REFERENCE TO CONTEXT, THE CANTURBURY TALES BY CHAUCER.(past papers)
(i) That of her hir smylyng was ful simple and coy;
Hire gretteste ooth was but by Seint Loy,
And she was cleped mandame Eglentyne.(PRIORESS)
· REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: The Prioress (Lines 119-121/858)
* PLEASE DONT MENTION OCCURENCE DURING EXAM THATS ONLY TO MENTION STUDENTS*
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet has described three characteristics of the Prioress; her smile, faith and nick name. The smile of the Prioress is very simple. It is easy to understand, presenting no difficulty. Her smile also makes a pretence of shyness and modesty which intends to be alluring. Thus she is a coquettish woman. Secondly, she has a firm faith in Saint Eloy who was the patron saint of goldsmiths, other metalworkers, and coin collectors. This saint worked for twenty years to convert the pagan population of Flanders to Christianity. Thirdly, she has a romantic name, Madam Eglantine. Eglantine is, in fact, a wild rose native to Eurasia having prickly stem, fragrant leaves, bright pink flowers, and scarlet hips. In Madam Eglantine, Chaucer depicts charm without substance. Thus Chaucer has described the nun in the opposite way to show us, how the nun Prioress had all the characteristics that a nun should not have.
An theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene,
On which ther was first write a crowned A,
And after Amor vincit omnia..
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: The Prioress (Lines 160-162/858)
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet has portrayed the Prioress's gold brooch and its motto.A brooch is a decorative jewelry item designed to be attached to garments by a pin or clasp, often to hold them closed. It is worn at or near the neck. The brooch, the Prioress is wearing, is dominated by the letter "A" which stands for Amor i.e. love. Some critics also assume the the brooch is in the shape of the letter "A". However, the most striking quality of the brooch is the Latin inscription on it: "Amor vincit omnia" which means "Love conquers all." This quote is from "Eclogue X" by Virgil. This Virgilian motto is very ambiguous. If it refers to celestial, heavenly love, then the brooch is an acceptable article to be found on the person of a nun. But it represents earthly love between a man and a woman which is absent in nuns. In short, the brooch is a symbol of the Prioress's unchristian character, her connection to laymen and the peasantry, rather than to any religious vocation.
(iii) She leet no morsel from her lippes falle
Ne wettee hir fvngres in her sauce depe.
Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe
That no drope ne fille upon hire breste. (PRIORESS)
(iv) Therefore, he was prickausour aright
Greyhounds he hadde, as swift as fowel in flight
Of prikying and of huntinge for the hare
Was at his best, for no cost would he spare
· REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: The Monk (Lines 189-192/858)
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes the Monk's favourite pastimes; riding horses and hunting hares. A monk is a member of religious community of men typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. However, Chaucer's Monk is corrupt. He does not follow the rules of the monastery which say that monks should not hunt. This Monk prefers to go hunting. He has many galloping horses and coursing greyhounds. The greyhounds are as fast as birds in flight. They can run at a speed of 64 kilometers per hour. He uses these greyhounds to track his preys. He usually hunts hares which are very innocent animals. This shows the Monk's cruel nature. To ride the horses and hunt the hares was a source of pleasure for him. He would do it whatever the cost. In short, he is a "monk out of his cloister" who is not "worth an oyster".
(v) Ful many a deyntee horse had he in stable;
And when he rood men myghte his broydel heer
Gynglen in a whistlunge wynd als cleere, (MONK)
(vi) Ful wel biloved and famulier was he
With frankeleyns over all his contree,
And eek with worthy wommen of the town; (FRIAR)
· REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: The Friar (Lines 215-217/858)
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes the Friar's intimacy with the franklins of his country and noblewomen of his town. The main duty of a friar is to live among the poor, to beg on their behalf and to give his earning to aid their struggle for livelihood. However, Chaucer's Friar is corrupt. He has acquaintance with franklins; the landowners of free but not noble birth. Moreover, he has familiarity with the noblewomen of the town because he has the power of confession. He is highly liked by these opulent people. In short, the Friar likes to hang out with wealthy people instead of living the life that St. Francis, the first friar, prescribes, he would spend time with the poor and sick.
(vii) Of twenty year of age he was, I guesse
Of his stature he was evene lengthe
And wonderly delyvere and greet of strengthe
(viii) Great chiere made oure fear us everichon,
And the soper sette he us anon,
And serve us with vitalle at the beste:
Strong was thy wyn and wel to drynke us leste.
(ix) A voys he hadde as hath a goot
No bread hadde he, ne never sholde have,
As smothe it was as it were late y-shave
(x) And yet he was but esy of dispence;
He kepte that he was in pestilence.
For gold in phisik is a cordial;
Therefore he lovede gold in special
A bettre felawe sholde men naught fynde,
He wolde suffre, fro a quart of wyn,
A good felawe to have his concubyn,
A twelf monther, and excuse hym atte fulle.
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet has described three characteristics of the Prioress; her smile, faith and nick name. The smile of the Prioress is very simple. It is easy to understand, presenting no difficulty. Her smile also makes a pretence of shyness and modesty which intends to be alluring. Thus she is a coquettish woman. Secondly, she has a firm faith in Saint Eloy who was the patron saint of goldsmiths, other metalworkers, and coin collectors. This saint worked for twenty years to convert the pagan population of Flanders to Christianity. Thirdly, she has a romantic name, Madam Eglantine. Eglantine is, in fact, a wild rose native to Eurasia having prickly stem, fragrant leaves, bright pink flowers, and scarlet hips. In Madam Eglantine, Chaucer depicts charm without substance. Thus Chaucer has described the nun in the opposite way to show us, how the nun Prioress had all the characteristics that a nun should not have.
An theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene,
On which ther was first write a crowned A,
And after Amor vincit omnia..
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: The Prioress (Lines 160-162/858)
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet has portrayed the Prioress's gold brooch and its motto.A brooch is a decorative jewelry item designed to be attached to garments by a pin or clasp, often to hold them closed. It is worn at or near the neck. The brooch, the Prioress is wearing, is dominated by the letter "A" which stands for Amor i.e. love. Some critics also assume the the brooch is in the shape of the letter "A". However, the most striking quality of the brooch is the Latin inscription on it: "Amor vincit omnia" which means "Love conquers all." This quote is from "Eclogue X" by Virgil. This Virgilian motto is very ambiguous. If it refers to celestial, heavenly love, then the brooch is an acceptable article to be found on the person of a nun. But it represents earthly love between a man and a woman which is absent in nuns. In short, the brooch is a symbol of the Prioress's unchristian character, her connection to laymen and the peasantry, rather than to any religious vocation.
(iii) She leet no morsel from her lippes falle
Ne wettee hir fvngres in her sauce depe.
Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe
That no drope ne fille upon hire breste. (PRIORESS)
(iv) Therefore, he was prickausour aright
Greyhounds he hadde, as swift as fowel in flight
Of prikying and of huntinge for the hare
Was at his best, for no cost would he spare
· REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: The Monk (Lines 189-192/858)
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes the Monk's favourite pastimes; riding horses and hunting hares. A monk is a member of religious community of men typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. However, Chaucer's Monk is corrupt. He does not follow the rules of the monastery which say that monks should not hunt. This Monk prefers to go hunting. He has many galloping horses and coursing greyhounds. The greyhounds are as fast as birds in flight. They can run at a speed of 64 kilometers per hour. He uses these greyhounds to track his preys. He usually hunts hares which are very innocent animals. This shows the Monk's cruel nature. To ride the horses and hunt the hares was a source of pleasure for him. He would do it whatever the cost. In short, he is a "monk out of his cloister" who is not "worth an oyster".
(v) Ful many a deyntee horse had he in stable;
And when he rood men myghte his broydel heer
Gynglen in a whistlunge wynd als cleere, (MONK)
(vi) Ful wel biloved and famulier was he
With frankeleyns over all his contree,
And eek with worthy wommen of the town; (FRIAR)
· REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: The Friar (Lines 215-217/858)
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes the Friar's intimacy with the franklins of his country and noblewomen of his town. The main duty of a friar is to live among the poor, to beg on their behalf and to give his earning to aid their struggle for livelihood. However, Chaucer's Friar is corrupt. He has acquaintance with franklins; the landowners of free but not noble birth. Moreover, he has familiarity with the noblewomen of the town because he has the power of confession. He is highly liked by these opulent people. In short, the Friar likes to hang out with wealthy people instead of living the life that St. Francis, the first friar, prescribes, he would spend time with the poor and sick.
(vii) Of twenty year of age he was, I guesse
Of his stature he was evene lengthe
And wonderly delyvere and greet of strengthe
(viii) Great chiere made oure fear us everichon,
And the soper sette he us anon,
And serve us with vitalle at the beste:
Strong was thy wyn and wel to drynke us leste.
(ix) A voys he hadde as hath a goot
No bread hadde he, ne never sholde have,
As smothe it was as it were late y-shave
(x) And yet he was but esy of dispence;
He kepte that he was in pestilence.
For gold in phisik is a cordial;
Therefore he lovede gold in special
A bettre felawe sholde men naught fynde,
He wolde suffre, fro a quart of wyn,
A good felawe to have his concubyn,
A twelf monther, and excuse hym atte fulle.
2. Explain the following extracts with reference to the context.
(a) Seint Julian he was in his contree.
His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon;
A bettre envyned man was nowher noon.
(b) He knew the cause of everich maladye,
Were it of hoot, or coold, or moyste, or drye,
And where they engendred, and of what homour.
(c) In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon
That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon;
And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she,
That she was out of alle charitee.
(d) She was a worthy womman al hir lyve:
Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve,
Withouten oother compaignye in youthe, ---
3. Explain the following extracts with reference to the context.
(a) For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste,
No wonder is a lewed man to ruste;
And shame it is, if a prest take keep,
A shiten shepherde and a clean sheep.
(b) He waited after no pompe and reverence,
Ne maked him a spiced conscience,
But Cristes loore and his apostles twelve
He taughte, but first he folwed it hymselve.
(c) A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde.
He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn
A good felawe to have his concubyn
A twelf mongh, and excuse hym atte fulle;
(d) Greet chiere made oure hoost us everichon,
And to the soper sette he us anon.
He served us with vitaille at the beste;
Strong was the wyn, and wel to drynke us leste.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO PREPARE
4. Female Characters in 'The Prologue'
5. Ecclesiastical Characters in 'The Prologue'
6. 'The Prologue' As a Cross-section of the 14th Century English Society
7. Irony and Satire in 'The Prologue'
8. Chaucer's Style and Narrative Skill in 'The Prologue'
prepared by ASMA SHEIKH
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ReplyDeletePlease telling me choucer writing style and how he use satire in his poetry with example????
ReplyDeletePlease telling me choucer writing style and how he use satire in his poetry with example????
ReplyDelete