20

Canterbury Tales Notes

Development and Changes to Middle English Political/social history: Normans descendents of Germanic/Nordic tribes (Norsemen), also called the Vikings to us, were kicked out of England, by the French This was a period of great church and castle building in England, and also of Absentee rulers o ruler who takes over thrown and decides that he likes living in France better that England, so he lives in France, while still ruling England The majority of books were written in Latin and French, the language of the noble and welleducated gentleman French became official language of government in England due to many French absentee rulers Old English/Middle English was the language of masses and the commoners There were many variations of the English language itself, due to many tribes and groups adding their own words and phrases into the already changing language. Sometimes, the same language was being spoken, but two groups couldnt communicate with each other. Timeline Great Vowel shift changes language even more 100 Years War The rulers, who were lived in France, were kicked out of France and forced to live in England. This helped create a sense of nationalism. The period of 1336-1450 is considered the birth of nationalism in England War of the Roses o House of York vs. House of Lancaster o White Rose vs. Red Rose (respectfully) o Henry VII (of the Tudor House) kills Richard III and ends the War of Roses Peasants Uprising (1381) Black Death o Three series of bubonic plagues wipe out 35-50% of people o Results high prices, due to lack of demand labor shortage, due to lack of people (laborers) Social mobility, no lords, so many promoted growth of cities and towns (150 or so people) o war and disease were very prevalent in the 14 and 15th centuries When Canterbury Tales was written, it was a time of change and rebellion, remember this when analyzing the text! Protestant reformation, which started with Martin Luther and his 99 clauses, which he nailed to the door of the towns church, put emphasis on the individual not the community Manufacturing and commerce started to grow and blossom, with causes the end of the feudal system o Most craftsmen, like a boot maker, would sit in his shop waiting for someone to come in, then, after getting their measurements, etc., would begin to make the shoe. Then it hit them, why not make hundreds of shoes while in your downtime, so when someone comes in, they could pick one that fits and save time and energy.

21 Philosophical/religious ideas: Three great estates: o Nobility rule and defend o Church help with the spiritual welfare of the group becomes utterly corrupt => pardoners o Everyone else work When Charlemagne takes over the thrown, he turns all of the country Catholic. He also makes a deal with the Church; I will bring the whole nation to you if you say I am the divine ruler. The church happily accepts and begins to preach the Charlemagne is Gods chosen ruler. One interesting thing to note is that Charlemagne goes to the Church and asks for recognition, which makes that Church higher than him (the kings and queens). The two groups (nobility and Church merge together to create a glob of corruption. Literature Rather than in Beowulf, now has many voices and different audiences Rhyme/ rhymed couplets becomes dominant poetic form Poems tended to be stanzaic and is often written in iambic pentameter Subject matter more varied o humor & love Use of satire and allusions become more common becomes more widespread Romance Romances were like epic They consisted of large amount of fighting between men and monsters, made liberal use of improbable; often contained supernatural (fantasy) forces usual to have romantic love, two themes usually connected; o Development of Arthurian legend in France (romance and battle) fight for the damsel in distress Chivalry Chretien de Troyes: knightly adventures allow us to examine psychological and ethical problems (Sir Gawain) Chivalry typed literature was aimed at court audiences, which had large common appeal Many common theme were: winning a love, proving courage, worthiness Chivalry reflects blossoming aspirations of lower and middle class Religious written by a clerk/ called cleric Exempla/Exemplum: (Pardoners Tale) o Stories that illustrate/underscore Biblical texts o Two main types end of play Mystery plays Were sequence or cycle plays (see pict.) They were often based on Bible (Noahs Ark) Often presented by a guild

beginning station 1

station 2 station 3

22 Morality plays Consisted of roots of professional theatre Actors were considered to be strolling players Personified vices/virtues struggle for mankinds soul Sir Thomas Malory/William Caxtons Morte DeArthur/printing press help make morality plays more common Everyman o there was a guy who was named Everyman he represents everyone (wow, hard concept) o he is out working in the field when a man approaches him o this man is like a game show host in our days o he introduces himself, his name is Death he represents death (wow, even harder) o Death says congratulations, you won a full expense paid vacation o Everyman asks if he could bring a friend o Death says why not o They go to Material Possessions house (his friend) Material Possession represents material possessions (holy shitola, this is just too hard to understand) o Everyman asks Material Possession to go on trip, but he cant, so Everyman goes alone o I really hope I dont need to explain this story anymore, if I do, you are better off killing yourself

