UCASal Prof. Susana M. Company - Literature tll FINAL EXAM READING GUIDE DISCLAIMER: Thisis just a reading guide to help you review and think about the texts we analyzed in class from different perspectives. This is NOT a lst of exam questions. "THEANGLO SAXON PERIOD: 1. Useful concepts: iyric ~ folk epic — literary epic - allterative meter - kenning! - verbal formula — narrative formula ~ flyting - boast - foreshadowing ~ theme ~ mofif - analogy wa wre enre— A What is o folk epic? + What ore the main/poetic‘andthemiatic features of Beowulf? 4 Like most epic heroes, Beowulf embodies the qualilies of character that were most admired by the people of his time and place."RECOnsHUET the ode OF conduct of dn ideal AngIO-Saxon Waior Gd! king os you see it revealed in this poem. + Describe setting in Beowulf, paying particular attention to HEOrOt and! Grendel's lait + Cotiparé’and contrast Beowil's fight dgainst Grendel Gnd against his mother. Take into ‘account sétting, wedBors, ihe monsters! motives, paralllists. etc 4 Howdoes Hrothgar reward Beowulf after the hero gels id of Grendel and his mothere 4 What are the mail ideas in Hrothgar's farewell speech? 4 What is tH@F6le Of woMeA in the poem? What does Queen WealhithedW do in the poem? What is she woried about? What does thélstory of Hildeburtt (the story about the ision) King! Fini! summarized in your booklet) suggest (or foreshadow) about Queen Wealhiheow's fate? + Baba Brinkman’s rap "Beowull”:similoities & citferences with the triginal text + Borges" rewrite “Fragmento” : similares & cifferences with the original text. a Sei Te We EE RET RO AT ‘Descrioe “the; Wanderer"/ “The Husband's Message"/ “The Wife's Lament”, making reference fo. genre, the speaker's plight and attitude. setting, themes, motifs and tone, + Compare and contrast the husbands in “The Husband's Message" and “The Wife's Lament’. How do they treat their wives? + Compare the warriors in The Wanderer and Beowult IValierary epleaThe Battie of Brunanburgh” Mini research project: What is the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle? What are'ts main themes and motis? What fs the fone of the poem? What could have been the poitical intentions behing the text? Borges’ rewtite:similatis & cifferences withthe orginal tex. beer V. Excerpt trom Bede's Ecclesiastical’ History of the English People: “King Edwin adopts “Christianity” + Whatdid the Venerable Bede contribute to English language and literature? + In what language did he write? Who commissioned the translatién of his most important writings? 4 How does the story of the bird function in Bede's account? Explain the analogy. MEDIEVAL PERIOD ‘ChayeersThe Canterbury Tales + KENNING: A form of compounding in Old English, Old Norse, and Germanic poetry. In this poetic device, the poet creates a new compound word or phrase to describe an object or activity. Specifically, this compound uses mixed imagery to deseribe the properties of the object in indirect, imaginative, or enigmatic ways. The resulting word is newhat like a riddle since the reader must top and think for a minute to determine what the abject is.CASAL Prof, Susana M. Company « Literature i & Usetul concepts: frame ale ~ medieval romance = iterary confession (apology) ~ fol ~ courtly love - ony ‘+ Compare anid Gontras! the following por of characters: «the knight and the Squire b. the Prioress and Wife of Bath . the Friar and the Parson d, the,Deeter and the;Plowman |. Apology: “The Wie of Bath's Proloque", 4 What isthe genre of the WaP? + From the Wife's point of view,whatisia\good husband? How does she keep him that way? 4 Compare and contrast the Wife's five husbands.. + What isthe gente of the tale the Wife tells? + Inwhat ways does the tale fit the personally and attitudes of the teller? + Patience Agbabi's Wife of Bafa IV. Medieval Ballads ‘# Explain/define: ballad — ballad stanza ~ incremental repetition 4 What is a ballad? What are its main features? What are its main devices? Exempity with one ballad you have read. 4 The role of women in the ballads we have read. ‘SOME USEFUL TERMS APOLOGY: ‘Autobiographical form in which a defense is the framework for a discussion by the author of his personal beliefs and viewpoints. (http:/ww-britannica.com) CHIVALR Knightly class of feudal Europe, and especially the gallantry and honor expected of medieval knights. The ideal of courteous knightly conduct developed in the 12th-13th century. It arose ‘out of feudal obligation and stressed loyalty and obeisance by a knight to his God, his lord, and his lady, thus melding Christian and military virtues. Chivalry was greatly strengthened by the CRUSADES, a military endeavor on behalf of Christianity, which led to the founding of the eartiest orders of chivalry, the KNIGHTS OF MALTA and the TEMPLARS. In addition to loyalty and honor, the chivalric virtues included valor, piety, courtesy, and chastity. Questions of love and honor were combined in the ethos of COURTLY LOVE, The knight's lady was meant to be Lunobtainable, ensuring chastiy; the feminine ideal thus became melded with the Virgin Mary. In the 14th—15th century, chivalry came to be associated increasingly with aristocratic display and public ceremony, particularly in JOUSTING tournaments, rather than with service in the field (http:/lwww britannica.com)THE ANGLO SAXON PERIOD LYRIC: is a short poem! consisting of the utterance by a single speaker) who expresses a state of mind, or & process of perception, thought and feeling, In the original Greek, lyric signified a song rendered to the accompaniment of a lyre. FOLK EPIC: Is a long verse narrative on a serious subject, told in a formal and elevated styl, and centered on heroic or quasi-divine figure’on whose actions depends the fate of a tribe, a nation or the human race. AWSGHGHENEBIE (also called "folk “or "primary" epic STAEWHTERMERIORA what had SeaQWRY Seen Brel cer SeIBRITETTSSTERGMAKSTEUng Brorive age. LITERARY EPIC: is c long narrative poem (always ise8!G Solemn and ceremonial tone}, which is usually related to heroic deeds of a person of an unusual courage and unparalleled bravery. in order to depict this bravery and courage, the epic uses grandiose style. The heraiis usually the representative of the Values of a certain culture, race, nation or a religious group on whose victor of failufé the destiny of the whole nation or group depends. Therefore, certain supematural forces, help the herd, who comes ouf "WiGtoMMDt the end. An epic usually starts with an invocation to muse, but then picks up the threads of the story from the middle