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Group 1

Lengua y Cultura IV 2020

Nombre y apellido: Duarte, Fiorda,Ghisolis, Kalamen

The Canterbury Tales In small groups, answer these questions.

Geoffrey Chaucer

1. What is the framework for The Canterbury Tales?

Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales in the late 1300s over the period of more than a decade.
The stories are joined together by an overall framing story. This larger story is outlined in the general
prologue, or introductory poem. The frame story concerns a group of 29 pilgrims on their way to the
shrine oSt. Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, in southern England. The pilgrims meet at the
Tabard Inn, in Southwark, near London, where the narrator, Geoffrey Chaucer, joins them. Pilgrimages
were an everyday occurrence in medieval Europe, and Chaucer describes the pilgrims as “sondry folk,”
people of all social classes and occupations. Provide your own words!

2. What do you know about the author?

Chaucer was born in London around 1343. His father, a wine merchant, was eager to
advance his son’s career and secured a place or him as a page in the Countess of
Ulster’s household. Chaucer entered the service of Edward III, first as a soldier, then
as a diplomat. He travelled to France and Italy, there he read the works of Dante and
Boccaccio.Chaucer married in 1366, John of Gaunt, the king’s fourth son become his
patron .
Chaucer wrote Book of the Duchess(1369) as an elegy to Gaunt’s first wife, Blanche.
In 1389 he was appointed clerk of the king's royal building projects.
He died October 25, 1400 in London, England, and was the first to be buried in
Westminster Abbey’s Poets Corner.

3. Why is his work important in literature?

Geoffrey Chaucer is considered the founder of modern English literature. Although Old English had produced a
rich literature in the early Middle Ages, this writing tradition ended abruptly after the Norman invasion of 1066.
From then on, French or Anglo-Norman was the language of the upper and educated classes. It was not until the
14th century that English regained its prestige and Chaucer was one of the first to use it as a literary language and
is therefore regarded as the “father of English literature“.Chaucer is also a key figure in the development and
regularization of iambic pentameter as the standard meter for English poetry. Provide your own words!
I found that on Google.

General Prologue
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1.Why is the General Prologue important for the development of the tales?

It is important because the purpose of this is to give readers a general overview of the characters that are
present,why they are present there ,and what they will be doing. It gives a brief description of the
setting,describes each of the pilgrims,their social class,their clothing and personalities.The Prologue ends
with the innkeeper suggesting a competition ,he proposes that each of the pilgrims should tell tales,two on
the outward journey and two on their return.the best tale will be rewarded with a meal,paid by the others
pilgrims.

2.What criticism does Chaucer give to the Church members of the pilgrimage? Give examples.
Chaucer criticizes the Church’s corruption and the ostentatious wealth of Church members: at 14 th century, the
Catholic Church is an enormously powerful force in medieval society, and extremely wealthy. The ornate and
gilded cathedrals build to saints’ relics, which are very costly, and the Church also collected regular tithes from its
members. Church official are often seen as corrupt, bribing and coercing people to obtain money for the church
under false pretences. Since members of the church have not allowed to work for a living.
These are some examples; the religious figures in The Canterbury Tales highlight many of the problems
corrupting the medieval Church. The Monk, who is supposed to worship in confinement, likes to hunt. Chaucer’s
Friar is portrayed as a greedy hypocrite. He tells a tale about a summoner who bribes an old innocent widow. The
Summoner, in retaliation, skewers friars in his tale, satirizing their long-windedness and their hypocrisy. The
Pardoner openly admits to selling false relics to parishioners. Though the Prioress supposedly wears a rosary in
devotion to Christ, her ornate token seems much more like a flashy piece of jewelry than a sacred religious object.

Provide your own words!

https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-canterbury-tales/themes/church-corruption

3.What social classes can we find in the pilgrims?

We can find three Social classes:
● the Church and members of its religious hierarchy: the five characters in The Canterbury Tales
who fall into this class include the Prioress, Monk, Friar, Parson, and Pardoner.
● the nobility: it includes aristocratic families, dukes, and other royals, such as the Knight and the
Squire in The Canterbury Tales.
● the peasants or people who produces food and clothing for the higher estates, such as The
Plowman.