Background on Canterbury Tales Chaucer He was born a middle class merchant, but sent to court, married a women above his social class and made the jump He got a government job which allowed him to have a rent-free apartment in gates of city wall. His job also allowed him to travel He came in contact with Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio: these are all authors that he would have read and probably used many of their ideas in his works He straddled both worlds, but aware that he could never be member of nobility because is was only by birth that one can be accepted and now he is to proper to speak to the underclassmen of the previous world His works are probably read to educated, worldly, sophisticated audience, which allowed him to use satire, irony, and allusions Canterbury Tales Originally planned as 120 tales, but only 22 written/finished Each person told two stories on the way to Canterbury and two back. There were 30 people, so 30 times 4 equals 120 (yeah! go math) people are typical of times and wrote in o rhymed couplets or stanzas of seven lines (except "Monk's Tale") o unstressed, but sounded (when needed) final "e" o Feminine rhymes (two or more syllables) o iambic pentameter

23 only two tales in were written in prose ("Parson's Tale" and "Tale of Melibeus") representative of various literary forms of the age: o Courtly romance -- Knight's Tale o Lay (short romantic poem/song) -- Franklin's Tale o Fabliaux (short story/snappy ending) -- Miller's Tale o Saint's Legend -- Prioress's Tale o Tragedy -- the Monk's Tale o Exemplum -- Pardoner's Tale o Sermon (didactic tale) -- Parson's Tale o Beast Fable -- the Nun's Priest's Tale Canterbury Tales was satiric in nature Chaucer looks at the people of his day with wit and subtlety, but does not seek to change, just comment on, leaving the judgment to the reader, but still offered some sympathy

Prologue introduces us to the budding middle class of the day look for social pretensions of each character General Prologue we need to examine the pilgrims closely: their clothes their habits their speech their facial features The above are all clues not only to their social rank but also to their moral and spiritual condition; more than that, they, collectively, give us a view of late-medieval life and society Just to reiterate, no moral judgment given by Chaucer; that is left to the reader For the most part, tales are set in distant times and places, or tend to be timeless parables (Pardoners) Balanced off by position of teller and next chronicler (Knight's Tale about courtly romance is followed by Millers Tale of education), although some experts oppose this theory What we know about the teller makes the tale more interesting (develops two fictions simultaneously) and links between the tales (miller and reeve). Also several of the tales respond to same topic (Wife of Bath, Clerk, Merchant, Franklin) The idea of frame and stories within is old (Boccaccio/1001 Nights) Examination of Characters what they say what they do how they dress who the associate with what others say of them what they think o Using the above questions, we, as a reader, need to determine if the above are good, bad, or morally corrupt. We do this by examining if they are doing their jobs (Nobel: rule and defend; Church: spiritual welfare; Everyone else: working)

24 Boccaccio De Cameron went on a trip to Florence, Italy to avoid the bubonic plague/black death 10 people in his party each told a story to pass time published all 10 in his own book o very similar to how Chaucer is writing, except for the fact that he is traveling with 29 people and each are telling 2 stories a piece as they Travle to Canterbury and 2 back (including him), making a grand total of 120 stories 1001 Arabian Nights a very rich ruler/king wants to have sex all the time each night, he chooses a new girl, always a virgin, to have sex with he doesnt want them to have sex with anyone else, so he would have them killed the new special main character girl comes in and begins to tell him a story after they fornicate Each story is a cliff hanger, with her saying that she was tired and would finish it in the morning. She repeats this same routine for 1000 days after After the 1000 day (3 years), the ruler/king notices he trick, but he loves her, so they marry and live happy ever after ANAYLSIS OF TEXT GENERAL PROLOUGE Whan that April with his showers soote The drought of March hath pierced to the root And bathed every vein in such liquor Of which virte engendered is the flower; When Zephyrus eke with his sweete breath Inspired hath in every holt and heath The tender croppes, and the younge sun Hath in the Ram his halfe course y-run, And smalle fowles maken melody That sleepen all the night with open eye Befell that in that season on a day In Southwark at The Tabard as I lay Ready to wenden on my pilgrimage To Canterbury with full devout courge, At night was come into that hostelry Well nine and twenty in a company Of sundry folk by venture y-fall In fellowship, and pilgrims were they all ... That toward Canterbury woulden ride. The chambers and the stables weren wide And well we weren eased at the beste. When that April... Half way into the Ram It is the first week of April. The ram begins on March 20 and ended April 20, so if it is halfway through the 30 days, it is about April 5. First thing presented is the setting.

The hotel rooms are large and the best of the land If you read up to that point, it doesnt fit into the story, lack of cohesion. Why? Remember, Chaucer is talking to his audience, in which all of these people may be, so he needs to let us know the truth without saying it. The entire story is a puzzle that we must decode. We know that they are going on a pilgrimage, or a religious trip; during the trip, they are to act like Christ and follow the Christian close. Christian code calls for moderation, is a 5-star hotel being moderate? NO Would Jesus stay in a 5-star hotel? NO. Therefore, the people are already not doing their proper jobs. They or only going through the motions, not really going on a pilgrimage, just a vacation. The whole story will need to be analyzed like this, most specifically with the people.

