Q.

Discuss rhetoric in the tale in light of The Franklin’s protestation of literary

incompetence.

Ans. Geoffrey Chaucer has applied several methods against the broader spectrum of rhetoric,
along with strong overtones of irony in order to discuss the concerns brought forth by The
Franklin’s tale, such as, the importance of honor, truth and fulfillment of promises. The
Franklin’s apology for his manner of narrating the tale, “You will excuse me for my vulgar
speech”, is the application of these very techniques, which simultaneously manage to present a
simple tale yet very subtly highlight the complexity of the methods used, concerns and character
depth as presented by Chaucer.

The Franklin’s tale is peppered with allusions to well known figures of history or mythology,
with whom the pilgrims were fairly familiar. He draws parallels between Dorigen’s plight and
that of honorable maidens of the past including Portia, Lucretia, Laodamia etc in order to
heighten the sense of internal conflict faced by Dorigen and emphasize the magnitude of her
concern regarding loss of her honor and that of her husband. She goes through one instance after
another of wives who slew themselves after their husbands’ demise lest they should be violated
in any way, “That a fair Theban maid, for Nicanor, did slay herself in such a kind of woe.” These
inclusions also serve to provide more drama to the situation as Dorigen contemplates taking her
own life, as did the women she idolizes, in order to escape her dreary fate. It also evokes genuine
curiosity and concern in the pilgrims and the reader as to what will be the ultimate conclusion of
Dorigen and Arviragus’s tale.

The somewhat excessive use of allusion by The Franklin imparts a certain sense of superior
knowledge, of which he is fully aware. This might be seen as Chaucer mocking a particular form
of rhetoric, catalogue.

Variation of narrators,