and moves on to the end. ALLITERATIVE METER: (AS technique) device of orgat accentuated syllable of the second half-line) E.g.:{A free grew me; Iwas green and wood} _; (semicolon in set of the caesura in Modem English). KENNING: A form of compounding in Old English. In this poetic device; THENBOSMereaIesI einem ““GomPOUNA WOrTORSRESENTGTMESCIDE GN ObISCHOMACtIVIA Specifically. this compound uses mixed imagery to describe the properties of the object in indirect, imaginative, or enigmatic ways. The resulting wordis somewhat like‘a riddlé'since the reader must stop and think for a minute to determine what the objects. VERBAL FORMULA: consists of the'tepetitioniofievents that have been so regularly used in thatbecome predictable and the reader already knows what event follows a previous event. tion of verse (39 NARRATIVE FORMULA: consists of fxithings’or'events that catch the attention of the audience, for instance: voyages, feats, boasts and batties, FLYTING: a contest between two German Warriors that fries to demonstrate his superior vocabulary ‘and bravery: €.G.: Unferth & Beowulf. BOAST: means to'falk’@bout oneselfior something related to oneself in avery proudly Way.» FORESHADOWING: is aliterary device th which awriter gives an advance hintef what's to come'later simtherstoryaForeshadowing often appears at the beginning of a story, or o chapter, and if helps the * reader develop expectations about the upcoming events: THEME: ore the fantdamientalrand’otten universal ideas explored ino literary work MOTIFS: arewseuning’structures; contrasts; and iterary devices that can help to develop and infor tnertext'smajorthemess ANALOGY: is c:-comparison between two different things or ideas.»Ain epic isa long nauate poem, Composed IN. aN elevate STYle ,dedting Wath are-mials arch |” onesemens of 2 Qeat hero o Heroes . The EPIC CElelo1aTS WIVES Gt NaTIONA\, Miltary, Feu gGins, CHUA! POUCA OF NISTHACAl SiQnifieaNce. Epics ty pieaty em pnasize Heroic ACTION a) Weil AS ThE sTIUQGIE LeTWEEN the Nero's cwd eter and jrishuMan feeung OF MoT ty, |As Heorot isa Symbol of such socleny and Com pamioasnia, being me prace wnelc ane Danes CongRegare to eat, dink Tc stOMes, uid RNoWsSniP Smong each othel, and srare 1Nthe Sty Of -tneir KiNG Grendd’s Sttack on Heorot isthud Symboric aS.an stad ontne ee “How dees Hromean reward: Recwelt afrertne han opts:rid Of Glendel-anctinisimotnes? _ with the death of grendal, Hereor aqain lbecomes 3 Symbol of Danish unity, @ pace of gelebiaTia, joy Ond gifts. trothgar-thanks botn Qod and Reousif fortne defeat of Grendel He prodaims tnat Beawuulf IS Now ke a sonto him, and rewards Hin With Area wie The ommense cama cuted ly Becwuilfls HghT with Grendel is tepdired and 9 Qrcar Kait held Hereor isfiled with friends and family. Atthe feast, Hrothgpr Gis ecw! Gifs Fanging fromvepld ~o horses ro Weapons HEalgo gives gifts 1 Beowoi's men. Lond Gifts OIC NOT just OAYMENT, they're O\s0 public acknowledcement ofuator and Greate bonds oF loyaty. Afrerthe song, Wealtneou), ttrothga’'s queen, offers +ne opid mead vp to Hrothgar an hells hiM To be gexierous to Beowulf sad+ne omer eats Shere turns to Perea Hrothfol and her sons Hrethic and Hrotnmund who ac Sting ne to Beowulf. She femainds ner nephew that Hrothgpr toot him when ne was d child, and says Sne Knows Hrornfel will repay her sons Well. Finaty,she offers tne Qoiden cup 40 Beourtti and gives Tim Magnificent gifts: a gold necklace ;arm bands Made of 4wisted gold ond 5 ma shire She praises Beowuf then urges him tobe Kind to her sons . Webttneaw , 2 good ques istrying “to Cement the bond between Hrotngar and Beowwf and eHend Hine the Next generanon. The Rast Contnvavs uni Hrothgpr leave! to sleep and many of +ne Waals remain Ite Hallie sleep . ]DEQWULF US. G2ENDELS NoTHER Like 2 good Warrior, Beowulf gives niS TEAWIES 3 ing. head Bal SuCIa hi as Rees The HitT Tens Gre or onme gute Gea < destroyed by the Hood; the giamis, ike Grendel Sra nis motnel, ore descendents oF Can. Hromear ells Beavlf that he wit reward him for his COwl@ce, ay ne promised, and LON PACES BEwvifs generosity Ind wisdom +o Hetcmod, Who tumed an nis Cw People avtof greed and became “joyless! He warns Beowuif tolearn from Hercmoa's CHAMPIE. Hrothg>r then Warns of the angel OF pride, Which Whe a wither oreaw , CaN inf trate ne Nesrt ofthe strongest Warrior. Rrothga, Saysthat cuied fo Hfty Years, provectect nis People and had ne adversaries, Hromosiexperience emphasizes tat nowning is Permanent intnis fe tat onan, is Newitdoe. Then Beawrif lads farce-cil to Hrotngar. He promises To WERE The Danes in Times of +1OLbIe ANd Promises +NAt Hrothgar's gon HIE THI Will loe WueICoMed. Among the Qears. trotngar is imprcssed oy Beoulf's generosity Ane WiSdomiand Sys Tat if serena snayid happen to Hygelac’s Son, Bow Wovid, MALE 2 good King. Beowwl} Snow prcosnty NOMA Snel ty Fouiting HLETHIC To gear land BEPIOMOTESN. Hrotmgar bevietes that tes trots incu Beowwl} Wail MIKE D opal Kang 4EOON Nd Tegel Ss « The mead-nail 1s Me Symbel of asocleny: i THE Cental place. TwaT NE Pecpre qatnet to feast, Socig ize, ANd WTEN fo MME Lop Wow) perform and Mercoy Prrche ME hiswry OF ‘the Pecple. Heororay he laicest Mad Nal in Me Worl symoolie The MignT and Pouxs ofthe Speai-Dane vader tl romgat, a? as Heorot is a drinking hall, where warriors gather for parties, to get drunk and as a place to sleep. Heorot is a creation of civilization made by Hrothgar, for men to gather as a meeting place and Hrothgar builds the biggest hall ever made. Grendel then attacks the hall for twelve winters straight, destroying more and more men every night with no remorse, and the men are atraid to sleep in the hall, thinking that maybe Grendel will eat them. Grendel is a ruthless cannibal that eats his victims. Most of the wanrors stand no chance against Grendel. They are drunk and are not able to attack him. Thats part ‘ffi 'reason Hrothgarwants Beowulf to fight Grendel, because the Danish warriors who are too drunk. According to the epic poem, Beowull is bigger and larger than anyone else physically. mores Monster's Moneys @ 5, Beowulf is an example of Anglo-Saxon poetry that is distinguished by its heavy use of alliteration {the repetition of initial sounds of words). In the original Beowulf, alliteration is used in almost every ine. + Loyalty: at every step of his career, loyalty is Beowult's guiding virtue, +Reputation: from the beginning Beowult is rightly concemed about how the rest of the world will see him. TEpiesemis THe VANES OF *Generosity and Hospitality: The code of the comitatusis at the heart of the Beowulf epic. in this system, —p the king or feudal lord provides land, weapons, and a share of treasure to his warriors (called thanes or retainers) in retum for their support of the leader in battle, The leader's generosity is one of his highest qualities. There are more than 30 different terms for"king’ in the poem, and many of them have to do with this role as provider. Hospitality is such an established part of the culture that the poet feels free to refer to it with casual humor. *Revenget serves as a motivating factor for several characters throughout the poem. E.g.: Grendel. 