25 And shortly, when the sunne was to rest, So had I spoken with them every one That I was of their fellowship anon, And made forward early for to rise To take our way there as I you devise. A KNIGHT there was and that a worthy man That from the time that he first began To riden out, he loved chivalry, Truth and honur, freedom and courtesy. Full worthy was he in his lord's war, And thereto had he ridden--no man farre As well in Christendom as Heatheness And ever honoured for his worthiness At Alexandria he was when it was won. Full often time he had the board begun Aboven all natons in Prussia. In Lithow had he reised and in Russia No Christian man so oft of his degree. In Grnad' at the siege eke had he be Of Algesir and ridden in Belmarie. At Leyes was he and at Satalie When they were won, and in the Great Sea At many a noble army had he be. At mortal battles had he been fifteen And foughten for our faith at Tramissene In listes thrice, and ay slain his foe. This ilke worthy knight had been also Sometime with the lord of Palatie Against another heathen in Turkey, And ever more he had a sovereign prize And though that he was worthy he was wise, And of his port as meek as is a maid. Ne never yet no villainy he said In all his life unto no manner wight. He was a very perfect gentle knight. But for to tellen you of his array: His horse was good; but he was not gay. Of fustian he weared a gipoun All besmotered with his habergeon, For he was late y-come from his voyge, And wente for to do his pilgrimge.

To understand if the knight is good, bad, or morally corrupt, we must analyze him from his belief, the chivalric code.

The knight was the highest ranking of everyone analyzed from five points of chivalry(*) What he does, everyone must do; so we cannot say that he is bad for sleeping in hotel, because if he doesnt, then everyone must follow treat everyone equally*

These are all the place in which he has fought, showing that he has traveled the world and are a very strong and well-trained knight.

He has almost died in battle 15 times, and has fought with great faith. He has jousted 3 times in which the opponent has died He has put his own life on the line multiple times, but acts strong and prevails He is very brave*

He is as nice as a maid. He doesnt speak bad of anyone, and treats everyone as equal. He is a perfect knight Another example of why he sleeps in the hotel He treats everyone equal* He also avoids rudeness and is very nice, like a maid, a person who caters to everyone needs courteous*

So far, we view the knight as very good.

With him there was his son, a young SQUIRE, A lover and a lusty bachelor With locks curled as they were laid in press. Of twenty years he was of age, I guess. Of his statre he was of even length, And wonderly deliver and of great strength, And he had been sometime in chivachy In Flanders, in Artois and Picardy, And borne him well as in so little space In hope to standen in his lady's grace. Embroidered was he as it were a mead All full of freshe flowers white and red. Singing he was or fluting all the day. He was as fresh as is the month of May. Short was his gown with sleeves long and wide. Well could he sit on horse and faire ride. He coulde songes make and well endite, Joust and eke dance, and well portray and write. So hot he loved that by nightertale He slept no more than does a nightingale. Courteous he was, lowly and serviceable, And carved before his father at the table.

26 With the knight was his son, a young squire (knight in training). He was a lover and a sex-ahaulic. His hair was so perfect, like it was done every morning He was the knights son, so he associates with the knight=good He is training to be a nobel person=good He has sex, sex, and more sex=not so good Cares about how he looks (so he can have sex), not moderate=not so good. He has went on an army escape in France, (but France had no fighting at that time) and because of this, he gets lots of sex from the ladies. Why is he going off to war, to a place where there is no war? His dad sent him. Is this a flaw of the dads (knight)? No, he just loves his son and scared to let him go off and die, father instinct. The son uses it for sex, though He had a very short gown, but long sleeves. He would ride his horse all day, singing anything that came to his head. Think for a minute, what did mothers always tell their little punkerdoddles? Keep your legs together when wearing a skirt. Can you keep your legs close when youre riding a hores? NO. His junk would have been very visible when he is riding around. Also, to make matters worse, he is just singing random songs, mostly made up on the spot. He is very irritating! He had such hot sex all night long, he never got any sleep, because all he did was have sex. Sex Now, all it seems like is he is absorbed with sex. This reflects very badly on him and the knight. Why is the knight not doing his job, to train the squire to be a good knight, not to fuck every girl he sees? We also see that the Knight choose only one person to be his squire and same with the yeoman (see below). This shows that the Knight is following the Christian code of moderation=good. Now with the squire: good, bad, or morally corrupt? The only flaw we get is he has issues of his penis not being in a vagina all day, but isnt that what all teenagers/midtwenties think of? Yes. He is only following the urges that all males have, so we cant say that he is bad Knight = good Squire = possible good