4.What game does the Host propose and what is the reward for the winner?

Before they start out, they all meet at the Tabard Inn in London. There, they meet the host of the Inn who
proposes a plan. It is this plan that forms the basis for the rest of the book. The Host's plan is that each
pilgrim will tell two tales on the way to Canterbury and two more on the way back to London.

In Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, the prize for telling the best tale on their pilgrimage was a
free dinner, paid for by all who are going on the journey to Canterbury.

Matching
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1. Knight J A. Stole from lawyers, shrewd buyer

2. Squire N B. Bald and fat, didn't like hard work

3. Yeoman G C. Had five husbands

4. Prioress K D. Liked to eat, drink and be merry

5. Monk B E. Host

6. Friar H F. Garland of flowers on head, insulted Friar

7. Merchant Q G. Squire's servant

8. Clerk M H. Aristocratic, takes bribes for easy penance

9. Man of Law P I. Sells false relics, bulging eyes, long yellow hair

10. Franklin D J. Had been in many battles, was a gentleman

11. Cook R K. Dainty, pleasant, sensitive, medieval beauty

12. Shipman L L. Good navigator, didn't ride well, from Dartmouth

13. Physician T M. Loved to learn for the sake of learning

14. Wife of Bath C N. Son of the Knight

15. Parson S O. Old, thin, brought up the rear, good manager

16. Pardoner I P. Seemed busier than he actually was

17. Miller U Q. Forked beard, good negotiator, always told his opinions

18. Manciple A R. Master chef, sores on his knee

19. Reeve O S. Christ-like, patient, giving, holy, virtuous

20. Summoner F T. Not religious, loved gold, dressed in red and blue-grey

21. Host E U. Football-player build, cheated customers, played bagpipes

The Knight’s Tale

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1. What elements from Courtly Love Convention can you find in this tale?

Courtly love was the love of a knight for a woman of noble heritage, usually above the knight's own social class. It
was a ritualistic admiration of a lady of high birth, usually unrelated to marriage or sex.

'The Knight's Tale' tells of a courtly love triangle between two knights, Arcite and Palamon, both of whom revere
Lady Emily, the sister of Queen Hippolyta. Both Arcite and Palamon fall in love with Emily upon seeing her for
the first time. Their love is described as all-encompassing, and both Emily's presence and absence cause the
knights to experience emotional and physical pain. Arcite and Palamon spend years yearning for Emily and
scheming to defeat the other for her love. Ultimately, the two knights fight in a bloody battle to win her hand. 'The
Knight's Tale' highlights the characteristic features of courtly love: all-encompassing, frustrated, jealous, and
ritualistics.

2. What connections can you find between Chaucer’s description of the knight (General Prologue) and his tale?

Chaucer describes the knights in General Prologue as is a chivalrous man who seems to fulfill the principles of a
Medieval English knight: chivalry, courtesy, generosity, respect, and truth. Moreover, the Knight demonstrates his
commitment to his land by fighting many battles in the name of the king and religion. The Knight is also very humble in
dress. He doesn't show his social status or boast about his position. These characteristics are the same to Arcite and
Palamon in the Knight's tales since they show these qualities in their battlefields and the way, in which they confront for
Emily's love.

4. How is Ancient Greece represented in this story?3. The Knight’s Tale may be defined as a romance? Tick the
elements/facts you consider part of a chivalric romance.

● Love causes pain and torment

● This is the main kind of romance found in medieval Europe from the 12th century onwards
● It describes (usually in verse) the adventures of legendary knights
● It celebrates an idealized code of civilized behaviour that combines loyalty, honour, and courtly love
● There is an emphasis on love and courtly manners
● Masculine military heroism predominates through all the story
● The most famous examples are the Arthurian romances recounting the adventures of Lancelot, Galahad, Gawain,
and the other Round Table knights.