3. Reconstuctthescodesoficonductiofian ideab Anglo-Saxon waniorand*king as you see it revealed in this poem. Beowulf is an epitome of an ideal Anglo Saxon hero ideal Anglo-Saxon warior Ideal Anglo-Saxon king = does not seek riches of gold and treasures = The Danish lands of the time are ruled by - He desires fo gain glory and fame for his own | Hrothgar, a sted and. fousking. recognition. - the people of ie Tgdore Oe yeS his words as | = possesses loyally 10 both: his people and king: | orders. Believes devotedly to his destiny and faith in God. |- The people ako ave les e - To ensure immortality and spread his name Gcross | protector of warriors. kingdoms, Anglo-Saxon warriors had _ strong [-Much of these people'srespect come in response | aspirations to boast their achievements with |to Hrothgor's~ generosity=-to" everyone. This contests and challenges in order to prove their | generosity can be seen towards Beowulf, when capabilities. the king gives his thanks for the heroic deeds of the ~ Beowulf secured his high reputations and gained | warrior. glory by encountering intense battles and slaying | - The followers of the king both respect and trust evil monsters their ruler, ond through his generosity and strong “Another way To obtain high reputations and fame | trust in good, Hrothgar displays the ideal code of was to pursue adventures and quests. conduct tor an-Anglo- Saxon king. - “Fame is. 2 porte —_ quaity, NaviNg Todo 4, Describe setiingiin Beowull; paying porlicular attention toHeorot and Gren drore Win earnect i Geumanic here. Cede inssnengin Course and loyaity in worn RS Trane *4@aitione Recut NusTares e muon espected ahosprtoiity, Qenerossty nck poirheal Skil aig FEMI OF 4D\¢ PIDY = * yital fo WoKte Socienes, | CFEMOMISIESS i WOMEN. = C901 1eAyen\ good reputation a ait Pecpe 9gW* (lain poetic and tmemanics atures in Gecwolf: _ me F Beowulf is composed inthe Oiehymed for-beat oultteratie style chaacaisTc OF dd Englisn poetry Sasa ie meee stn oti sore A Vanery of evidence: treat beouwtt began asan of Prem passed oy Snagen? ree Ue Se WSkaings “poum acon] imagery: thrOUgn thre Use nings. al ane Bec 1S on EPIC: RatUESaxocioted Dimese | NES SMP eOharacterd are OF noble bitty sthe Action inucles the fate of 3 whole pecple etme Theme Is annaunced 1M the opening lines . SCharacTers spPeacia long speeches , LUTOTES( Fquees of HEORIC NACQATIVES The poem hat More tman B90 lines ONG SPeech iA Wrich 2 “The (eM Is MEW genetaity read in HansaTo origina" comp One Statement \5 FH exist he manyscri pronty that fests Safety tame Bertisn rere -ramiy and site oN Beanwlf , family and +ikal allegiances. determines one's entity! *qnaracters ae Constantly identified a3 TE Son, Wife or daugnter of 5 PAT cwlar MAN, and aymembers of “His OF that tribe etlen or beings Witnavt tribel —suchar QGiendel aad Wis mone ae desnived as lonely and joyles. Withat a community or family, there. men ae incomplete! *All Of the cottural TASTHHUHIONS desciived in BeCWwif ewIgT 40 Pree ond strengthen the f omily oacttribe - © Presenation ofa family ortive Witrna hosn\e environment demands nor. ont Wwitnia the aribe ,buttne uinignes wo defend and protect the Trine from. oorado “4 How does Grendel's iair in Becuutf Compare +o Hecrot? At first glance THEE Seems To le Nothing in commen wetucEn Heoret and qreNsell tar HECEOT is onignt covered in hammerd god anddeigned for celeb(atio .T+stands hign ine land, Guittley king Hrother for his warmion. JAtne poem+tne mead Natt is called “the Greatest of Si louuidings' Gris Whele king Hrotgar fatowsnips Withnis WATTS, during feasts Me (avisnes the Wamos gists ond +easurcs Jortheil SNlegiance TOHIM ond for their Covrage én the bathefield. The Nai Helf is THU, IMPCSING ANA iImMEN{e . The Warriars ANAK, tell Wercie STOres Sad listen +OtHE SONGS OF bards. Tris definitely 2 happy piace T be. When Beaunf defeats Grendel , Liag presenis Men With gifts OT MECCT. HEGECT is present as 9 Place That qaneraly Uchitats O POsrHVe aTMespheic - tq Contrast to Hercot, grendel's lair is underwatef misetable, lostnsome and daric. Tris uninhabtabe by hemans ond no readkly accessible . There, the air i¢ Ln neattny and the weather ipeasatr. Gfendel's jail is widden from the atdl symbaiising he Snck hiS MotHEr We DS auteasts Tntne middie oftne daw tne cave aliaws “them 2 yege of Ofety Sncl PALAGY IN A World *hST Ce Them as Hose Meare iso TEPESEMS har Nerrtage. AS ceSoen dans trom Cain they aie ASociated wv eurThe scop sings of the fights FansbUg Fan,a FSO Hag Weds 9 Danish prNcess pil derout Her brother HARE, wing of the Danes, visits, bul tne visit results ia Qbotte tak wits Gorn Hnaef and Hideous S04. Finn thentiies ToSTbiisn Peace betwen the Fisians and tne Danes: He promises Hengest) tne neu Danish leader, that theif Peoples will tive Wequaity undef Facts leadership and that qo cne Will exer cemind the Danes nar they sene +neaie lord's Uller. He also give the Danes Wergildito make uw for tne loss of tneir leader. The Ones Stranded oy Winter in the Fisian tand, agree . They lourn HAaef ond Hildeloun's sods bocties toog the. The Oanes Spendthe Winter With Finn andthe Tisiany, but Seacriy spend me Time planaing revenge. WHEN spring Comes , tne Danes attack, Killing Fina. The Danes then Tave tne Flision’s treayoc, and ferum tothe’ people With tildetoun. The Fiansiourg episode invokes the idea of vengpnce @3 SComPoNENTOF NENeE The SHY Aso highignts a tension intne nEroie Cede ‘oy presenting the Point of Uew Of tre Danish princess miideouh. Married tome Fusion kiag wet herself 3 daughter Of tne Danes, Hildeloun experiences a divided loyalty. sne nasa son fignting 09 ane Side and a brother on tne Other. Like Many OtNEr Women inne Germanic warrior Cutty depicted in Reowit, SANE RTE TA STAN POSTISTEMAESHSIWESHASED . The PLACICE Of Using WOMEN as Peace Todls . Hildebourh Nelps-to forge 2 ConNecTION betusen-tribes! WEFIIAs \exany May Ment. THe PICK SET O1 3S Person Ife AccomtiNg “to Nis Scar @uciaias or