27 A YEOMAN he had and servants no more At that time, for him liste ride so, And he was clad in coat and hood of green. A sheaf of peacock arrows bright and keen Under his belt he bore full thriftily. Well could he dress his tackle yeomanly His arrows drooped not with feathers low, And in his hand he bore a mighty bow. A not-head had he with a brown visge. Of woodcraft could he well all the usge. Upon his arm he bore a gay bracr And by his side a sword and a bucklr And on that other side a gay daggr Harnessed well and sharp as point of spear. A Christopher on his breast of silver sheen. A horn he bore, the baldrick was of green. A forester was he soothly as I guess. Yeoman independent commoner who acts as the knights servant. Helps him do things like armor up and get on horse. The knight had only one servant, a yeoman We also see that the Knight choose only one person, the yeoman. This shows that the Knight is following the Christian code of moderation=good. He had a set of peacock feathers attached to his arrows, which we bright and colorful The job of the yeoman is to provide for the Knight, like food, meaning that he has to be good at hunting. Why does he have peacock feathers? Katy Perry fan? No, Peacock feathers are very strongest and most firm, best for archery. Good material = good hunter = good at job. His arrows were straight as the squire (LOL! :P) same as above w/ good material He had a short hair cut with a brown tint. The common hair style was long, but the yeoman has short hair. Why? Longhair could hinder his job, and he cares more of his job than his fashion = good. He wore a leather wristgaurd at all times of the day. He also had his dagger at hand, along with his sword and shield. He was well armed and the tips of his weapons were very sharp. He is ready for combat, hunting, or anything that is thrown at him. This shows that he cares about his job and is very good at it. Another job of the yeoman is to smith and fix any armor. If he has a leather wristgaurd, he is good with leather, and his weapons are very sharp, meaning he is also good at smithing. He wore a St. Christopher medal around his neck He is very respect of the faith and pray/respect God. He is also a good catholic. We also see multiple times that he is clad in the color green, why? Camouflage. He is a hard, long, and all around good worker and does his job perfectly. We really cant find anything bad. Knight = good Squire = good??? Yeoman = good

This section is attached to the bottom of the nuns section o With all the sex that people are having, many kids are being born, but when the dad dies, the first born gets everything. Therefore, the next son chooses only really one of two options, army or church. The military was deadly and the Church was slightly corrupt with the flow of money (see pardoner below). The same is with the daughters: church or arranged marriage, which probably would be with a creepy 50 year old rich man. Most choose the Church, not to serve God, but because all the other choices sucked! This is the reason the Church was becoming corrupt, and why sluts can enter a nunnery.

Prioress head nun at the nunnery There was also a nun, a PRIORESS, That of her smiling was full simple and coy. Her greatest oath was but by Saint Eloy, And she was cleped Madame Eglantine. Full well she sang the service divine Entuned in her nose full seemely. And French she spoke full fair and fetisly After the school of Stratford at the Bow, For French of Paris was to her unknow. At meate well y-taught was she withall: She let no morsel from her lippes fall, Nor wet her fingers in her sauce deep. Well could she carry a morsel and well keep That no drop ne fell upon her breast. In courtesy was set full much her lest: Her over lippe wiped she so clean That in her cup there was no farthing seen Of grease, when she drunken had her draught. But for to speaken of her conscence: She was so charitable and so pitus She woulde weep if that she saw a mouse Caught in a trap, if it were dead or bled. Of smalle houndes had she that she fed With roasted flesh or milk and wastel bread, But sore wept she if one of them were dead Or if men smote it with a yarde, smart; And all was conscence and tender heart. Full seemely her wimple pinched was, Her nose tretis, her eyen grey as glass, Her mouth full small and thereto soft and red, But sikerly she had a fair forehead. It was almost a spanne broad, I trow, For hardily she was not undergrow. Full fetis was her cloak as I was 'ware. Of small coral about her arm she bare A pair of beads gauded all with green, And thereon hung a brooch of gold full sheen On which was written first a crowned A And after: Amor Vincit Omnia.

28

She was called Miss Elegant. she is very proper, worldly, and follows the French in manners. French were very proper with behavior She was very good at eating, careful to close her mouth and wipe her lips, and never spill If the author needs to take the time to explain how nice she eats, then all the others must have been very messy and sloppy. This really isnt in here to explain the nun, more to show how bad everyone else was. She was very caring. If she saw a mouse in a trap, she would free it, almost in tears. She would also feed the stray dogs we would see, and cry if one would die. She is very tender hearted. It is very nice that she cares for animals, but dont you think that they would see the homeless, sick, and dying on their trip? The only thing Chaucer talks about is rats and dogs. Her job is to care for the spiritual welfare of the people (church estate), and she only is shaken by the rats and dogs. She is not doing her job = bad She had a very nice forehead, the size a full palm of a grown man. Take a look at a picture of the nun to the right. Can you see a lot of her forehead? NO Why did Chaucer take time to tell us this? It turns out that before obsession with the breasts of women, it was the butt, and before that the back. In Chaucer time, it was the forehead. The forehead = sexy. Now tell me this, do you see many nuns in short tops? No. The same is with the forehead, but this prioress is showing her forehead. In short, she is a slut/whore/sex queen. No matter how you say it, she is not good = bad! She has a cap with a golden A, standing for love conquers all. In that time, affairs were also very prevalent. Before texting, there was this thing called writing letters. Many marriages were arranged, for money, land, or business, meaning you may love someone else, so just have sex with both and why youre at it, choose another girl to have sex with. Affairs ran rampant. Most of these love letters, looking for a place to meet and have sex; they were signed with Amor Vinic Omnia. So in short, the nun wore a hat saying, when ever youre ready, lets have sex! = not good!!!! The nun is bordering on morally corrupt.

