The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales

1
The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales

• The Monk
• The Friar
• The Merchant
• The Oxford Cleric

2
The Monk
3
The Monk

• Characterization
• Diction
• one of the finest sort/ Who rode the country
  (163-164)
• Suggests he travels often
• A monk is religious person who lives away from
  the world in cloister where he resigns his life
  to Christ

4
The Monk

• His bridle, when he rode, a man might
  hearJingling in a whistling wind as
  clear,Aye, and as loud as does the chapel bell
  Where my lord Monk was Prior of the cell.
  (167-170)
• Expensive accessories

5
The Monk

• The Rule of good St. Benet or St. Maur/ As old
  and strict he tended to ignore (171-172)
• Ignores the rule of proper behavior for a monk

6
The Monk

• he spared for no expense (190)
• He was not pale like a tormented soul/ He like a
  fat swan best, and roasted whole. (203-204)
• Paleinside all day (cloistered)
• Ate very well

7
The Monk

• Purpose of the Diction
• Characterizes the Monk as a hypocrite
• Not concerned about the welfare of others
• Self-centered

8
The Monk

• Our Reaction
• We do not like the Monk

9
The Friar
10
The Friar

• Characterization
• Diction
• a wanton one and merry (206)
• Wantonjolly

11
The Friar

• Hed fixed up many a marriage, giving each/ Of
  his young women what he could afford her.
  (210-211)
• Chaucer implies that the Friar arranges marriages
  for girlfriends he is tired of

12
The Friar

• Sweetly he heard his penitents at shrift/ With
  pleasant absolution, for a gift. (219-220)
• Absolves peoples sins in exchange for gifts
• Unethical

13
The Friar

• His neck was whiter than a lily-flower/ But
  strong enough to butt a bruiser down. (236-237)
• He is stronger than he appears

14
The Friar

• He knew the taverns well in every town And
  every innkeeper and barmaid too Better than
  lepers, beggars and that crew, For in so eminent
  a man as he It was not fitting with the
  dignity Of his position, dealing with a
  scum Of wretched lepers nothing good can
  come Of commerce with such slum-and-gutter
  dwellers, But only with the rich and
  victual-sellers. (238-246)

15
The Friar

• Not interested in helping the poor
• The poor cannot offer him anything
• More familiar with the bartenders than the people
  he should be offering help to.

16
The Friar

• He was the finest beggar of his batch, And, for
  his begging-district, payed a rent His brethren
  did no poaching where he went. For though a widow
  mightnt have a shoe, So pleasant was his
  holy-dye-do He got his farthing from her just
  the same Before he left, and so his income
  came To more than he laid out. (250-257)

17
The Friar

• The Friar has a license to beg
• Takes money from the poor as well as the rich
• Unethical
• Remember, the Friar took a vow of poverty

18
The Friar

• Of double-worsted was the semi-cope Upon his
  shoulders, and the swelling fold About him, like
  a bell about its mould When it is casting,
  rounded out his dress. (264-267)
• Expensive and extravagant clothing
• Overweight

19
The Friar

• Purpose of the Diction
• Demonstrates that the Friar is unethical
• Uses his position to better himself
• Takes advantage of people
• Goes against his vows

20
The Friar

• Our Reaction to the Friar
• We do not like him
• We should not trust him

21
The Merchant
22
The Merchant

• Characterization
• Diction
• There was a Merchant with a forking beard And
  motley dress high on his horse he sat, Upon his
  head a Flemish beaver hat And on his feet
  daintily buckled boots. He told of his opinions
  and pursuits In solemn tones (274-279)

23
The Merchant

• Concerned with appearances and social stature
• Thinks highly of his opinions
• Bores others with his commentary

24
The Merchant

• This estimable Merchant so had set/ His wits to
  work, none knew he was in debt (283-284)
• False appearances

25
The Merchant

• Purpose of the Diction
• Demonstrates the narcissism of the Merchant
• Critics believe that because of the personal
  description of the Merchant, Chaucer had a
  particular individual in mind when writing about
  this character.

26
The Merchant

• Witty Ending
• To tell the truth I do not know his name
  (288)
• The merchant is so concerned about his social
  status and with achieving recognition, yet
  Chaucer cannot remember his name.

27
The Merchant

• Our Reaction to the Merchant
• Not much of an opinion
• We laugh at him
• He is somewhat forgettable

28
The Oxford Cleric
29
The Oxford Cleric

• Characterization
• Diction
• his horse was thinner than a rake, And he was
  not too fat, I undertake, But had a hollow look,
  a sober stare The thread upon his overcoat
  was bare. (291-294)
• Fits the stereotype of the poor, starving student

30
The Oxford Cleric

• He preferred having twenty books in red And
  black, of Aristotles philosophy, Than costly
  clothes, fiddle or psaltery. (298-300)
• More concerned with learning than with physical
  appearances

31
The Oxford Cleric

• Whatever money from his friends he
  took He spent on learning or another
  book And prayed for them most earnestly,
  returning Thanks to them thus for paying
  for his learning. (303-306)

32
The Oxford Cleric

• The Cleric repays his debts by praying for those
  who loaned him money
• More spiritual than the Monk or the Friar

33
The Oxford Cleric

• Purpose of the Diction
• Demonstrates the commitment of the Oxford Cleric
  to his studies
• Reminds us of the lack of commitment demonstrated
  by the Monk and the Friar

34
The Oxford Cleric

• Our Reaction to the Oxford Cleric
• Not much of an opinion
• Relatively forgettable character