pouticn) Sonn ato onl orone his “thane ai wwted ine feud the Fignt Might Neues end+o the vEAgaNce Mulling. However tne fi gnT Cov'd be stopped hoy the payment of wergild. fhagio:sax00- POENS: THE WANDEEZ: This is the fist of seucial poemu in the Exeter book ofter craractenized % ON BKBSY: dioMatic Mondoqve ja whieh tne Speake SKPICSES Some sense of SEPAATICY and |EMPTS to Move te Some rm of Gonsolation! themes inctude the loss of love earlier mesa recogniken of i tHonsierce andthe We Of proveraial 07 Weligiars LuiKdom -ro Come -va tems, wit Mis fortune. The. Wanders Lone Sp2aKS intne Poem) STruggles witn tne loss of Ken aed SOcial Cornection. He i$ Vkiledand finds himsel{ WITH NS Place in scciety NO identity in @ hostiic word. tte cavnts for tre reader tis Process of tuming nislament into Cowoiing Wisdom, lout PAAGExIcally | A-the Process, NE SEEMS tO FLEE “DOIN [nis OIL Life of SusfesiNg - TONE | AANESS -nope -pan-grief year. PTHENES loneLiness -seme of lOfs witdom -hof2 -iNekofable NaTU OF fate and exile- NOTES: pqnisned Perse - bircts —3€2 -shipi -meackham iA PLAS Ubi Suat(Wher aetney? THE HUs@ANDs NEsSMol Tne Speaker is a nQniMae_ Objech Bd in many ciddles. The theme oF lovers Separatedt toy FELD IS Simitarto “nat Of "The wifes lament'thaugh formaty this PoEMmINIesian elegy trans uitation The. sole Captas letters at tre edo} tne Poems ae PEMER inthe onginal; they stand far thes conie YaMes So-tMaT ine S ond R runes Provably icfef To"sailroad (the EA dna Ww to" Sea-jey" and _m toma’ Toopther they appestedt to extent a heat fekt iauitation FO TNE WOMAN Uho receives tne Message Ww locad 9 ship arc set Sail Toward her NIANG, lover. TONE : SQdness — pan_yearn -gniet - Passion. THENES . lOve AameMt-loNeuness —SEPAITICN-NOSTAID -hope - MEaMIrG Of exile. NOTES: lhanisned persoN goa - sed -TICASUTS - Gold - ships =the Wood. DEVICES: DNTEIOTME METeYC tine F)- Perronificarion (Wood) — Wenaings (He quit's home),Ker HIKDEBURH, THEIWEBVERERBESCE: She is the Danish princess mamied to Finn. Your role is to many someone from a rival tribe to bring peace between enemies. The power of the woman in this role is historical, and she builds her place in the salon. she wariorspandibetweenihenhusbandiand others, and, in general, “harmony. iis their fabric of peace thal ‘WEALBTHEOWS The Queen of Hrothgcisi@hleiibOaimienhon hospitality Gnd Good taste os SHeyhosts| “the banquets in Heorot. She is'everything a’queen should be: ‘generous; tasteful) proper and Kind"His’ SECNTIERRIEA shortly after the Unferth it in ident Tass effectively withitheucie" ro an active role in diplomacy, ¢ «diamanel Ml, ANGLO SAXON ee "9 renin) SA (COX reSSILe i frign 9:The Wanderer’ Monciegie MOTT Seaway Is a poem written in Old English, the language that people who lived in England spoke before the Norman conquest of 1066. After the conquest, the Latin language of the French-speaking conquerors was mixed with the old English Germanic. Finally leads fo the strange and wonderful soup of Latin and Germanic features that make up modem English. "The Wanderer’ has been preserved in the Exeter Book, the largest collection of manuscripts of ancient English poetry that exists. "The Wanderer’ first ‘appeared as a piece of oral poetry when the Germanic Pagan culture of Anglo-Saxon England was undergoing conversion to Christianity. it contains traces of both traditional Germanic warrior culture and of a Christian value system. The speaker for much of thélpoemis a warrior who had to go into exile! after the slaughter of his lord and relatives in battle.’And thus, he had contemplated what they experience of the exile teaches him abou! life. For most of the poem, the speaker expresses traditional Germaric beliefs about how a wise man should act, the inevitability of death, and mankind's inability to change his fate. The speaker holds up that God's favor andgrace as the only possible refuge from ll.the misery he witnesses.’The Wanderer’ is both alamentfor all the things the speaker - and people more generally - have lost, and also aiteflection’on what is wise men leam from their life experiences. “The Wanderer’ combines parts of two traditional genres of Old English poetry: the elegy, or lament, and the wisdom poem. “The Husband's Message" \s a S4liné poem contained in’a mid-tenth-century manuscript called Exeter Book, a collection of anonymous poems written in Old English. The first part of "The message of the husband''is pronounced withiaipiece:of woody |t caries’a’ message from a lord tovhis lady; asking; "> fojoimthim in a distant , fond.towhich he hos been forced to flee due to feudal violence? This messenger / piece of wood takes out all the stops to convince the lady to come, assuring hes of the continuous love and devotion of his lord, alluding to his great prosperity, praising her and reminding the vows that the couple made in better times. The manuscript of "The Husband's Message” appears immediately after 60 Anglo-Saxon riddles, which ask the reader to guess what each one is about. That is the question that we initially ask ‘ourselves when the poem begins. Who is'this speaker, who'claims'to have grown up from a “kind of wood"? But as the poem progresses, the message, the piece of wood, and the speaker become both felt. This approach makes it a love lyric or a lament as much as a riddle."At the end of the poem, after its message has been delivered, the announcer pronounces severalirunesithe speaker says that these runes guarantee the lord's vows to his lady. “Ihe message of the husband’ reminds us that writing, which allows those who are separated by an ocean to talk to each other, is really mysterious and magical. “The Wife's Lament” * 48 © GEA of INE The wife is the narrator and the protagonist. The poem begins with a brief discussion of his current situation. The wife explains that her “lord” - her husband, and possibly also the lord of her vilage = left ‘her community for a distant land. It is not clear if he was exied or voluntarily abandoned, 'She'decides), The speaker recalls That her husband has left nes foruknown reasons + Elegiac THE, depessing sadness, grieving Pain; yearn nope jsorrow , TREN ES loneriness — norTaiga - PATTON -loydity — lack of loyally - MEdning of exile » NOTIFS: the DKVsion to fate — Cak — Obience CHorer-+tre eo‘tosleavetorfindshima However, her plans to successfully rejoin her husband are frustrated by her husband's relatives. Then he is ordered to live in a hole in the earth. In exile, she is completely aloné. She has nothing but her many sorrows to keep her company, and apparently nothing better to do than write elegieslamenting her sad story. 