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Knights in ?The Canterbury Tales?, 2004.
A comparative analysis of the portrayal and use of knights in Geoffrey Chaucer's ?The Canterbury Tales?.
1,046 words (approx. 4.2 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 36.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how the narrator in the Prologue of ?The Canterbury Tales? paints a noble view of the Knight as a distinguished man who practiced chivalry, truth, honour, generosity, and courtesy. It looks at how, although the narrator may have an ideal view of the noble Knight, Chaucer has another. Through an analysis of some of the tales, such as "The Knight?s Tale" and "The Miller's Tale", it examines how Chaucer is actually setting the stage for satire.
From the Paper
"Another knight that appears less than nobles is mentioned in the Wife of Bath?s Tale. In fact, this knight seems to be the opposite of the knight described in the prologue because he actually commits rape. We are told he is a knight ?who was a lusty liver? (300), and despite the maiden?s begging, he ?by very force he took her maidenhood? (300). Clearly, this act violates all of the chivalric codes. This knight is not completely without merit, hot he does keep his word to the old lady when she supplies him with the correct answer to the question that will save his life. As with the knights in the Knight?s Tale, Chaucer is presenting the knights with a combination of noble qualities as well as very human qualities."
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The Knight's and Miller's Tales in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales", 2000.
1,800 words (approx. 7.2 pages), 2 sources, $ 57.95
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Abstract
This paper is fairly theoretical but it uses common close reading techniques on both the primary and secondary texts of "The Canterbury Tales" to exam issues of sexuality and class in the Knight's Tale and the Miller's Tale. The Canterbury tales text used was not translated so the quotations are still in Chaucerian English.
From the Paper
" In, The History of Sexuality, Volume I: An Introduction, Michel Foucault writes of the seventeenth century as ?the beginning of an age of repression emblematic of what we call the bourgeois societies (17).? Thus placing Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales decidedly before this ?age of repression,? in a time when ?sexual practices had little need of secrecy; words were said without undue reticence, and things were done without too much concealment,? when, ? one had a tolerant familiarity with the illicit (Foucault 3).? With this historical demarcation in mind I would like to consider the erotic triangles dealt with in the first two stories of The Canterbury Tales and how they relate to expressions of a class-conscious male sexuality. To do this I will be drawing heavily on the introduction and first chapter of Eve Sedgwick?s seminal text, Between Men: English Literature and Male Homosocial Desire, for a theoretical and critical base.Specifically I will be looking at the climactic moments of these first two tales (the Knight?s and the Miller?s) to analyze how the problematic erotic triangles are worked out between the two men involved, and comparing the way class difference makes itself apparent."
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Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Wife of Bath's Tale" from The Canterbury Tales., 1991.
This paper examines Geoffrey Chaucer's narrative techniques and philosophy of marriage in "The Wife of Bath's Tale" from The Canterbury Tales.
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 1 source, $ 39.95
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From the Paper
This paper is concerned with an examination of Geoffrey Chaucer's narrative techniques in "The Wife of Bath's Tale" from The Canterbury Tales. The Wife of Bath certainly has the qualifications to be an expert on marriage because she has been married five times. Basically, she is the Fool of the company in the traditional manner in which everyday truth is turned upside down. If practice makes perfect, then the Wife of Bath has had considerable training on the subject of matrimony. However, it could be that she needed to commit matrimony until she got it right. And so, the "Prologue" commences: "Experience, though noon auctoritee/Were in this world, is right ynough for me/To speke of wo that is in marriage:/For lordinges, sith I twelf yeer was of age--/Thanked be God that is eterne on live--/Housbondes at chirche dore I have had five/(If I so ofte mighte han wedded ... "
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"Canterbury Tales: The Miller's Tale", 2003.
Looks at the portrayal of gender in the "Canterbury Tales General Prologue", Miller's Portrait, and the "Miller's Tale" by Chaucer.
1,750 words (approx. 7.0 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 56.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how the Miller's lack of virtue, as seen in his portrait and unsavory scatological tale, forms an aggregate text that works to disgust the reader.
From the Paper
Michael Pertschuk states on the topic of gender roles and beauty that, ?the stereotypical male has been depicted as fixated on female bodies while being largely oblivious of his own" (54). This is true of the Miller?s character portrait in the Canterbury Tales. The Miller is described to be a despicable, burly man, who is involved in activities deeply rooted in masculinity. In his tale, the characters that emerge unscathed or victor of the mating competition fit what we could assume to be within his gender role paradigm.
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"Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer, 2006.
A look at the general prologue of Geoffrey Chaucer's " Canterbury Tales".
