Canterbury Tales Midterm Review

Canterbury Tales Midterm Review

• General Prologue Overview: Pilgrims gather at the Tabard Inn in London, preparing for a pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral. The Host proposes a story-telling game for the journey.

Important Characters

• Chaucer: The narrator, who observes and reports the pilgrims' stories.
• Squire: Young, romantic, and eager to participate in war.
• Yeoman: Possible non-white servant, focused on equipment care.
• Prioress: Nun, striving for upper-class status, speaks French improperly.
• Monk: A hunter, wealthy, and uninterested in traditional religious practices.
• Friar: A wandering monk, known for lust, marrying multiple women casually, and neglecting the poor.
• Merchant: Appearing wealthy but deeply in debt. Focused on money.
• Clerk: Prioritizes books and study, with wealthy friends.
• Lawyer: Pretends to be busy, socializes with the elite, and owns land
• Franklin: Nobleman, cheerful, and focused on fine food.
• Guildsmen: Well-dressed, financially secure merchants.
• Cook: Travels with the guildsmen; has an ulcer.
• Shipman: Steals wine, a pirate.
• Doctor: Not religious, balances legitimate and deceitful practices. Values money.
• Wife of Bath: Independent, proud, marries wealthy older men, and financially astute.
• Manciple: Purchases supplies for lawyers, known for dishonest dealings.
• Reeve: Skinny, angry, and cheats his lord to gain wealth.
• Summoner: Church official, sells indulgences, suffers from skin condition. Accepts bribes and downplays excommunication.
• Pardoner: Sells fake relics and indulgences for profit, possibly castrated.
• Parson: Ideal priest, spiritually rich, and respectful of the poor.
• Plowman: Humble, devout, and hard-working; supportive brother of the Parson.
• Miller: Tall, strong, and boastful; deceives and steals.
• Host: Innkeeper; leads the storytelling game.

Miller's Tale Characters

• John: Rich, jealous landlord who distrusts his wife.
• Alison: Young, pretty wife.
• Nicholas: Deceitful, lustful clerk.
• Absalom: Lustful parish clerk; contrasts with Nicholas’ approach.

Major Plot Points

• General Prologue: Pilgrims gather at the Tabard Inn; Host proposes the story-telling game.
• Miller's Tale: John is tricked by Nicholas and Alison, resulting in humiliation. The tale critiques gullibility and social hypocrisy.

Literary-Historical Context

• Written between 1387-1400 during the Black Death.
• English usage in Parliament.
• Trend of French courtly influence in literature. Fabliau genre.
• Chaucer's background: Upper middle class, educated, served in government, and extensive travel.
• Satire of pilgrimage and the Church's corruption.

Major Themes and Symbols

• Four Humors: Phlegmatic, melancholic, choleric, sanguine.
• Groups of Pilgrims: Good vs. corrupt, examples of corruption in the church.
• Critiques of the Church: Corrupt practices, money being more important than spiritual aspects through bribes and indulgences.
• Concerns of Wealth: Obsession with wealth and appearance.
• Chivalry: Critique on outdated chivalry norms and young people's disregard for them.
• Chaucer's Criticism: Religious and social hypocrisy. Material wealth and appearances.

Important Quotes

• Quote highlighting the Church's corruption and emphasis on financial power.
• Quote highlighting the Pardoner's fraudulent practices and the Church's corruption.
• Quote demonstrating the critique of social hypocrisy by focusing on the treatment of the carpenter .
• Quote on the importance of clergy and their role in society.