Geoffrey Robertson

Geoffery Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales is one of the greatest literary works in the history of English literature, as his tales captured the vernacular and societal structure of the Middle Ages in Europe. Before his time, most literature were either written in languages of royalty and nobility such as Latin or French, further promoting a disconnection from the common people. One of his most notable stories of the anthology would be The Knights’ Tale. Chaucer’s personal experience, his use of…

Canterbury Tales Chaucer begins in the prologue talking about how one spring he was making a pilgrimage to Canterbury along with other people who were mostly strangers but he managed to fit in. He basically said that he wanted to tell us about each of the twenty nine people in this pilgrimage group. He wanted to describe what they did for a living, who they were, and what they were wearing. He started by telling us about the Knight. Each character had a little something about them that was…

In the prologue of the Canterbury Tales, Chaucer introduces 29 pilgrims making a pilgrimage to Canterbury, where St. Thomas Beckett’s resting place is. Two tales that could be similar/ different to each other are “The Franklin’s Tale” and “The Wife of Bath’s Tale.” “The Franklin’s Tale” is a tale focusing on prudence, truth and kindness in human relationship. “The Wife of Bath's Tale” is a tale providing understandings of the role of women during the late Middle Ages. “The Franklin’s Tale” and…

“It happened that King Arthur had in his court a lusty squire who one day rode along the river where he saw a girl walking ahead of him, alone as she was born, and, despite her resistance, he ravished her” (Chaucer 184). During the Middle Ages, because of the story of Adam and Eve, it was believed that all women were inherently sinful and an instrument of evil. In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer illustrates the struggle that women were faced with their entire life; in all circumstances, men…

The Pardoner is a low level Church official selling pardons, papers signed by the church, that can be bought to excuse petty sins. In the prologue of the tale the while taking a drink of wine the Pardoner talks about how the passages he takes from town to town and specifically about how the pardons he sells along with relics that claim to have powers of redemption and salvation are all indeed fake and just for money. The Pardoner cares very little about the lives and spirits of his customers,…

The Canterbury Tales is a handed-down master piece which enjoys the reputation of the world. The author Chaucer based on his rich experience, sharp eyes and vivid strokes, depicting the image of all kinds of people in the various sectors of society at that age. Those images have clear outline, vivid and realistic, and contributes a profound reflection of British society landscape at the end of the 14th century (E.Legouis 202). In his elaborately shaped 29 pilgrims to Canterbury pilgrimage, there…

In The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer presents a reflection of the real world in “The Prioress’s Tale” to emphasize and satirize the divisions and flaws of Medieval English society. Chaucer primarily highlights the anti-Semitic qualities of Christian society through the Prioress’s reaction to this well-defined schism. In particular, the Prioress exemplifies the sharp division between the Jewish community and the overbearing Christian population as she states, “First of our foes, the Serpent…

The Wife of Bath’s Tale and A Modest Proposal utilize satirical elements to better convey their message while also approaching similar themes, however A Modest Proposal was a more effective satire than The Wife of Bath’s Tale. They manage to stay authentic in their approach by using the various elements offered such as using humor or harshness to get their point across to the reader. First and foremost, A Modest Proposal is a Juvenalian satire that relies on harshness and realism to get the…

“Shal falle a rain, and that so wilde and wood, That half so greet was nevere Noees flood. This world,” he saide, “in lasse than an hour Shal al be dreint, so hidous is the showr. Thus shal mankind drenche and lese hir lif.” (Chaucer 409-414) Chaucer’s intention of employing various biblical references indicated the significance of religion vs society and his social status in the medieval era. The text above is told through the tone of a drunken character, who the readers should perceive as an…

Dalton Allen Mrs. Jacomme Major British Writers Period 8 6 December 2016 Caritas and Cupiditas Mankind has always been a very selfish species. Many people today and throughout history have expressed cupiditas; selfish love. However, there is an equal amount of people who have expressed caritas; unselfish love. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales showcases a number of characters who either express caritas or cupiditas, much like the real world does. Chaucer used the Canterbury Tales to both…