Set in ancient Greece, it speaks of high matters: the Roman gods, Theseus’s court, the knightly world of
honor and chivalry.

5. How can you describe reversals of fortune in the tale? Let’s think of a “Wheel of Fortune”: good fortune is
followed by dramatic events as a kind of balance. Think about:

Theseus first victory- women grieving- knights found alive- imprisonment- love at first sight- Arcite’s freedom/
Palamon’s imprisonment- suffering - fighting- tournament- duel- life/death

In the Middle Ages, the idea of fortune had a powerful hold on people's imagination, they think of fortune as a personal
force.

Theseus is indeed in Fortune’s good graces, and because of his prosperity and high rule.

6. What Greek deities intervene in the story? How?

VENUS THE GODDESS OF LOVE,Palamon visits the temple of Venus and supplicates her in the night. He tells her of
his desire for Emelye and requests that she brings him victory in the name of love........
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MARS THE GOD OF WAR,Arcite walks to the temple of Mars and begs the god of war for victory in the battle.

DIANA THE GODDESS OF CHASTITY, Emelye rises and goes to the temple of Diana,she begs Diana to prevent the
impending marriage.

7. Take turns to give a brief account of the main events in each part of the tale.

Part 1: Arcite and Palamon are captured by Theseus and imprisoned in a tower together. They always look out of
tower’s window. One day, they see Emily walking in her garden. Both these knights fall in love with her
immediately. Then, they start to fight for her love. Arcite manages to escape the tower

Part 2: Palamon still is imprisoned by seven years. Arcite manages to close Emily, but he does not confess his love
to her. One day, the two knights meet and fight for Emily,but the quarrel is broken up by Theseus, who insists that
they hold a proper tournament. Arcite and Palamon are given one year to build an army and return to Thebes. The
tournament will be a fight to the death, and the winner of the tournament will receive Emily’s hand in marriage.

Part 3: The evening before the tournament, Arcite visits the God of the war,Mars to pray to win the tournament. Palamon
visits the Goddess of love, Venus to pray Emily’s hand. Whereas Emily visits the Goddess of chastity to pray that Diana
will allow her to be unmarried, but she states she is willing to accept whatever Diana will be for her.

Part 4: The next day, the tournament begins. After of fighting, Arcite wins the tournament, but he is thrown from his
horse and suffers a fatal injury. On his last words, Arcite asks Emily that she gets marry Palamon.

8. How are the temples of Venus, Mars and Diana described? Which of these concepts are/are not related to their
temples? Brutality- Changes- Suffering- Violence- Emotions- Catastrophe- Glory- Malice- Happiness.

These three temples are described as;

● Venus: the Goddess of love.

● Mars: the God of the war.
● Diana: the Goddess of chastity.

These three temples represent different concepts such as Mars and Venus are represented as internal forces that cause
suffering and catastrophe rather than glory and happiness . Whereas represents spiritual forces of emotional and suffering.
Mars represents violence and brutality of human being through malice. And Diana represents changes since in chastity
transformations human beings must undergo in life.

9. What lesson does Egeus teach to Theseus?

Egeus likes Demetrius and supports their marriage. However, Hermia is very clear that she does not want
to marry Demetrius. She loves someone else - a man named Lysander. Egeus is upset that his daughter will not
comply with his wishes, so he takes her before Theseus, Duke of Athens. He reminds Theseus that the law
grants him the power to make this decision for his own daughter. Theseus agrees and tells Hermia:

● 'Be advised, fair maid.

● To you, your father should be as a god,
● One that composed your beauties, yea, and one
● To whom you are but as a form in wax
● By him imprinted, and within his power
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https://study.com/academy/lesson/egeus-in-a-midsummer-nights-dream-characteristics-character-
analysis.html

This source is from one of Shakespeare’s plays!!!

