During what years did Chaucer live?
- From 1340 to 1400
When did Chaucer write the “Canterbury Tales?”
- 1386
What is the genre of the Prioress’ tale?
- Miracle of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Anti-semitism
- Miracles of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- *Boy gets throat slit, but continues to sing
- Singing
- Pearl/Grain
- Blood-libel: myth that blood was used in the communion bread
List some of the topics found in the Prioress’ tale.
- Narrator: Prioress
- Mother
- Child
- Priest
- Mayor (guilty of usury)
Who are the possible speakers in the Prioress’ tale?
What is the genre of Sir Thopas’ tale?
- Romance
- Elf Queen
- Stature/ description of Chaucer the Pilgrim
- Fantasy
- *Intends to draw a parallel between Miracles of the Blessed Virgin Mary and fantasies like the Elf Queen
List some of the topics found in Sir Thopas’ tale.
Who are the possible speakers in Sir Thopas’ tale?
- Sir Thopas
What is the genre of Melibee’s tale?
- Moral Prose Treatise
- Removal of senses
- Revenge
- Advice
- Forgiveness
- Authority
- *This comes from spiritual and secular world
List some of the topics found in Melibee’s tale.
Who are the possible speakers in Melibee’s tale?
- Melibee
- Prudence
- Sophie
- *Her disappearance signals the disappearance of wisdom.
- Advisors
What is the genre of the Monk’s tale?
- Exemplum Collection
- Wheel of fortune
- Boccaccio’s “Decasibus Variorum Illustration”
- *Tales of the fortune of famous men
- *Reminds them of their mortality
- *Reminds them that their fortune can turn
- “Mirror or Princes”
List some of the topics found in the Monk’s tale.
Who are the possible speakers in the Monk’s tale?
- Monk
What is the genre of the Nun’s Priest’s tale?
- Fable
- Dreams
- Male Authority
- Pride
- Moralizing
- Wheat/chaff metaphor
- *Trying to get the truth from the fable
- Lack of other male characters
- Cicero’s definition of “fable”: Not like the truth, nor resembling the truth
- Peasant’s revolt
List some of the topics found in the Nun’s Priest’s tale.
Who are the possible speakers in the Nun’s Priest’s tale?
- Rooster
- Hen
- Fox
What is the genre of the Second Nun’s tale?
- Hagiography
- Martyrdom
- Miracles/the Impossible
- *Sim. to Prioress’ Tale
- Cult of Saints
- *Group of saints that serve as intercessors
- Cartesian dualism
- *We’re never sure of what’s real
- Inversions
List some of the topics found in the Second Nun’s tale.
Who are the possible speakers in the Second Nun’s tale?
- St. Cecilia
- Valerian
- Almachias
- Alchemy
- Fires/sweating
- *Contrast with Second Nun’s Tale
- *They sweat, but St. Cecilia did not
- *Also note that in the prologue, the horses ride up half-dead, and sweating
- Good works to gain salvation
List some of the topics found in the Canon Yeoman’s tale.
Who are the possible speakers in the Canon Yeoman’s tale?
- Yeoman
What is the genre of the Manciple’s tale?
- Myth of Origin
* *Why the crow has black feathers
- Works this is inspired by:
- *Ovid’s “Metamorphosis”
- *“Confesio Amantis”
- *“Le Livre du Vior Dit”
- Viciousness of women
- Language
List some of the topics found in the Manciple’s tale.