1,219 words (approx. 4.9 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 41.95
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Abstract
In this book review, the author looks at the general prologue of Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales". The paper examines the masterful and clever way in which Chaucer described late Middle Age life. The author reminds us that "Canterbury Tales" is actually an unfinished work due to Chaucer's untimely death. The existing "Canterbury Tales" actually comprises only about one fourth of the intended one hundred twenty or more tales. The paper examines in detail each of the characters that Chaucer centers upon and how they are portrayed in a comical manner. The author concludes with the question of whether the issues raised in the book have changed significantly over time and if Chaucer's confidence in his assessment of his contemporaries was misplaced.
From the Paper
"The Knight, model of chivalry and courtesy, having acquitted himself well in all of the major expeditions and conflicts of the half-century preceding the pilgrimage, assumes the role of exemplar of Middle English nobility. In modesty, gentleness and adherence to truth, he is established as the vessel for those noble human traits by which the reader will measure each of the others. ("He was a knight in all things to perfection.") The Knight has glorified himself in many battles, but is prudent in his speech and manner. He is thus portrayed as being praiseworthy without being proud. These characteristics make him clearly the most admired of the pilgrims, and his tale being first sets the bar by which all others shall be judged in both their tales and their telling."
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Prologue in "The Canterbury Tales", 2006.
Looks at why Geoffrey Chaucer included the General Prologue in his work, "The Canterbury Tales", using the Friar Huberd as an example.
1,769 words (approx. 7.1 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 57.95
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Abstract
In writing "The Canterbury Tales", Geoffrey Chaucer decided that instead of he being the teller of the tales, he would use various characters to tell their tales. He uses the General Prologue to introduce each of these pilgrims who, on the road to Canterbury, will each tell a tale. The paper shows that the narrator of the General Prologue, himself a pilgrim, relates to us, the readers, what his impression of each character is based on his own observations and on what each character has chosen to tell him. Each description in the General Prologue is, upon first reading, quite complimentary, yet there seems to be many ambiguous comments made that lead us to suspect that each character is being satirised in turn. To understand this more fully, the paper examines the description of the Friar, Huberd.
From the Paper
"The first description of the Friar that we are given is that he is "a wantowne...man." (l. 208) If we understand "wantowne" as meaning jovial or light hearted (Benson, 808) then there seems to be nothing untoward in Huberd's behaviour. It may even be preferable to have an easy going manner while working so closely with the people. However, "wantowne" can also be understood as being lascivious. (Benson, 808). How is it possible to decide which meaning of this ambiguous term applies to Huberd? We must read further on in his description to decide."
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"The Canterbury Tales", 2007.
This paper analyzes the personal convictions that influenced Geoffrey Chaucer's writings in "The Canterbury Tales".
4,774 words (approx. 19.1 pages), 10 sources, MLA, $ 122.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses how Chaucer lived in the complex social situation that was fourteenth century England and shows how "The Canterbury Tales" is written through a particular lens. The paper analyzes the female characters that Chaucer presents in light of his personal bias. The paper demonstrates how "The Canterbury Tales" were written to entertain a medieval audience and asserts that we should only relate to them as an indication as to what English society was like.
From the Paper
"Certainly, the women of "The Canterbury Tales" can be, to some extent, understood simply through the way Chaucer intends to present them; but Chaucer's very conception of what a woman is can also be utilized as a method toward grasping the essential role of women in medieval society. Chaucer, as a member of the dominant culture in medieval Europe--wealthy men--necessarily creates and describes his female characters in terms of their relationship to specific archetypes. Yet, in this respect, Chaucer is exceedingly innovative--for his time--regarding the creation of all his characters: each character is, in a way, held up to the ideal model of what it means to be a monk, a friar, a prioress, or a knight, and shown to somehow diverge from their associated epitome."
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Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales", 2005.
This paper compares "The Pardoner's Tale" and "The Parson's Tale" from Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales".
2,600 words (approx. 10.4 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 78.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that "The Pardoner's Tale" and "The Parson's Tale", from Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales", both make sin the focus of their tales but in vastly different ways. The author points out that the Pardoner appears to revel in the baser qualities of both himself and others, enjoying the discomfort he causes his audience, in no small measure due to the qualities of sterility and death without the hope of life that he represents. The paper relates that "The Parson", which contrasts with "The Pardoner" in the personality of the character, the story content and the structure, is a much simpler a man than the Pardoner, in that there are no contradictions in his personality; furthermore there are no contradictions between the Parson's actions and his words because he believes in the Christian principles in his sermon to the point of Puritanism.