10. Analyze the main characters.

The knight : Theseus / Arcite Palamon Emilie

The most prominent
man stands apart from Theseus, a hero and
the other pilgrims nobleman of Athens.
because of his dignity He was the greater
and status He was a conqueror under the
gentleman who had sun. He had subdued
been in many battles. many rich countries.
His epitomizing Hypolita
chivalry, truth, and The wife of Theseus.
honour were his She was a powerful
remarkable queen of the Amazons
characteristics. before Theseus
conquered the tribe and
made her his queen.
Another noble Theban A Theban knight who Theseus' beautiful
knight and close friend is wounded fighting sister-in-law who
to Palamon. When against Theseus and inadvertently attracts
Arcite sees the imprisoned in the attention of two
beauteous Emilie, he perpetuity. Years later, imprisoned knights,
pledges his undying he is the first to fall in Arcite and Palamon,
love for her. love with the beautiful and thus is the
Emilie. instrument motivating
the central plot.

What do you know about the Greek mythological references in The Knight’s Tale? Match.

Pluto Mars Narcissus Daphne Hércules Medea Diana Cupid Actaeon Venus Amazon Circe

● The Roman goddess of love and beauty, but originally a vegetation goddess and patroness of gardens and
vineyards. Later, under Greek influence, she was equated with Aphrodite and assumed many of her aspects.
……………Venus……………………………….
● The god of war, and one of the most prominent and worshipped gods. He is the son of Jupiter and Juno.
According to some sources, he is the father of Romulus and Remus. ……………Mars………..
……………………
● The Roman goddess of nature, fertility and childbirth. She is closely identified with the Greek goddess Artemis.
She is also a moon-goddess. Under Greek influence she was equated with Artemis and assumed many of her
aspects. She is portrayed as a huntress accompanied by a deer. ……Diana………………
● He is another example among several of a beautiful young man who spurned sex and died as a result. Many
nymphs and girls fell in love with him but he rejected them. One of these nymphs, Echo, was so distraught over
this rejection that she withdrew into a lonely spot and faded until all that was left was a plaintive whisper. The
goddess Nemesis heard the rejected girls prayers for vengeance and arranged for him to fall in love with his own
reflection in water. He stayed watching his reflection and let himself drown. ………
Narcissus………………………
● The Latin equivalent of Heracles, was the son of Jupiter and Alcmene. His jealous stepmother, Juno, tried to
murder the infant Hercules by putting a serpent in his cradle. Luckily for him, he was born with great strength and
killed the serpent. Eventually, Juno drove him insane, he killed his wife, Megara, and their three children. The
Oracle told him to go to Eurystheus, king of Mycenae, who gave him twelve tasks known as the twelve labours.
……Hercules………………………..
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● She was a devotee of the goddess Hecate, and one of the great sorceresses of the ancient world. She was, the sun
god. King Aeetes' most valuable possession was a golden ram's fleece. When Jason and the crew of the Argo
arrived at Colchis seeking the Golden Fleece, Aeetes was unwilling to relinquish it and set Jason a series of
seemingly impossible tasks as the price of obtaining it. She fell in love with Jason and agreed to use her magic to
help him, in return for Jason's promise to marry her. ……Medea……………………….…………………
● Daughter of the sun, was a sorceress best known for her ability to turn men into animals with her magic wand.
The daughter of Perse and Helios, she is remembered for her encounter with Odysseus and his men, and
renowned for her knowledge of magic and poisonous herbs. When Odysseus and his men landed in Aeaea, his
crew later met her and were turned into pigs. …Circe……………………………
● The Roman god of love and the son of Venus. He is a small, winged boy, blindfolded, carrying bow and arrows.
The arrows, once struck the heart, makes the victim fall in love. His Greek equivalent is Eros. ……………
Cupid…………………………………………
● The legendary huntsman of Greek myth During a hunt, he left the party and wandered alone through the
forest when he suddenly came upon a clearing. There he saw the goddess Artemis bathing in a large
pool, surrounded by her nymphs. When they noticed the hunter they flew themselves before the
goddess, but he had already seen her splendid nakedness. Angered, she turned him into a stag for she
refused to let any mortal say that he had seen Artemis naked. ……Actaeon………………………….
…………..
● He is the Roman god of the underworld and the judge of the dead. He was the son of Saturn. His wife
was Proserpina (Greek name, Persephone) whom he had kidnapped and dragged into the underworld.
His brothers were Jupiter and Neptune. He was known as a pitiless god because if a mortal entered his
Underworld they could never hope to return. His Greek name is Hades. ……………Pluto……….
……………………….
● Member of a race of women warriors. The story of them probably originated as a variant of a tale
recurrent in many cultures, that of a distant land organized oppositely from one’s own. Their ascribed
habitat necessarily became more remote as Greek geographic knowledge developed. …The
Amazons………………
● During a duel between her lover Apollo and Eros, she was reached by Eros’s lead-tipped arrow whereas
Apollo was crossed by a golden-tipped arrow. The golden-tipped arrow meant he would love her
forever. The lead arrow meant she would never love anyone. ……………Daphne……………………