The Pardoner was good friends with the Summoner. 29 The summoner was the man that brought people to court so they can be tried The summoning of people was like a witch hunt, in which With him there rode a gentle PARDONER everyone was guilty (or bribed the judge) Of Rouncival, his friend and his compeer Because of the many people tried, the summoner was typically bribed as well That straight was comen from the court of Rome. Now the real question is how can he say why he couldnt Full loud he sang "Come hither love to me." summon them? 1. the guy is dead or moved away This Summoner bore to him a stiff burdoun. 2. pick up a random other person, the courts really Was never trump of half so great a sound. didnt care, and the list was so long that they didnt keep an accurate account This pardoner had hair as yellow as wax 3. take the bribe, bring it to the court and give them But smooth it hung as does a strike of flax. share. If you get 1000 dollars, give court 200 and they will give you a huge share of 10 dollars, but By ounces hung his lockes that he had, really you scored 810 dollars total And therewith he his shoulders overspread. He was very similar to the Spanish Inquisition 1. led by Church But thin it lay, by colpons, one by one, 2. murdered, killed, tortured, etc But hood, for jollity, weared he none, 3. when the religion of Spain turned Christian, they killed all non-Christians For it was trussed up in his wallet: 4. bloody Him thought he rode all of the newe jet, 5. court-like process, but instead of being tried for civil laws, they were charged for Church laws, ie. taking Dishevelled; save his cap he rode all bare. Lords name in vain Such glaring eyen had he as a hare. The pardoner associates himself with a bad/ morally corrupt character vernicle had he sewed upon his cap. 1. our job is to analyze people on how they dress, His wallet lay before him in his lap 2. what they say, 3. what they do, Bretfull of pardons, come from Rome all hot. 4. who the associate with, ************** A voice he had as small as hath a goat.** 5. what others say of them, 6. what they think, first impression is that he is corrupt. His eyes glared like a hare this does not flow, so Chaucer wants us to use this as a hidden message possible reasons 1. Rabbits are good at reproducing, so he is a sex addict (like squire)? 2. There is a glare, so he is very aggressive with sex, rapist? 3. Rabbits also have black eyes Evil or scary: white man, yellow hair, and huge black eyes? 4. Albino rabbits have red eyes Hes an albino: explain whiteness and explains why he has no facial hair (see * on next page)? Red eyes = satanic Bloodshot: he is intoxicated and an alcoholic? He had yellow, strand-like hair (He looked like Fredrick) if it has strands, it is very distinct and either wet or greasy if Chaucer takes time to describe it, he is probably greasy = bad hygiene also, he takes over 5 lines to explain his hair, meaning it is an overriding character trait. he is carless, uncleanly, and doesnt care about himself, how will he care for the spiritual welfare of the people? another sign of badness/corruptness Easter Bunny Bunnies have baby bunnies, not eggs; so why Easter eggs? Killdeer: small bird, about the size of a robin with long legs, makes it nests on the ground (track bird that yelled at us) Bunnies burrow, but hares have nests above ground, so you have two nests on the ground When Easter came along (and Killdeer have eggs), many people thought the bunny laid eggs, so like that, we have Easter egg hiding as a festivity

30 No beard had he nor never should he have; As smooth it was as it were late y-shave*. I trow he were a gelding or a mare But of his craft, from Berwick unto Ware Ne was there such another pardoner, For in his mail he had a pillowber Which that he saide was Our Lady's veil. He said he had a gobbet of the sail That Sainte Peter had when that he went Upon the sea, till Jesus Christ him hent. He had a cross of latten full of stones And in a glass he hadde pigges' bones. But with these "relics" when that he [had] found A poore parson dwelling upon land, Upon one day he got him more money Than that the parson got in monthes tway; And thus, with feigned flattery and japes He made the parson and the people his apes. But truly, to tellen at the last, He was in church a noble ecclesiast. Well could he read a lesson and a story. But alderbest he sang an offertory For well he wiste when that song was sung He muste preach and well afile his tongue To winne silver as he full well could. Therefore he sang the merrierly and loud. Relics Pardon celebrities today with a religious overtone Jews sheep shoulder indulgences free get out of Hell card #1 problem of Martin Luther pardoners need to be good judge of characters Used to help you get to heaven if you die and have not cleansed you soul, but it snowballed into a money maker and abused by both sides. hey Im rich, so I wont go to mass and just by a couple pardoners and I am good if pardoner follows the same as the above, he wont be caring for the spiritual welfare of the people, which equals corrupt I believe he is as strong as a gelding or a mare (horse) gelding = castrated horse guards of sex clubs were often castrated so they wont have sex with the girls 1. castrated to avoid his sexual anger, rapist, or reproduction he also has a high-pitched voice (**) above page 1. because he was castrated, and his voice never matured 2. hes a women mare = female horse 1. hes a woman/cross-dresser Now you have probably noticed, we have lots of possibilities, so we will eliminate them as the story moves forward.