Table of Contents
The Pardoner: Decadence
The Pardoner's Tale
The Parson
The Parson's Sermon
Conclusion
From the Paper
"The Parson thus abandons all attempts at narrative, and puritanically focuses only on purely Christian principles. His is then the only tale that lacks any narrative element. The Parson thus expects his morality to be sufficient food for thought offered to his audience. Of course, the contrasts of this tale with that of the Pardoner are more than the points of comparison. The length and content are the most obvious differences. The Parson tells a lengthy moral tale in the form of a sermon, while the Pardoner brings across his moral by means of an entertaining story. The Parson's moral is concretely told by means of his sermon. In comparison, the Parson, like the Pardoner, offers forgiveness of sins. The Parson's forgiveness however is driven by the penitent him- or herself, and not by the clergyman."
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Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", 2006.
Compares and contrast the "Priest's Tale" and the "Manciple's Tale" from Geoffrey Chaucer's work, "The Canterbury Tales."
2,250 words (approx. 9.0 pages), 1 source, $ 89.95
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Abstract
This paper explores the "Priest's Tale" and the "Manciple's Tale" from Geoffrey Chaucer's classic work, "The Canterbury Tales." Through comparing and contrasting the two distinctive beast fables that are presented in these stories, this paper demonstrates that the beast fable can be used to demonstrate extremely distinctive views of human nature and the capacity for human actions and behaviors.
From the Paper
"The use of the beast fable has traditionally been to illustrate some aspect of humanity in a manner that is both accessible to the audience and helps communicate the concept that humanity can act in an animalistic fashion. Through using the beast fable as a teaching tool, the audience can identify that the actions of human beings are at times animalistic, and thus basic human nature needs to be seen not as beyond the capacity of engaging in foolish or otherwise base actions."
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"Canterbury Tales", 2006.
An analysis of the prologue of Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales".
3,100 words (approx. 12.4 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 90.95
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Abstract
This paper studies the twenty-nine pilgrims in the prologue of "Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer. The paper attempts to understand the life, culture, values and thought patterns of Chaucer's England through his characters. The paper begins with an overview of the opening lines of the prologue, with their minute details of common, everyday life and the physical body. Then the paper analyzes each of the pilgrims' attributes, character and symbolic value. The pilgrims discussed are: the knight, the knight's son (the young squire), the yeoman, the merchant, the clerk, the sergeant, the franklin, the cook, the shipman, the physician, the wife of Bath, the plowman, the miller, the reeve, the prioress, the monk, the summoner, the pardoner, and the parson.
From the Paper
"When Geoffrey Chaucer passed away in 1400, he left unfinished his most memorable and resourceful literary endeavor, The Canterbury Tales. The completed portions and existing fragments of the work actually comprise only about one fourth of his intended one hundred twenty or more tales. Even so, what remains of his partial creation occupies over seventeen thousand lines of masterful, clever, detailed and often bawdy verse, offering a rare and animated view of Late Middle Age life and thought. From the spiritual concerns and moral questions raised by the actions of the righteous Parson and the self-serving Friar, to the mundane and even comical physical observations of the Miller's warty nose and the Wife of Bath's remarkable dental display, the reader is moved by this rare personal visit with our forebears and their concerns. After all, our contact with historical figures is too often limited to formal treatments of stuffy characters about whom we seldom hear of frailties, worries, warty noses and blue humor."
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"Canterbury Tales", 2002.
Analysis of the Miller's Prologue from "Canterbury Tales".
908 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 0 sources, MLA, $ 32.95
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Abstract
This paper explores the satirical tone of the Miller's Prologue in "Canterbury Tales" and how it represents class conflict. The paper also explains how the Miller's Tale "quites" the Knight's tale.
From the Paper
"The Miller?s story of the foolish carpenter and his wife illustrate the Miller?s personal views on jealousy and infidelity. According to the Miller, whether or not a man?s wife is cheating is of no business to him. Furthermore, the Miller claims that men should never question God?s will in matters of love."
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"The Canterbury Tales", 2006.
A brief overview of Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" and analysis of reoccurring themes.
1,225 words (approx. 4.9 pages), 6 sources, APA, $ 41.95
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Abstract
This paper looks at Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" and how, although there was an underlying tone of the battle of the sexes and certainly the battle of the classes, it was the fascinating stories of the "Knight", the "Wife of Bath", the "Miller" and the other stories that captivated the Englishmen of the time. In particular, it discusses how men, women, love, sex, desire, penance, evil and forgiveness are the themes that diverge and come together to provide today's reader with some insight into how people lived and thought over 500 years ago.