The Miller’s Tale

To answer these questions, record a podcast. You can take turns to answer. If you are two members in the group,
you can divide the questions to answer.

1. What is the Miller's condition as he begins to tell his tale? Why does he start telling his tale?
2. Who is Nicholas? Describe him.
3. Describe the carpenter's wife, Alison.
4. How did Nicholas get the carpenter out of the way so he and Alison could sleep together?
5. Describe Absalom.
6. Why did Absalom react so angrily after Alison and Nicholas’s joke?
7. Why did the village people think the carpenter was crazy?
8. What aspects of courtly love, if any, can you find in this tale?
9. The Miller’s tale is a fabliau. What is a fabliau? Explain.
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Podcast 1
Duarte Ursula
Answer 1: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HqpEn-nYvaYmseL-iflbkmI5_d3N9njW/view?usp=sharing
This file requires permission to be listened.
FIORDA ANSWER 2 https://drive.google.com/file/d/12L95xVkz0tSSSLyVRD6KaLRbJiiYP0hT/view?
usp=sharing

KALAMEN
ANSWER 4:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Cm9W6-1u5-wWVdy0PqVkOTAyb04pKVeq/view?usp=sharing

Podcast 2
FIORDA ANSWER6 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XG_xJCxu8FZUngnQtCb4t72LXDiFr2tT/view?
usp=sharing

DUARTE
Answer 7: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1McmbLi99KrdKPu9c43J6LRLyvwtN0K6L/view?usp=sharing

KALAMEN
ANSWER 8:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_qgDk-BD5C-F4BXcnplcckNOa-0jlT1E/view?usp=sharing

Podcast 3-5 and 9

Ghisolis

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y_xcDpO4Db5WHnjH4xnFOHp7qA1Pz8AB/view?usp=sharing

Upload your podcast to your Drive.

Choose Compartir on the top right corner. In the window, choose Obtener enlace, cualquier persona con
enlace.
Copy the link
Here on this doc, select Podcast 1, go to Insertar- Enlace
Paste the link you copied before. Do the same with podcast 2

CROSSWORD - The Nun's Priest's Tale

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C 2 3F 4 S
1 A R T L A T T E R E R 5

H A O Y I

6 S 7 8 9
P E A K L A X T I V E W O N
A
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H U E R S O G

10 Y 1
I C 1 E S 2 Y
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B
P E A I 13 A

14 P 15 D
R E E S T I N A T I O N

E R O G B

16 A
R E T E L L L 1
F O 7

19R
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8
A T A I E S T

20 M N
B I O 2 E Y E E
1

22 23

L L L U A W
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2C
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25 T2
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E O H A N I C L E E R

T E R

2
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E N D R O A C H E
A
M

WRITING

Answer these questions about the Canterbury Tales. Each student must use a different colour
and write your name with the colour chosen. 120-150 words for each answer.
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1. What is the main conflict in The Friar’s Tale?