Recap of Pardoner 1. sex addict 2. rapist 3. evil 4. alcoholic 5. satanic 6. alcoholic 7. castrated 8. cross-dresser 9. normal guy w/ weird eyes and a high-pitched voice 10. something else that we still havent found out yet

31 PARDENORS TALE ANAYLSIS Our HOST began to swear as he were wood: "Harrow!" quod he, "By nailes and by blood! This was a false churl and a false justice. As shameful death as hearte may devise Come to these judges and their advocates. Algate, this silly maid is slain, alas. Alas, too deare boughte she beauty. Wherefore I say all day, that men may see That gifts of Fortune and of Nature Be cause of death to many a creature. Her beauty was her death, I dare well sayn. Alas, so piteously as she was slain. Of bothe giftes that I speak of now Men have full often more for harm than prow. But truly, mine owne master dear, This is a piteous tale for to hear. But natheless, pass over, is no force. I pray to God to save thy gentle corse And eke thy urinals and thy jordanes,** Thine Hippocras and eke thy Galiens And every boiste full of thy lectuary God bless them, and Our Lady, Sainte Mary. So may I thee, thou art a proper man And like a prelate, by Saint Ronian. Said I not well? I cannot speak in term, But well I wot, thou dost mine heart to erme That I have almost caught a cardinacle. By corpus bones, but I have triacle, Or else a draught of moist and corny ale, Or but I hear anon a merry tale, My heart is lost for pity of this maid. Thou bel ami, thou Pardoner," he said, "Tell us some mirth or japes right anon." "It shall be done," quod he, "by Saint Ronion. But first," quod he, "here at this ale stake, I will both drink, and eaten of a cake." And right anon these gentles 'gan to cry: "Nay, let him tell us of no ribaldry. Tell us some moral thing, that we may lere Some wit, and then will we gladly hear." "I grant y-wis," quod he, "but I must think Before the Pardoners Tale was the Physicians Tale there was a judge who liked to fornicate with young virgin girls he would take them as housewives and have sex with them, then when he was done with them, got rid of them and choose a new girl there was a single father and young girl also in the town the judge liked this little girl in particular the dad didnt give up his daughter, so the judge threaten to have him arrested (threaten the family) girl tells the father this news, and he says he would rather die than let her sleep with the judge why? the only thing that a young girl has going for her is her virginity they can be sold to the dowery one problem, if they lost their virginity, they are considered damaged goods, and no one wants damaged goods so the father is going to be arrest, then thinks, if he dies, the girl has no protector and will be taken by judge and we will have died for nothing, so there is only one solution: he kills the girl what a happy ending! The judge is horrified by the above story and yells, Help, by nails and by blood!... he really said the f-word of Chaucer time blasphemy is saying anything about God with a bad connotation attached by nails and by blood is referring to Jesuss nails and blood when crucified, but not in a good way, which means he is cursing in modern days, he said, What the fuck kind of story is that?!? another blasphemous remark is zounds I almost had a cardinal the word for heart attack and cardinal are very similar and the host was trying to speak in Latin, but got confused this is an attempt to add some humor into the story after such a dreadful story He also mixes up the word urinal and pot above (**) See next page for ribaldry quote

