Throughout history, many have worked assiduously to grasp the true essence of society and the social hierarchy, but none have come close to Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. Telling stories within a pilgrimage to Canterbury, Chaucer focuses his writing on the imperfections and blemishes of the church, the workforce, and even the common man.
While The Canterbury Tales employs a variety of literary devices, the exemplum is the most prominent, utilizing examples to teach the reader lessons regarding common vices and flaws of medieval society. Examples of the exemplum are scattered throughout The Canterbury Tales but are most prominently found in “The Prologue”, “The Pardoner’s Tale”, and “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”. “The Prologue”, which …show more content…
(245-50).
This quote highlights that, although it is the friar’s job to assist the poor and beggars, he cares only for himself and the upper-class. The friar’s life is a reflection of how Chaucer perceived society at that time. This reflection is further illustrated as Chaucer describes the rest of the pilgrims. Chaucer labels those who are supposed to be integral as corrupt, and those who are thought out to be hedonistic as selfless. Perhaps the most deceitful of all of the pilgrims, the Pardoner, is introduced. The Pardoner, who tells the “The Pardoner’s Tale” is described at the end of the prologue and begins his tale; a tale filled with exemplums. Prior to telling his didactic tale, the Pardoner tells of himself and his ultimate goals. The reader learns he is speaking against greed and, although he is very much guilty himself, teaches those around him by using the example in his story. “The Pardoner’s Tale” begins with three rioters. These three rioters hear of a mysterious being called Death, and, upon hearing of Death’s treacherous acts, they pursue it. By making the claim “If we can only catch him, Death is dead!” (The Pardoner’s Tale 130), the three rioters begin their chase. Chaucer immediately utilizes the exemplum in the story to demonstrate that the three rioters seek Death. It is understood that the rioters lead quite a decadent lifestyle and, through the seeking of Death, the rioters will ultimately …show more content…
To have her “old and ugly” (366) but also still “loyal, true and humble” (367). Or, for her to be “young and pretty” (369) but also potentially unfaithful. He responds by saying “I leave the matter to your wise decision” (377), symbolizing he has given up his old debauched ways for a new, better one. As the story concludes the knight and the now young, beautiful, and faithful lady live happily ever after. As Shead puts it, “her transformation is entirely a matter of her own deciding” meaning the knight has given full sovereign to the now young and beautiful lady. The lesson taught by this example is no matter what past one holds, through diligence and faithfulness, one can flip his or her life around for the
While The Canterbury Tales employs a variety of literary devices, the exemplum is the most prominent, utilizing examples to teach the reader lessons regarding common vices and flaws of medieval society. Examples of the exemplum are scattered throughout The Canterbury Tales but are most prominently found in “The Prologue”, “The Pardoner’s Tale”, and “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”. “The Prologue”, which …show more content…
(245-50).
This quote highlights that, although it is the friar’s job to assist the poor and beggars, he cares only for himself and the upper-class. The friar’s life is a reflection of how Chaucer perceived society at that time. This reflection is further illustrated as Chaucer describes the rest of the pilgrims. Chaucer labels those who are supposed to be integral as corrupt, and those who are thought out to be hedonistic as selfless. Perhaps the most deceitful of all of the pilgrims, the Pardoner, is introduced. The Pardoner, who tells the “The Pardoner’s Tale” is described at the end of the prologue and begins his tale; a tale filled with exemplums. Prior to telling his didactic tale, the Pardoner tells of himself and his ultimate goals. The reader learns he is speaking against greed and, although he is very much guilty himself, teaches those around him by using the example in his story. “The Pardoner’s Tale” begins with three rioters. These three rioters hear of a mysterious being called Death, and, upon hearing of Death’s treacherous acts, they pursue it. By making the claim “If we can only catch him, Death is dead!” (The Pardoner’s Tale 130), the three rioters begin their chase. Chaucer immediately utilizes the exemplum in the story to demonstrate that the three rioters seek Death. It is understood that the rioters lead quite a decadent lifestyle and, through the seeking of Death, the rioters will ultimately …show more content…
To have her “old and ugly” (366) but also still “loyal, true and humble” (367). Or, for her to be “young and pretty” (369) but also potentially unfaithful. He responds by saying “I leave the matter to your wise decision” (377), symbolizing he has given up his old debauched ways for a new, better one. As the story concludes the knight and the now young, beautiful, and faithful lady live happily ever after. As Shead puts it, “her transformation is entirely a matter of her own deciding” meaning the knight has given full sovereign to the now young and beautiful lady. The lesson taught by this example is no matter what past one holds, through diligence and faithfulness, one can flip his or her life around for the