Duarte, Ursula Tamara

Finished The Wife of Bath's tale, begins the Prologue of the Friar. Since the beginning it is shown that the friar "was
casting black glances at the summoner" . When it is his turn, before beginning, he says: "I will tell you a good story
about a summoner. God knows that it is enough to utter his name to know that nothing good can be said
of them! ”. Because of this, The host had to mediate between the friar and the bailiff to avoid their confrontation.
Firstly , it is observed that there is a MAIN conflict between the friar and the summoner. The story of friar aims to
highlight his position regarding the summoner activities. He defines him as cunning, advantageous, corrupt, liar and
thief, comparing him with Judas.
On the other hand , The friar’s tale relates the encounter between a summoner and a demon who become friends.
They both brag about their tricky methods of getting what they wanted. Unfortunately for the bailiff the devil ends up
taking him to hell.

2. Choose one of these themes and connect it with the tales: sexuality, Christianity,
corruption of church, loyalty, violence, love/ lust, greed, innocence, deception, society
and class.

( FIORDA)

Christianity corruption of the Church:

The city of Canterbury was very popular in Chaucer's time, due to the visit of pilgrims from different
parts of England to the cathedral where the remains of Thomas Becket, archbishop who was
assassinated by knights sent by Henry ll in 1170, were found, during a disagreement between the
Church and the Crown. Shortly after his death miracle stories connected to his remains originated and
the cathedral became a popular pilgrimage site.
The Canterbury Tales reflect the reality of that time, several characters in the tales are religious
figures. Two of the characters in the stories had the work of forgivers, that is, they charged for
indulgence and forgiveness of sins, they were corrupt and greedy. The Pardoner's tale is the best
example of corruption in the church, since he admits to selling false relics,(stop.) another is The
Friar’s tale who leads an easy life, interacts with rich people to progress instead of helping beggars
and lepers -
Chaucer shows in these tales how hypocritical and greedy these religious men were and also how
corrupt the church was.

3. What contradiction or paradox does the Pardoner exhibit? How positive/negative is his
description.GHISOLIS

In the prologue, Chaucer begins with a description of the noblest character, the Knight, then descends to the
most vulgar (Miller and Reeve) and leaves the pardoner at the bottom of the list. In the book "Canterbury
Tales", the pardoner is someone whose job is to act on behalf of the church and the pope collecting money for
forgiveness and sins. However, he is greedy and takes more of his cut than is allowed. For this reason, he is
placed at the end of the list. From his prologue and short story, he is discovered to be a good reader,
psychologically astute and what is worse, he has benefited from his profession. However, Chaucer places him
at the bottom of humanity because he uses the church and sacred and religious objects as tools for personal
gain. Be careful.Use full paraphrasing when you are using other sources!
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The Prologue and the Tale of the pardoner show an ironic contradiction because their own nature is immoral.
For instance, the contradictions and irony he chose for his story. The characters and actions not only reflect
the pardoner's ambiguous and complex personality but also contain several examples of irony.

To sum up, the pardoner has a negative description of himself because he is a hypocrite in his profession
since he is not interested in the correction of sins or in the sense of confession of the people, but in selling as
many indulgences and pardons for purposes profit.

4. Compare and contrast: the role of women. How are women presented in the tales?
KALAMEN

In the Canterbury’ tales, Chaucer tends to offer extreme characters in The Canterbury Tales in order to

show people in society. Women show what society see them, and how this interprets as the “good” and

the “unacceptable” woman.

As regards to General Prologue, we can find two of most important female characters: the Wife of Bath

has an excessive amount of experience with men and in business, and has had an opportunity to travel.

Whereas, the Prioress have lived a life that is predominantly confined to the church. Their most common

life experiences are also protected from some things like marriage and children.

Provide your own words!

https://www.ukessays.com/essays/english-literature/the-prioress-and-the-wife-of-bath-

english-literature-essay.php

Other opposite characters, Emily is described as pure and innocent. She has a beautiful voice and

features that light her up. While Alison is beautiful, but instead of innocent she is vulgar in her character.

She is required to be taken sexually by men, who want to give pleasure her by her qualities. She also

spends much of the tale knowing exactly what she wants and works to obtain it.

To sum up, during Medieval ages, the majority of women have been submissive to their male

counterparts, but we can observe some of them decide to reveal to the patriarchal society in the

Canterbury Tales.