1. The Canterbury Tales
The Characters

2. The Prologue Frame: rules for the pilgrimage contest
Chaucer’s purpose: overview of medieval life
Chaucer NOT seriously condemning anyone, even those harshly criticized; goal is satire, point out folly of humanity
3 people praised: knight, parson, plowman (a member from each class)
Tone: satirical, cavalier

3. The Knight’s Tale Chivalry War
Love (idealized, love-at-first-sight, worth fighting for)
Knight: verbose (“I have no time…”)
Anachronistic: setting is Athens but tale style is romance
Gender Divisions:
Women: subordinate, emotional, dependent/property
Men: strong, brave, honorable, merciful
Color Imagery
Mythological allusions (add to characterization)
Foreshadowing
Tone: lofty, hyperbolic
Proverbs (Tone didactic here)
Language: formal, ornate

4. The Miller’s Tale Town vs. gown Immoral ecclesiast
Easy women / love not sacred but a game
Working class (carpenters)
Language: base, crude, vulgar, informal
Biblical allusions
Proverbs
Tone: satirical, mocking
Physical, slapstick humor
Dramatic Irony
Plot mayhem (from climax to res olution) unites main & subplots via a minor character

5. The Reeve’s Tale Town vs. gown Easy women Working class ( millers)
Language: base, crude, in parts euphemistic
Proverbs
Dialect for characterization
Plot mayhem from climax to resolution
Physical, slapstick humor
Dramatic Irony
Tone: sardonic, vindictive

6. The Nun’s Priest’s Tale
Aristocracy (rich) vs. pastoral (poor)
Fable / mock-heroic tale
Frame story
Parables / many morals
Biblical allusions
Mythological allusions
Scientific knowledge
Gender Divisions:
Women: downfall of men
Men: hen-pecked
Tone: mock-heroic, satirical, mocking

7. Wife of Bath’s Prologue
Biblical allusions
Mythological allusions (some)
Female superiority / men would be knights or gentlemen
Proverbs
Logical argumentation
Tone: ardent, impassioned / reproachful and chiding in some parts
Diction: incisive, euphemistic

8. Wife of Bath’s Tale Knights Female superiority Proverbs
Tone: satiric of code of chivalry but overall tone is didactic

9. The Test : 85 points total Test is divided by reading selection
Multiple Choice (1 point each)
Short answer (2 points each)
Prologue: 6 MC, 3 SA
“The Knight’s Tale”: 9 MC, 6 SA
“The Miller’s Tale”: 5 MC, 4 SA
“The Reeve’s Tale”: 5 MC, 4 SA
“The Nun’s Priest’s Tale”: 5 MC, 2 SA
“The Wife of Bath…” prologue and tale: 6 MC, 3 SA
Mini-essay / extended paragraph: (5 points)—pulling it all together