1. From Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales
The monk
From Chaucer’s
Canterbury Tales

2. Monastic Oaths A monk’s life was based on asceticism. Vow of Poverty
Based on Christ’s disdain for worldly possessions
Vow of Chastity
Viewed as rising about the temptations of the flesh, allowing a more personal connection with God
Vow of Obedience
To Abbots and superiors
Vow of Prayer
Intended to bring him closer to God and spiritual satisfaction

3. Abbot: Head of a monastery Prior: usually the rank below Abbot
A monk there was, one of the finest sort
who rode the country; hunting was his sport.
A manly man, to be an Abbot able;
Many a dainty horse he had in stable.
His bridle, when he rode, a man might hear
Jingling in a whistling wind as clear,
Aye, as loud as does the chapel bell
Where my lord Monk was the Prior of the cell.
Abbot: Head of a monastery
Prior: usually the rank below Abbot
Hunting

4. The rule of good Saint Benet or Saint Maur
As old and strict he tended to ignore;
He let go by the things of yesterday
and took the modern world’s more spacious way.
He did not rate that text at plucked hen
Which says that hunters are not holy men
Saint Benet (St. Benedict): Wrote a set of regulations for monasteries.
Saint Maur (St. Maurice): One of his disciples
Disregard for tradition

5. And that a monk uncloistered is a mere
fish out of water, flapping on a pier,
that is to say a monk out of his cloister.
That was a text he held not worth and oyster;
And I agreed and said his views were sound;
Was he to study till his head went round
pouring over books in the cloisters? Must he toil
as Austin bade and till the very soil?
Was he to leave the world upon the shelf?
Let Austin have his labor himself.
Cloister: a secluded place in a monastery, often used for private prayer
Austin: Saint Augustine, One of the First Christian authors, Criticized the laziness of monks

6. This monk was therefore a good man to horse; Greyhounds he had, as swift as birds, to course. Hunting a hare or riding at a fence was all his fun, he spared for no expense.

7. Luxury Lover’s knot I saw his sleeves were garnished at the hand
with fine gray fur, the finest in the land,
and on his hood, to fasten it at his chin
he had a wrought-gold cunningly fashioned pin;
Into s lover’s knot it seemed to pass.
His head was bald and shone like looking glass;
So did his face, as if it had been greased.
He was a fat and personable priest;
Luxury
Lover’s knot

8. Prelate: someone with a high position in the church
His prominent eyeballs never seemed to settle.
They glittered like the flames beneath the kettle;
Supple his boots, his horse in fine condition.
He was a prelate fit for exhibition,
He was not pale like a tormented soul.
He liked a far swan best, and roasted whole.
His palfrey was as brown as is a berry.
Prelate: someone with a high position in the church
Palfrey: a horse for riding for sport rather than battle

9. General Analysis
The monk, clearly did not follow the typical ideals of someone in his position. It is arguable that he broke every monastic oath.
Poverty
He enjoyed things such as fine horses, fine clothing, and hunting dogs.
Prayer
He does not stay refined to the monastery and insists that prayers be left for the old fashioned.
Obedience
He blatantly disregards tradition and does not live according to the rules of the monastery.
Chastity
Though it is not as blantant as the others, its is suggeseted that the Monk had some romantic entanglement (Lover’s knot)

10. Chaucer’s View?
The description of the Monk is reflective of the corruption of the church during this time.
Respect?

11. Modern Day Paralells