Exam 4: The Reeve, The Summoner, The Pardoner, and The Host

The Reeve An estate manager Old, choleric, and thin Skinny legs like sticks Excellent bookkeeper Knows what crops he can expect to yield because he is an expert at reading the weather Sees over the dairies, stores, and cattle-pens Sees that all of the animals are cared for properly – sheep, hens, pigs, horses Feared by those who work under him Has a lovely dwelling on a heath

The Reeve Better at bargain than his lord Has stored up a treasure Spends money on his lord to curry his favor A first-rate carpenter Rides last in the cavalcade (parade)

The Summoner Summons people to church courts Has a fire-red face Face is covered with carbuncles (pus-filled boils resulting from a bacterial infection under the skin) Black, scabby brows Children are afraid of him Uses quicksilver, lead ointments, tartar creams, boracic, and brimstone (sulfur) to cure his facial pustules

The Summoner Eats garlic, onions, and leeks Drinks strong wine until he is drunk Shouts and jabbers the few Latin phrases he knows Uses his knowledge of people to take advantage of them

Reading Strategy: Analyzing Difficult Sentences #31.) In The sentences in lines 647-650, what could not be cured?

Answer The Summoner’s pimples could not be cured.

Review of Characterization Indirect Characterization: uses details to suggest a character’s personality Direct Characterization: specifically describes a characters personality

Literary Analysis: Characterization #32.) In lines 652-659, is the characterization of the Summoner direct or indirect?

Answer The characterization of the Summoner in this passage is indirect. The passage describes how he behaves – drunkenly and unintelligently – and encourages the reader to extend that description to his character

Reading Check #33.) How does the Summoner turn religion to personal profit?

Answer The Summoner will allow immoral activity to go on, provided he gets paid to look the other way.

The Pardoner Sings well Has waxy, yellow hair that hangs down like rat-tails Has bulging eyeballs like a hare Has a holy relic on his cap Has just returned from Rome Cannot grow facial hair Sells fake pardons Has a high-pitched, goat-like voice Might be a gelding or a mare Can make more money in one day than a local parson Wins money from the crowd in church when he sings the Offertory

Critical Viewing #34.) How well does this picture of the Pardoner match Chaucer’s description of him in lines 695-710?

Answer The picture matches Chaucer’s description quite well. The Pardoner has stringy blonde hair, lacks a beard, and has a relic or pilgrim’s medal attached to his cap.

Literary Analysis: Characterization #35.) What facts in lines 719-726 indirectly characterize the Pardoner?

Answer The facts of the Pardoner’s tricking “poor up-country” folks and making “monkeys of the priest and congregation” indirectly characterize him as a dishonest person.

Reading Strategy: Analyzing Difficult Sentences #36.) Why does Chaucer apologize in the sentence starting with line 745?

Answer He apologizes because he is going to report matters frankly, without euphemisms euphemism: the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt. ex. “To pass away” is a euphemism for “to die.”

The Host Owns and runs the Tabard Inn Serves fine victuals Has bright eyes a wide girth Merry-hearted Proposes that each of the pilgrims tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and two stories on the way back to Southwark Decides to ride with the pilgrims and to judge the storytelling contest Wakes the pilgrims early on the first day of the pilgrimage Has the pilgrims draw straws to see who will tell the first story

Reading Check # 37.) What concern does the Host raise?

Answer The Host raises the concern that they will be riding without much to amuse them.

Literary Analysis: Characterization #38.) What does the Host’s decision to accompany the pilgrims suggest about him?

Answer The host is a generous, curious fellow.