself of the portrait of The Knight. Discuss the ways Chaucer introduces the character to the reader The first Character in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is portrayed in a way that invokes respect in the reader. The first line, 'a worthy man' is the epitome of Chaucer's positive description for the Knight; it is also the most basic form of praise Chaucer uses in the passage. Rather than basing most of the Knight's description on his exterior (not one line is spared to describe the Knight's attire and physical appearance) Chaucer explains his internal workings: his motives and inhibitions. The Knight is not consumed with greed of material wealth in contrast with characters brought into the Prologue later e.g. the Friar. In the Canterbury Tales the Knight is highest in social status, although he does not seem to be as rich as other character in the Prologue. He was considered in high regard because of his personal attributes. The Knight was modest and courteous. The description of battles he fought in (the Knight's modesty stops him from boasting) show the Knight to be brave and loyal. The Imagery used adds to our impression of the Knights persona. All imagery used gives us glimpses of the Knight's triumphs in the battlefield and the Christian conquests that he played a part in. This creates an image of the Knight being not only a great warrior but also a warrior of
Of Vice and Virtue: Chaucer's Clergy
Of Vice and Virtue: Chaucer's Clergy The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, depicts the class system and religion of the medieval period in which Chaucer lived in. The General population along with the ruling elites believed both religion and class was established by God, and thus it was largely gone unchallenged. This idea of God, establishing the class system gave way to high ranking members of society to be corrupt and dishonest. High members of the church like the Pardoner took advantage of naivety of the people to profit from the system of class and religion. The general population would give donations to Pardoners regardless of knowing if the money would be stolen, and not put to good use because they wanted to eventually go to heaven or be forgiven of their past committed sins. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, portrays two pilgrims divided by the class system: The Pardoner being a high ranking official, while the Parson was ranked a low level religious figure. In the beginning of the General Prologue five pilgrims are mentioned who are all connected to the Church one way or another, and in a way corrupt or not dedicated to their faith as they should be: The Monk, the Prioress, Nun, the summoner, the pardoner, the friar. The Parson who is the poorest of them all stands out as the only individual who is the most devout figure out of all the Church member pilgrims. In
Medieval literature. There ware many famous medieval authors John Gower- Confesso Amantis William Langland- Piers Plowman Julian of Norwich- Revelations of love But by far the most famous was Geoffrey Chaucer
Medieval literature. There ware many famous medieval authors * John Gower- Confesso Amantis * William Langland- Piers Plowman * Julian of Norwich- Revelations of love But by far the most famous was Geoffrey Chaucer who was the author of the Canterbury tales. Often regarded as the father of English literature he was born in London in 1340 the son of a vintner. Chaucer's literary activity is often divided into three periods. The first period includes his early work (to 1370), which is based largely on French models; Chaucer's chief works during this time are the Book of the Duchess, an allegorical lament written in 1369. Chaucer's second period (up to c.1387) is called his Italian period because during this time his works were modelled primarily on Dante and Boccaccio. Also among the works of this period are the unfinished Legend of Good Women, a poem telling of nine classical heroines, which introduced the heroic couplet (two rhyming lines of iambic pentameter) into English verse; To Chaucer's final period, in which he achieved his fullest artistic power, belongs his masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales (written mostly after 1387). This unfinished poem, about 17,000 lines, is one of the most brilliant works in all literature. The poem introduces a group of pilgrims journeying from London to the shrine of St. Thomas à Becket at Canterbury. To help pass the time they decide
Chaucer's pardoner "Though told by a self-confessed liar and hypocrite, the tale has a powerful moral and imaginative effect." How far do you agree with this view of the text?
"Though told by a self-confessed liar and hypocrite, the tale has a powerful moral and imaginative effect." How far do you agree with this view of the text? Chaucer's pardoner is an enigmatic, paradoxical figure, both intriguing yet repulsive. From the very beginning of his Prologue the Pardoner makes no attempts to hide his "ypocrise," instead taking a perverse pleasure in the extent of his corruption. As seen in the portrait of the Monk in The General Prologue, Chaucer allows the Pardoner to condemn himself. He purposely reveals his methods of extracting money from" the povereste widwe in a village" his contempt for his usual audience of "lewed peple" and complete disregard for the doctrines of the Church. The Pardoner's blatant hypocrisy is most evident in the theme of his sermons: "Radix malorum est Cupiditas." The irony of this is fully evident when he later announces "I preche nothing but for coveitise." During the Middle Ages pardoners were infamous for being "frauds, libertines and drunkards" (Charles Moseley). At first glance Chaucer's Pardoner seems true to type, he is the one called upon for "som mirthe or japes," the worst is immediately expected of him; we see the "gentils" beg "lat him telle us of no ribaudye." However, Chaucer's pardoner is more psychologically complex. The Pardoner is neither a preacher nor a priest yet he usurps these roles. Pardoners were