32 Upon some honest thing while that I drink." Radix malorum est cupiditas. First I pronounce whence that I come And then my bulles show I all and some. Our liege lorde's seal on my patent That show I first, my body to warrant. That no man be so bold, nor priest nor clerk, Me to disturb of Christe's holy work. And after that then tell I forth my tales. Bulls of popes and of cardinals, Of patriarchs and bishopes I show, And in Latin I speak a wordes few To saffron with my predicaton And for to stir them to devoton. Then show I forth my longe crystal stones Y-crammed full of clothes and of bones. "Relics" be they, as weenen they each one. Then have I in latoun a shoulder bone Which that was of a holy Jewe's sheep. `Good men, say I, take of my wordes keep: If that this bone be washed in any well, If cow or calf or sheep or oxe swell That any worm has eat or worm y-stung, Take water of that well and wash his tongue, And it is whole anon. And furthermore, Of pockes and of scabs and every sore Shall every sheep be whole that of this well Drinketh a draught. Take keep eke what I tell: If that the goodman that the beastes oweth Will, every week ere that the cock him croweth Fasting, drinken of this well a draught, As thilke holy Jew our elders taught, His beastes and his store shall multiply. And sirs, also it healeth jealousy. For though a man be fall in jealous rage, Let maken with this water his potge, And never shall he more his wife mistrust Though he the sooth of her defaulte wost, All had she taken priestes two or three By this gaud have I wonne, year by year No, dont make us here the dirty jokes of the pardoner, tell us something moral and filled with wit. The people around the pardoner all exclaim that they want to hear nothing from the pardoner because he only says sick dirty jokes. He is not seen as a good person. Also, the last line is saying that he needs to drink a beer before he can tell a moral story, meaning either 1. hes an alcoholic 2. has no moral stories and has to make one up, so he needs time Avarice is the root of all evil greed/prideful/arrogance this is the main point that the pardoner brings up throughout the story it will be discussed later First I say where I came from, and then show my official documents. I also show the papal seal on the documentation. I finally show that I am approved by the pope, so no one, priest or listener, will disrupt my work He begins with saying, look, I am great and special. The pope and God both want me to do this, so dont question me, just do what I say When I am preaching, I like to throw in Latin phrases why? the pope can speak Latin the pope can speak to God therefore, if can speak to God because he speaks Latin non-sequitor????? Then I show them my relics. One example is my Jews sheep shoulder blade he is acting like a salesman Billy Mays act now and get this super rare and special Jews sheep shoulder blade, if you dip it into your well, it will make your sick animals get better. also, it will make you holy in Gods eyes but wait, theres more! act now and get this special magic mitten. if you plant your crops with this mitten on, you crops will grow huge making you tons of money if you buy now, it is only $19.95, that is four easy payments of $9 each!

33 A hundred marks since I was pardoner. I stande like a clerk in my pulpit, And when the lewed people is down y-set I preache so as you have heard before And tell a hundred false japes more. Then pain I me to stretche forth the neck, And east and west upon the people I beck As does a dove sitting on a barn. My handes and my tongue go so yern That it is joy to see my busyness. Of avarice and of such cursedness Is all my preaching, for to make them free To give their pence, and namely unto me. For my intent is not but for to win, And nothing for correcton of sin. I recke never, when that they be buried Though that their soules go a blacke berried. For certes many a predicaton Comes oftentime of evil intenton Some for pleasance of folk and flattery To be advanced by hypocricy, And some for vaine glory, and some for hate. For when I dare no other way debate, Then will I sting him with my tongue smart In preaching, so that he shall not astart To be defamed falsely, if that he Hath trespassed to my brethren or to me. For though I telle not his proper name, Men shall well knowen that it is the same By signes and by other circumstances. Thus quit I folk that do us displeasances. Thus spit I out my venom under hue Of holiness, to seemen holy and true. When I preach, I easily tell one hundred lies. This is the first inclination that he cares not for the spiritual welfare of the people morally corrupt? The reason that I preach at Church is not for the correction of others sins. For all I care, they can all go and burn in hell This is possible the most blunt he can be. He openly tells the group that he doesnt give a shit about anyones soul. This man is totally morally corrupt and deserves to hell, but see next page Now you think that someone may eventually/would call me out, but I am too smart for them. I have a special way to avoid ever being called out if he sells a magic Jews sheep shoulder blade and comes back to the same town and the person calls him out, during his sermon, he would say something along the lines of: Evil is everywhere. Sometimes evil is in the same room as us. You never know, it may be wearing an orange shirt, with black pants. It may have blond hair and blue eyes as well. he is describing the person, so everyone thinks that the person is evil and is only calling out the pardoner to act in his evil ways. Even though the pardoner doesnt care for the people, the man is a very smart and meticulous creature. It is very seeable with his skills at giving his sermons 2045

In the year 2045, computers will take over the world! If you graph the analytical capability of computers over the years, from the very first to today, one can extrapolate the line to see where the computer will have more analytical capability than the human, and that year is 2045

Canada Canadians are evil and plan on taking over the country They already got sleeper cells in America We need to all keep an eye open for the crazy Canadians attack. It is eminent.

