Rebecca Xie 00121144 Professor Hus English Literature to 1800 May 9‚ 2013 The Costumes of the Characters in The Canterbury Tales I. What I know from the reading. In The Canterbury Tales‚ the pilgrims are from different social classes. These characters represent people in different social classes. When I was reading “General Prologue‚” I found that these characters’ appearances are vividly described‚ especially for their costumes. It provoked my interest on medieval costumes. It starts form
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Medieval England literature all seem to follow a basic set of ideas. Although many of the plays and tales we have read so far are different in plotlines‚ they all possess a certain set of ideas and focus on certain concepts. In each piece of literature‚ not only is God mentioned‚ but religion almost always is a main issue in the plot. Along with holiness and religion‚ virtues and chivalry are also common in this type of literature‚ whether it be how the characters have good virtues or the characters’
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The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales A satire is the use of humor‚ irony‚ exaggeration‚ or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices‚ particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. Satires are used in the piece of writing named “The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales.” In the story‚ Chaucer‚ the narrator uses satirical speech to describe a few characters. These characters are: The Prioress (the nun)‚ The Monk‚ The Summoner‚ The Pardoner
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Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales reflect the various ways of navigating and perceiving society in the British Middle Ages. One of the great merits of this collection is Chaucer’s intent to expose the eyes of the readers to an overview of medieval life. Starting with the General Prologue‚ he expands on the various characters that are representative of the various tiers of society‚ from the nobility to the working class. His descriptions provide firsthand knowledge about the social‚ economic
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Canterbury Tales essay Many of the religious characters in The Canterbury Tales represent character traits that are different from what is traditionally expected of them. This is because the Catholic Church‚ which ruled all of England‚ Ireland and most of Europe in the Fourteenth Century‚ was extremely wealthy. Extravagant cathedrals were built in every big city while the people suffered from poverty‚ disease and famine. The contrast between the wealth of the church and misery of the people was
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Chaucer’s Use of Irony in The Canterbury Tales In The Canterbury Tales‚ Geoffrey Chaucer compiles a mixture of stories on a pilgrimage into a figurative depiction of the medieval society in which he lived. Chaucer’s stories have a punch and pizzazz‚ which‚ to an average reader‚ seem uncommon to the typical medieval writer‚ making his story more delightful. Certain things account for this pizzazz‚ especially the author’s use of irony. Many of Chaucer’s characters are ironic in the sense that they
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Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales I. Chaucer’s Career Born into the growing middle class‚ son of a wine merchant (c. 1340). Served in the royal household (page to 2nd son of Edward III) and later held a series of administrative posts under Edward and Richard II. Visited France and Italy on behalf of the crown during the 1360’s and 1370’s‚ exposing him to the literature of Europe‚ particularly the French Roman de la Rose and Boccaccio’s Decameron. Chaucer’s career illustrates the economic
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the author of a story and the story that he writes‚ whether intentional or not. In Geoffrey Chaucer’s story‚ Canterbury Tales‚ many of the characters on the pilgrimage make this statement evident with the tales that they tell. Such a distinct relationship can be made between the character of the Pardoner and the tale that he tells. Through the Prologue to the Pardoner’s tale‚ the character of the Pardoner is revealed. Although the Pardoner displays many important traits‚ the most prevalent
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In Chaucer’s prologue to The Canterbury Tales‚ Chaucer describes two men who are associated with the church of that day. The two men that Chaucer describes are complete counterparts of what one would expect to find in men of their positions. Firstly‚ Chaucer mentions a “Monk”. When one thinks of a monk of the church‚ one thinks of a person who practices religious asceticism‚ but the “Monk” that Chaucer describes does not necessarily match up to any of the qualities that would come to mind. When most
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The Canterbury Tales contains three very different characters with varying stories. The Wife of Bath‚ The Nun’s Priest‚ and the Pardoner all have unique perspectives on life and morality. Each tells a story that reveals their true beliefs and personalities. Every story possesses a moral that goes with the character who told it. Firstly‚ The Wife of Bath and her tale can be compared with the Nuns Priest and the Pardoner. The Wife of Bath is an eccentric woman who is luxuriously dressed: “Her kerchiefs
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