10." Compare and contrast the husbands in "The Husband's Message” and "The Wife's Lament”. How do they treat their wives? THE HUSBAND'S MESSAGE THE WIFE'S LONENT J. The Nustoond is exiled after escaping to |-«The paam des not clori stant lands cueTo conflicts of [obo Inuswand was exiled of\ wiolence vowatarily « SPOUSES DC SePATE toy an Ocean, buIthe The Sporses O€ separated four the weman| hus cand ties TO COWIE Nett +tBElT |gecides to eae Nome to-FoKow Wer LQRER OE BoRYSNO MEHSAREIENTON SD [nospond Sad lord. in exile. 11 -Gompare the wariorin the Wanderer and Beowulf, “Beowaf and“ine Warder” aIe Old English prem’ loelonging’ to the. Anglo Saxcn Period. Fiistty, Ue Con descite in Geowsif!-trat tts mai Character is 3 “tdledl Warrier And her wre is Surrounded ley nis lord Sncl other Warriors oN+ne time. He iS descited 9s on tnbeaTabie?man Wine has neser Fett departed ond ne is motivated, by his desire Tt ve remembecd after nis desM. The wamiet in Beouwtl experienced Oa adventuwus [Tory Ontre otney hand, The WandelcF is a Warrer Who was alone and depressed) Searching foro New Meadnali to call home sinde he lost ereryMHIAG, incLcLin his \ord and sit nis Companions Sor he Was motivated oy his need for Compantoninip anatieconty! ureter the nome, Hate Grinkmnars (ap "Bcourf' simiarinies ® cuHerences Wit tne original text Tn “ne (ap, prerect (mead nal) js naMectond described joxitt loy King Hrotgar in winich way Dbavnd Celebrstian ond feast: The (OP ISO ICfers tothe demon Giendd Jost UNNive The onginal, the characteristics trait grendel nay (efef to tne Similarity of ts Prysica aGeCT With men, To tom, i Cfers To the croiaceristics HOT people of that time Siribtedt to qrendel and the AWSOCATION WTNH LUPEISTHON Ind Yeti gion. The (Op DIS SPEAKS OF PEapIE Praying To *neir AGH gods for proectton and NExef Coming To them. The sHusTKON Youd Nake locen cu fferent Vthey would unow Jesus;adds Goa, Tefeng to Catrol\ cis. Untie The ongiaal pyem in my SPINION tne rap SPEaKS Of a Beowulf Totaily VdiN and SuPENOT Ey cwfferEnt from +e Onginal Poem VoNere TNE WATICL is NUNbIE Ind qeNerOus. AS ia the ONgiAD POEM THE1SP dlescnoes tre arqpe leTUceN Beauf ond Urferth at The BONcKEH Tate top, Reavult dddicses Uaferth tnrargh SOME ofENSILE ex PrEssions, Which ake jysTIfied toy Bobo Saying Hat tre Angie Saxo) of that HME Wasa lite Offensive. AS iA tre Orig/ASI pI2M, tre fi ETUEN Becuuit Ard Grendel is detoited, dessitaing te moment wren BeowvIF Awis Nis BM and finahy Teas + from the beasr, Unlike the original, the fap mawe a com pansy Joaut Qrendel’s moter witn Aagetina Jolie moluag reference To the Prysical character isty. >P the actiess IN-the fil, Which are TY differnt from tne charoctenstics of the Ong inal PRAM}. TNE TAP lEDvES Unfinrsnedthe Encl of tne poem andthe ant wit the Mother of grencet, andwaqes feacking Ane 01giN3, not NISTENING THiap NWSE To Pt ON 2 WCESTION.Breca: Seawwif's hithood frend, Wnom he devore 19 AawiMMING MATE. Uaferth Sides to the STO af theif Comest, and Geowf tnen clates it in deta. Hrothgor enjoys military Hrothgar's wi He gracious success and prosperity until tygelac’s wife tne qten oftine Danes." ¢ Grendel terrorizes his realm, YebNG cedu4ifo Wealhtheow | Awitontozeenue Hygd pacomege cae represents o diferent kind " sn ‘6 wi of leadership. He is a father (Hygelac'swife) | Wyod is comcSsted (Hrothgar’s wife) : 's.con figure to Beowulf and a = with gi model for the kind of king Noctthrytn. that Beowulf becomes. Hrothgar Healared 3 ADanish warrior || (king of the Danes whose (son of Hygelac a ver 2 vinoiseciovsot | tread hall and men are who becomes king aftr his] 18 or uniting to menaced by Grendel) father’s death) fight Grendel, was TNS ‘thus proving co tise infer to 2 Beowat Becunt's unde, Inferth (Hrothgar's retainer) kang cf-me géarts and nusvand of Hyg. Hy gelac heartily wxicomes a TH Recut ron Geatish hero who fights. | 3 oe the monster Grendel. | & Eagtneow : Beounit's father Grendel's mother, and a fire-breathing dragon. Beowulf Beowul's boosts and young, wasman of encounters eveairim to || (mighty warrior who later Raunt veones be the strongest. cblest || becomes king of the Geats) last battle arena warrior around. In his Odie On OF are cone, youth, he personifies all of the best values of the Wario ron away. Wigay adreres heroic culture. In his old 2 ; age, he proves a wise 3 {young thane who remains} +2’ ne Ferwe ond effective rer. loyal to Beowulf and later | CAE, proving becomes king of the Geats)} Suciabie succe SSI To Beauly, Symboiizes Grendel ‘an ancient euiland i, Powerful serpent, jealousy, (descendent of Cain who fhe dragon Quotas terrorizes Heorot) horde of reasuee ino Dragon rien und. (angered by atheft from his | jhe dragon treasure trove, he plagues the | constitutes the third and final later years of Beowulf reign) | re Se. ‘Ademon descended trom. His ruthless ond miserable existence is part of the retribution exacted by God for Cain's murder of Abel. Grendet fits solidly within the ethos of vengeance that governs the wortd of the poem, ue ' Seems to possess fewer human Danes Grendel's Mother ‘qualities than Grendel, although (Hrothgar’s thanes) {a formidable foe who seeks |} her terrorization of Heorot is revenge for her son's death) || explcined by her desire for vengeance (a humen motivation) ‘Qrendel preys on Hromnga’s waries ees inte Kengs mead- nail ,Hesrot, sintal of roppiness and pide 8 Well ay chistress,Moco —— Chavacress [Ss one of tne mest important Wok of Old Engush — Becunvif: The Proraqanst of te Epic. gearish | | Itetatoc . Tt nas influence Many Contemporary Nero Who fignls the monster Grendel, Grende''s HHontasy Worms suchs astne Lord OF the Qagstlegy Mother, aNd 9 fir€ -wreaTMINg BAGH. Beau} | (4e@ Tolluien) boasts andencounters exci nm to be the Strongest) Seles warner, Ja his youth, he. * Bec UUF WAS CrighAy created boy sn anaYMES PT Persanfied a OF ME best valu! OF the WerOC Scholars MOA cLoviots. ching WreNtNe PeeMWA —cyPUe.T his Ad age “ne Pros owe ond Compared. Beowvi{ is believed to nae beencem effective ruler, on 00) 4thcemt ee [Paved on-tne early Pm) ‘Some of the themesthrougnaut Beau # The story origins Stem for the oral thacunan . Inctude the nerac code, NE DAIS oF Beowul i , ACTON ond it Consists oF loyarty, Pride Ind Qrory, » Beowuilf is the Oldest existing OldEngish poem: wot ¥ a i LeISUS ELH is thE COMTOST |te FAKE place IN Scandinavia between tne P The theme of end of the SH andtre beginning of the Foentury, been Reousll and grendd loyalty vs pride, PLOT