From the Paper
"The Knight's Tale begins the Canterbury Tales with a deceptive sort of calm and courtesy, and even a sort of honor that knights were supposed to reflect, but in the real world of the 15th Century, seldom did. Chaucer, one may infer, began with the Knight's tale and then spiraled downward in terms of sexuality, venality, pomposity, and the class and gender struggles appropriate to his times. The fact that these pilgrims seemed fairly amicable on their procession to Canterbury seems a departure from the "real world" which intrudes in the tales themselves. Chances are these "pilgrims" were so self-centered, and eager to tell their tales, that they did not recognize themselves for what they truly were."
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"The Canterbury Tales": An Imaginary Dinner Party, 2008.
An analysis of medieval society and psychology in Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales".
1,600 words (approx. 6.4 pages), 0 sources, $ 52.95
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Abstract
This paper examines how Geoffrey Chaucer, in constructing his parade of tale-telling pilgrims in "The Canterbury Tales", includes a representative from every sphere of medieval society, from the law, the clergy, the working class and tradesmen's classes, to that of the knights. Chaucer also includes a psychologically as well as economically and socially diverse cast of characters, including the wealthy and indulgent Wife of Bath as well as the ascetic student of the law called the Clerk. The paper concludes by imagining where Chaucer himself would sit were he to join the imaginary dinner party that he created.
From the Paper
"Given the corruption and the often mercenary interests of the clergy, the Merchant might be an appropriate dining companion for both Summoner and Friar. The Merchant is evidence of the fact that although Chaucer was highly critical of the clergy, he did not view the clergy as a uniquely corrupt segment of society; rather corruption was endemic to society on many levels, in all of the different social strata represented by the tales. The Reeve, who tells an equally sexually lewd tale, might be a fitting companion for the Merchant personally, and the Reeve began in the tradesman classes, thus although they come from different professions, the two men are both middle-class and would likely speak a similar social 'language.'"
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'The Canterbury Tales', 2006.
A review of Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales'.
1,236 words (approx. 4.9 pages), 0 sources, $ 42.95
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Abstract
This paper reviews and discusses "The Canterbury Tales' by Geoffrey Chaucer. The paper discusses how the wife of Bath is herself a colorful and well-known character who had been through a number of husbands, making her tale about a husband especially interesting. The paper further discusses how the Knight is able to overcome his lesser qualities by learning to listen to and value the counsel of women, particularly his wife.
From the Paper
"In addition to being an aggressor and rapist, the Knight is also subject to despair. The Queen offers him a glorious chance to live if he can complete the task she sets out for him. She gives him twelve months to return with the answer to the question "what thing it is that women most desire." If he cannot return within the allotted time with the correct answer, he will pay with his life. Instead of being grateful and hopeful as a result of this clemency, the Knight was "grieved" and "sorrowfully he sighed; but there! He could not do as pleased his pride." He was sad to have to swallow his pride and do as he was bidden. He also despaired of ever finding the answer to the difficult question. Clearly, the Knight's early behavior in the tale shows that he does not know what women want or respect their desires."
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'The Canterbury Tales', 2006.
A discussion regarding the role of the male characters in William Chaucer's work "The Canterbury Tales".
2,196 words (approx. 8.8 pages), 0 sources, $ 68.95
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Abstract
This paper uses various examples from the text of "The Canterbury Tales" to illustrate Chaucer's implied opinions regarding men as the cause of their own destruction. The paper also compares this view of men, as masters of their own demise, with female characters in the text, who are often misjudged as being poor examples of literary feminism. The three tales on which this paper focuses are "The Miller's Tale", "The Pardoner's Tale" and "The Nun's Priest's Tale".
From the Paper
"Women are generally depicted in Medieval art and literature as the root of all evil and the source of all man's weakness. Chaucer, being the revolutionary writer that he is, sheds a slightly different light on this commonly-held notion of female wickedness. In his collection of stories, The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer suggests, as opposed to the idea that women tempt men to sin and, ultimately, to self-destruction, that man's own stupidity and moral flaws are the result of his various failures and misfortunes. This radically new approach to writing about the downfalls of male characters is best illustrated in The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Miller's Tale, and The Pardoner's Tale. Each tale demonstrates a different male personality flaw that leads one or more of the main characters to his own demise. The Nun's Priest's Tale illustrates the stupidity associated with the vanity of both Chauntecleer and Randall the Fox (who, although animals, are still male), whereas, The Miller's Tale plays on the jealousy and gullibility of the carpenter. Finally, The Pardoner's Tale focuses primarily on the arrogance and avarice of three, young men."
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