34 But shortly mine intent I will devise: I preach of nothing but for covetise. Therefore my theme is yet and ever was: Radix malorum est cupiditas. Thus can I preach against that same vice Which that I use, and that is avarice. But though myself be guilty in that sin, Yet can I maken other folk to twin From avarice, and sore to repent, But that is not my principal intent; I preache nothing but for covetise. Of this matter it ought enough suffice. Then tell I them examples many a one Of olde stories longe time agone. For lewed people loven tales old. Such thinges can they well report and hold. What? Trowe you that whiles I may preach And winne gold and silver for I teach That I will live in poverte wilfully? Nay, nay, I thought it never truly. For I will preach and beg in sundry lands. I will not do no labor with my hands Nor make baskettes, and live thereby. Because I will not beggen idlely, I wille none of the apostles' counterfeit. I will have money, woole, cheese and wheat, All were it given of the poorest page Or of the poorest widow in a villge, All should her children starve for famine. Nay, I will drinke liquor of the vine And have a jolly wench in every town. But hearken, lordings, in concluson, Your liking is that I shall tell a tale. Now have I drunk a draught of corny ale, By God, I hope I shall you tell a thing That shall by reason be at your liking, For though myself be a full vicious man, A moral tale yet I you telle can Which I am wont to preache for to win. Now hold your peace. My tale I will begin." Chaucer fucking up the whole story I preach against the same vice that has controlled me, but even if I am guilty of the sin, I make others sway away from sin. Even though I preach only for myself and money, I still save people talk about throwing a wrench into the morally corrupt story most of the support was the fact that he wasnt doing his job, but he is, just with a very wrong and very skewed reasoning behind it When forming a judgment about the pardoner, we cannot simply say that he is corrupt even though he says so himself, because we have 3 distinctions: good, bad, and morally corrupt. There is no wishywashy kinda-both choice. It is virtually impossible to say that he is distinctively one. This is same with the reasons listed on a previous page. We cant prove hes a rapist, alcoholic, cross-dresser, etc. because Chaucer wont give us enough info. SO FRUSTRATING!!! All always want money, food, and drink, even in the poorest of the villages. Even if my greed would cause a small child to die of starvation, I will drink the nicest wine and have a prostitute in every town I go to This guy is killing me. He just said that he would rather let a small child starve to death as long as he can have is luxuries. He wants what he wants even if he must steal from the poorest of the poor There is one good thing about this part, we add another dimension to his dysfunctional character list, he wants to have sex with women in every time, so this rules out the cross -dresser. Right? Of course not, we have Fredrick; therefore, he can still be a cross-dresser slash lesbian thing. Why does this have to be so complicated? Revised Revised List of Possibilities of Character Traits 1. sex addict 2. rapist 3. evil 4. alcoholic 5. satanic 6. alcoholic 7. castrated 8. cross-dresser 9. lesbian 10. Canadian 11. a computer 12. normal guy w/ weird eyes and a high-pitched voice 13. something else that we still havent found out yet

35 Epilogue If any of you will of devoton Offer, and have mine absoluton, Come forth anon and kneeleth here adown And meekely receiveth my pardon, Or else taketh pardon as you wend All new and fresh at every mile's end, So that you offer always new and new Nobles or pence which that be good and true. It is an honour to ever each that is here That you may have a suffisant pardoner T'assoile you in country as you ride, For ventures which that may betide. Perventure, there may fall one or two Down off his horse, and break his neck in two. Look which a surety it is to you all That I am in your fellowship y-fall That may assoil you, bothe more and less, When that the soul shall from the body pass. I rede that our Host here shall begin For he is most enveloped in sin. Come forth, Sir Host, and offer first anon And thou shalt kiss the relics every one, Yea, for a groat. Unbuckle anon thy purse." "Nay, nay," quod he. "Then have I Christe's curse. Let be," quod he, "it shall not be, so theech. Thou wouldest make me kiss thine olde breech, And swear it were a relic of a saint, Though it were with thy fundament depaint. But by that cross which that St. Helen found, I wish I had thy collions in my hand Instead of relics or of sanctuary. Let cut them off; I will thee help them carry. They shall be shrined in a hog's turd." This Pardoner answered not a word. So wroth he was, no word ne would he say. "Now," quod our Host, "I will no longer play With thee, nor with no other angry man." But right anon the worthy Knight began When that he saw that all the people laugh: Anon they kissed and riden forth their way. You guys are very lucky that you have such a great pardoner with you, because if anything goes wrong, I can pardon your sins. For example, one of you fall off you horse and break your neck, I can pardon all of your sins and send you right to Heaven. If I may ask for our lovely host to come up first, let him be freed of his sins. The pardoner has been absorbed by his typical routine and begins to try to sell his pardons to the travelers, there is just one issue, he also told them everything that he does, like how he doesnt care if they all burn in Hell. This is going to get fun! The Host responded saying, No way in Hell. I would rather be cursed to Hell on my own accord. You would like me to come up and kiss you filthy ass underwear saying that it was some fucked up relic that would save my soul. Your underwear is stained by the shit that comes out of your ass, and also out of your mouth for that matter. By the cross of Saint Helen, I will grab you by the testicles and rip you balls off and put it in a special relic box and sell it to the highest bidder, or I could dip them in pig shit and stuff it down your throat. The pardoner was speechless and just stood there. This is perfect example showing that the pardoner was absorbed in his story and didnt remember that he told everyone in the group in on his secret Then the worthy knight stepped in and stopped them from killing each other Another way to show how good the knight is, he is the leader and takes control and avoids any bloodshed. So in conclusion The Knight o good The Squire o good (but has some issues w/ sex) The Yeoman o good The Nun o morally corrupt (bad at the very least) The Summoner o morally corrupt The Pardoner o who knows?