Then, trees tne theme ofdeath ond defert: \-The Alot of Geount begas Witntne Ling of Danes “The ineuitaole trutnis nat no cae Cangcape Hiromngy Whore lands nate beenterronged by anevil death. force Named Grenda. Again, while qoT+O Much (Skneun sort tne, 2 A young got warnicr Beowolf Comes to Msaid 10 Se wre aiewcar iets it nas nad iG Hi For saving his former yeas arp, WA! on influence pea [Fepayment te Homes ING HIS forher Yeas aq a ae |3- Recut DNC te beast and witnaut armor er WRAP, F195 Off Grendel's arm. Hrotngpr made Such & gayment 40 ary 7 ; Reounlt fatner our a feud ond pater Ir The Beast reruns to nis heme ond dies, feoweit!s moTWvaKD In Comingto fi Is- Seeking revenge, grendel’s momef aTives THE Grendel i$ To Pay oR His family Soi gare Next day aad mils one Of Hrotngat’s aldefs taking . Qlendal's orm. 6- Beowulf Seeks nef GUT and otempts to fighl her THs Sword Woweud is ineffective againsrher 4- Le giabs a magica sword Mangingon andl Stices off her nead. PF Beowulf finds Grendel's corpse and takes hig head oy a+rophy. Tre biade of tne suord melts ‘Qway and he brings Giendels headand the MIT Ff The Suord to trotngar, F-Hrotngy SMOUS hiM In gifts aad he returns to the oars lo- Sane teen ee fBloprwo Qeatisn kings Beawo \U For So fears he maimtansrelative peace with ihe oer Kingeemy until adragon Torments his Jand after a FUNOWay SIRE Steals from it; \2- Becwoit goes To battle win the dragon stout Oil of Mis MEN flee. (Nuw- escapar) 13- Recunfand Wigiaf defeat tne dragen but act it efor’ PeOUwif is posoned by One of Et ites) \U- HE Sees Me spuds OF wottie one las hMe ond qjives nis AFM to faithful companion Wigiat Is-the story ends much Ke \t STINTS Cumntne deatn of a nero and andobaaTe funeral,‘inarisetneninge Sor Crronicic 2 Pee anne Nose thE POWicay THiS 9 chemolegical ScocutT oF ELAS in Ange Sax and Norman i “ a rene Engiand, 3 compilation of seven Suriving enelated manuscript iW « Tod Rear thar is ora primary saxrce, es eaty Hise of _ The Battle of Brunanburh se any AGOF.D POIRCSA pomp rer Engioret em waned “ro | and Me NaiaTLe was Hist oveEMvE ATE feign OF Wing Aled yom Relea num ee Materials that indcuded Some eprome op NIVEA History, THE LOAMUE OF CQVNANBAH TIS 1S Sn HEGAC CTEADAY Eeie POET Lorian Sronymasiy. The wame Was faugir iN 434 ond One of the bleocuest battles OKEt FOUGNT 01 BiHSN Sail) WS 9 QFEST Anglo SOKan VIETOY fo D combined ANgio Sax SrmMy from Nera’a and Wessex led by PAMATAN King OM EAGAN (grandson Of Altred tne great Jancis sroTner Eamund AEF NE aiied forces OF DON€S, Welsh and Scots “The wate was icferred 7o ss “neIgiearest bale I AS. history befor the bate of Hastngi The description oF ANE bathe is Giognic wivid Gnd stitloren ME Se OEANE AMIE IS NOT eNEW With CETAINKY, The knoody scene iSbeticred to hake been Witnessed bY bine decogat 2B wWomer ia the ate eld +HAT Proceed Getsils aba sSmergice ne CEA IAG’ cd ea Na QILES PICT) CFNOWEMEN en ipone BEE” Ty nbc ESCQPING TH Baio inter SINS Write Mei dedeaNS lesu Zane Weng DEC eINg deLoured by VEN Src WOKE The eutoome, ON ron OPBronarioun rescHed (A England jusHich MAA PrcLiausty BEEN'D loose COVLedeIaTION OF Angto Soran Kingdoms , i BA HOBIly 40 LeCoMe 2 nified Wingdom tne nornem | ‘Translated by Burton Raffel POPdEIS OF England We Securcct Snettne Celts Comeinedt To the west. i Mega ding Poetic festures the POEM As on Heroigsoiemn | Nd SEAIOUS TONS, IHS OPTIMISTIC, VICTENCLS and favoF prides THE (OI THERTES, Dc Gtory. ArIVMPAIWAC ond’ death. i The Mest IMPOTITT WOTES. ee ne Oreence of eavenges teated to THE SHtermam of tne Wer. i The GmIMNcimOepeprey Mentioned oc CavEngeaqles HAWKS]! YA WOES, |, a Voninaes caneiierosg 5 wwwaw Bb b b. 2 splint ? 3 notes and comments - =. > Jorge Luis Borges 3 ‘The Battle of Brananburb providel 3a set for Bogs» treatcentuy 2 Arrntne war, to rfet ots person! 5 ivr ind eaperence diag ay va ; Bronanburh, A.D. 937 + Brunanburh, 997 AD. » Jorge Lule Borges Nadie atu ldo, ‘Anocte maté a un hombre en la bata. La eapada ent en el poche, un poco ala iquiorda, Rodé por ferry fue una cosa, ta cosa dal cuore. En vano lo esperarés, mujer que no he visto.i Geamaroramiento del hombre maronge soNare faag 88 MAK vaqabs enhe (Amemavver Sq NoMbe Sabie anfcicbe Comprencier HONd Profurdomeme sobre Gora SS PeNsmentc siempre Fo TBs ae incon | retrace ae Fi Qwesay del prod crc tea 2S Hep yaa metal done esrmtan 6s quencics osieros fem HUFOSE SMUD mlaqOd, ras oe 1) Yeo S2NOFES LemiD9y SIAR BEEPS my HON reclalnaces totter os querrec ao sane: dels noche i yttme fesoces toren 2HO|D Pesimismd era) Ge GIoNi20,Peres bora fro he noche tghten mh, g notes and comments The Wanderer W. AH. Auden yews ‘The exdurig appeal of Anglo Suro pty I revealed a yan High Aen (807.4973) ‘Sp a he cocks, cut be leptons, fowen ny Nath my Sut, my Eas wn Wet, Ny wang wo ny Sunday a _ ASE HOSOESO ROSE WUE DOVE YXSOVEwUESio Sco, solyycuivic’ Parque ye Na uqado Like "The Wanderer,” these (wo, ns are? 1d’ 1¢ he fled, and glad ED ee erg ea wo The Husband's Message live because ah ilar because they sh a karate Translated by Burton Raffel Deantladk S8elg 97 ome Dor Mekoncutco m, Wer my hea crated by he weigh of a We fis script vas toro, "The Husband's Message"” contains runes (lines 49-50) that have wot been deciphered. UIE mesa atte Pow And cow he kaoted pans 7 ngs angish beac. Of a ship have brought me here, andiyow tack r “ yho may live their lovey STS ‘Shall ead my lord's heart ahd hear | 5 § His soul's thought! | promise a glowing Fath hal be what you find, Read se uted tae when you both vuoharmed Town, the land yours, 204 YOU Wye uta Each other's. Your people fought andthe feud clatar checker. ‘song Ising of stow unceasing: 7 ae ‘people, beyond the seay “Soke By gO iter the heartache al break of dawns SE, iG 8 esbcThe loa for romain wht far and? longs for your coming, w So weary 2 time my loved one tried 2 Nothing the world can send him, he says ‘Through me, could bring bim a ammered) YO3IETES y 1» Bracelets and rings: For though = enacqolsado ing a Woon ge With ie eas ten of od we boasted orckeax/ 9 esumir radi AM AleTHULOGY OF OLD ENOLISH POETRY. tranailag baci rete ey One ty Los pensomienres de sy ColaaA ANALG, Qengsk so Compl taniente fea aiecre“Excerpt from Gases: Ecclesiastical History OF the Engisn Pecpie : > The nest important and Best KNOW OFFS LOMS, tckating in KE ECOKS onc "ROO PASS the NGS OF Tagish ecclesiastical and Paitical trom tne TME Of eaesAK To tne GATE of its SompeTin iN ABIC-Es What did tne VvEenciddle Bede Cartipyie T Engisn tonguoge Sond literate 7" P USI respect To WirerHUrE, Bede is Know PAMarity fortwo casoas. First through his TISTOMD , Rede WOS Ne HETTSO HSE. i any Venguage to ngprousiy cite his sources, (ately Making AN AssEFTIEN WitNELT MAvING 9 SusToAHS! boty OF documentation to wpporr nis argument.As o result Neser/aiprecedent of scholary Accuracy foqWAteS anc nis Memod oF cLocumenting nig Sources NBd become a Standarct or academic cortiag, ia many Aiscipiines. BecleS SHention TO saurces Makes NiM Ne of +ne MOst HEMABIE BNA VAWACE NiStOIAS of nis time (amene) TO AdAUAAT ONS, BEES SO KNOWN Iq literaTUrE for tne Composition of a one? pcem, KnawriOSonotxs 35 " Rede's dean Song) INT AESPHE HHS oreLity, (SONE OF TNE MESTIMPOHTEM PAEM FOC SHOES OF Old Engiish becouse itis CNe OF the SAMNEST/PIESEIVEC GLOHES nritlen iAtne Fanguage Bedes contrivgtionito history ondto the at oPuoritag:tie is tne Snwy Englishman in Dantes Paradise ond ne ony Englisnetecrer “ne Church, Rede is 9 SEMINA figure iq te MSTORY OF English letters | NIS Work WO go Cr+o ToEHUENCE “the cuHErc’ of GAEGIEN Scciety aTIAIQE INSPING CQLNTES MsTOrIANS Sad Qeters, trom Chavces Tw kung Alfred. To wsnam iongaacps Cuchneusrite 2uone Commissioned “Me tans 1anON oF his MOS important LeMtiNgs)\ mHe WROTE (A) LATIN. Ts NisTOKY Was TaNgETED [HOOF ENgliN by Aifredithe gleat, both 3 king ande great ManoF \earaing ,Anglo-Saxon Riddles Translated by Michael Alexander ee eos any once rome ney SSS hee eee ye yornled ba HEEVECERUU EEE SS SESS SSSeSES EKO SS ? eee sora D) tn Anglo-Saxon times, the sons did the wise men give in iy caaed pup wien vain fr Kn ain fence weer make tadoy Chisiiy? Ia econ" 7) Wha en bend ao notes and comments yThe Exeter Book on couaal at, book th gore of mot ot However, te veBsitiéef of » dhe AngloSexoa. poetry that Abound yar bad tele ssuried fects on the ancient volume, HalLahe poems in the Exeter Dark Age Glosses on the Venerable BedeSummary Chaucer's Prologue! begins with a @escription’of springtiné, The April rains drench the ground, and roots deep in the soil absorb the powerful liquid, which gives rise to flowering plants, The "young sun" shines down on these new plants, and birds sing. People, too,wanth TO go ompiignmagesito far-away piace’, especially Canteroury Catnearai, where ihe relics of the martyrThomas Becketiare kept: Chauceris @nevof these pilgrims, and he:is staying at the\Tabard nmin Southwarkebetore: embarking on the journey to Canterbury. A large group of pilgrims—=29in all-+aniverat the inn, and they are such a friendly group he decides to join their company. Heintroduces each one in tur, describing their'protessions, social status, and clothing! After Chaucer introduces the company, he describes the ‘Host, a plump, bright-eyed man who takes a liking to the company of pilgrims and decides that hé, too, Will gorwith them ito:Canterbury. To make the time go by more quickly on the journey, each of the company will tell two stories on the way there and two on the way back. He will judge the stories, and the person who tells the best one will win a free meal at the inn when they return.\Everyone ‘agrees'to this competition; and, as they set off the next moming, they draw lots o see who will go first. The Knight draws the short cut so he must begin the game, which he does cheerfully. Analysis The Prologue: begins) withyalifamous description: of sprifig, a time of year rich with the contrasting symbolism of pagan sexual energy and Christian spiritual rebirth. These elements of energy "andawakening will betdeveloped through the plots of several tales. ‘and the features of springtime—tiowers, ‘birds singing, and the like—Wilh crop up time andr time again throughout the stories; many of which take place in the spring months. Notably it’s the earthier, pagan sort of awakening—rather than the Christian sort—that energizes the vast majority of the pilgrims’ tales. The Prologue also sets up the frame story that holds the rest of the tales together. It is loosely in the form of an estates satire—c satirical analysis of the different estates of society, "im:the ‘Middle Ages there were three main estates—the first estate included members of the clergy’ and religious orders, theseconchestate were made up of the’nobility, and the:thirdkestate were composed of peasants. Women were part of these informal social categories, but they also had their own estates: virgins, wives, and widows, All of these estates are represented among the pilarims. In’ Chaucer's time society had changed, and people were not as easily classified among these estates, which is one reason why a satire about the estates was possible. Merchants; skilled workers, and business owners made up a’growing middle'class that was difficult to classify as simply noble or peasant. The Miller, Reeve/Carpenter, Cook, Wife of Bath, Franklin, Merchant, and Shipman are examples of this growing middle class. These characters are not exactly peasants, but they are definitely not nobility or clergy, whose representatives among the pilgrims do not seem to behave much differently than the others. ‘Chaucer's individual descriptions of the pilgrims give readers a sense of their personalities as well as social class.'Some, like the description of the Knight, are idealized. Some seem more like caricature. Their clothings whether rich or ragged, also suggests their social status Gnd occupation: In many of the descriptions, Chaucer slyly draws attention to the characters’ weaknesses—whetherwanity, greed, or gluttony.(@iraucen does not name himself in the General Prologue; but he is one of the characters who gather at the Tabard Inn. All of the descriptions of the pilgrims in the. Prologue are narrated through the perspective of the character of Chaucer (which may or may not be the same as that ot the author Chaucer). Although the Chaucer-narrator is not initially preparing to go on pilgrimage, after describing all the pilgrims, he decides to join the memy ‘company on their journey. @EBEKAiON - The first pilgrim Chaucer describes in the General Prologue. and the'teller of the first tale. The Knight is ainoble man who fights for truth and for Christ rather than for his ‘own glory or wealth. He has participated in no less than fifteen of the great crusades of his era and he is a genuine'example of the highest orderofichivalry:|Brave, experienced: and prudent, the narrator greatly admires hint. |he'SaUiE is c young knight in training, a member of the noble class. While he is chivalrous and genteel, he is not quite as perfect as hisfathet, the Knight, as he wears fine'clothes and is\vain about his appearance. The Squire is being trained in both the arts of battle and the aris of courtly love. ‘GhePrioress- Described as modest and quiet; this Prioress (@nunwho is head of herconvent) aspires to have exquisite taste. Her table manners are dainty..Chaucermakesfumofiher by, describing how she: speaks’ French with a temible accent and sings the liturgy straight through her nose. She is charitable and compassionate; (heuWifexoMBaH comes from the town of Bath. She is a Seamstress by traderbut a professional wife by occupation: she has been mamied five times and presents herself as the world's expert in matters of mariage and the relations between men and women. She is dedfin one eat and has a gap between her front teeth, which was considered attractive in Chaucer's time. She dressed in red clothing, which is traditionally the olor of'lust. The of Bulli is a force of nuiute, a iurgeriiur way to the front and state her opinions. ife Chanucier wine is nui uituid iv posit her (iheshiiat - In medieval society, friars were mendicants who could not work but had to live off the charity of others. Although they were supposed to be humble and modest. this Friar is jolly and Wants to lead a comfortable lifé. instead of ministering to lepers and beggars, as friars are supposed to do, the Friar cultivatesitelationships withrrich men so that he can make a profit. Rather than the simple cloaks of a beggar, the friar wears expensive clothing’ Thewmont is another religious character who is;corupty instead of reading in his cell, ‘the Monk prefers to go hunting, even though this is against the rules of the order of St. Benedict. The Monk also wears richly decorated clothingrather than the simple robesthat one might expect a monk to wear. ThesPardoner - Pardoners granted papal indulganceas—renrieves fram penance in exchange for charitable donations to the Church. Many pardoners, including this one, collected profits for themselves. The Pardoner has long, greasy, yellow hair andis beardless. THESe ChGracteristicswere associated Withshiftiness and. gender ambiguitysin Chaucer'stime. The Pardoner also has a qift for singing and preaching whenever he finds himself inside church (henHiost - at the Tabard Inn. The leader!of the group: he establishes the main frame narrative of the Tales, since he is the one who proposes the tale-telling game and sets the rules that it will follow. The Host joins the pilarimaae not as a fiqure seeking religious quidance- but as guide and judge to the game. The Host's presence: demonstrate that they main’ purpose’ Gf this pilgrimage ilies notsormuch in:the devout religious act but in the fun that these tourists will have along the way. The Host is'largé, loud) andimeny, although he possesses a quick temper. \@ieiParson - The only devout churchman in the company, the Parson livesin poverty, but is fich in holy thoughts and deeds. The pastor of a sizable town, he preaches:the:Gospef'and makes sure tolpractice whatihe"preaches: He is everything that the Monk, the Friar, and the Pardoner are not. TaeiRIGWMAH - The Plowman is the Parson's brother and is equally good-hearted. A member of theipeasanticlass, he pays his tithes to the Church and leads a good Christian life. ‘Medievalysociety»wasyiviceckintosthreesestates; the Church (those who prayed), the Nobility (those who fought), and the Peasantry (those who worked). In the Host's portraits of the pilgrims, he sets out the functions of each estate and satirizes how members of the estates - particularly those of the Church — fail to meet their duties. §y#the late fourteenth centurysthe rigi ‘Ofithesesthree:estatesshachbegumioibieakkdowm, A merchant class had begun to rise and was quickly gaining money and power throughout secular society. An intellectual class was also rising. The author of the Tales does not remove himself from his own satire. On the contrary, Chaucer depicts himself as « bumbling, clumsy fool. Chaucer also draws on real- life settings and events to emphasize the social commentary. The rigid hierarchy of the medieval estates is frequently inverted and subverted throughout the Tales. Even though the Host sets forth each of thescharacterin order and insarprocessionsinsthe:Generah Prologue, the whole company of pilgrimsis:mixed. Pilgrims of all levels of society respond) ‘Wirectivetoreaehwother, inc: pilgrimage, members from ail three estates share the same primary function: all of them, great and smalll, are going to Canterbury. 4Symbo! Analysis Clothing-and Appearancé What the pilgrims wear is often a very important sian of their characters. @utwerca indicateswwhorone:isinemedievalsociety, The Prioress wears fussy, heavily ornamented clothes, showing that she is more preoccupied with her earthly appearance: than her devotion to God. Similarly, the Friar is supposed to be a poor beggar, yet he wears fich clothes. The red clothing that the Wife of Bath wears signifies her lusty nature. WARM -everemphasis on clothes and physicai appearance usually indicates the hypocritical, snature of that vain pilgrim.The Wife of Bath begins the Prologue to her tale by establishing herself as an authority on marriage, due to her extensive personal experience with the institution. Since her first marriage at the tender age of twelve, she has had five husbands. She says that many people have criticized her for her numerous marriages, most of them on the basis that Christ went only once to a wedding. Apparently The Wife of Bath feels the need to establish her authority in a more scholarly way and imitates the ways of churchmen and scholars by backing up her claims with quotations from Scripture and works of antiquity. She has her own views of Suipiule und Go's pian, God bude us 10 wus fivi , sie says, and that is the text that she wholeheartedly endorses, After all, great Old Testament figures, like Abraham, Jacob, and Solomon, enjoyed multiple wives at once. She admits that many great Fathers of the Church have proclaimed the importance of virginity, such as the ren so that virgins can be created. Leave virginity to the perfect, she says, and let the rest of us use our gifts as best we may—and her gift, doubtless, is her sexual power. She uses this power as an “instrument” to control her husbands. At this point, the Pardoner interrupts. He is planning to mary soon and worries that his wife will control his body, as the Wife of Bath describes. The Wife of Bath tells him to have patience and to listen to the whole tale to see if it reveals the truth about mariage. Of her five husbands, three have been “good” and two have been “bad.” The first three were good, she admits, mostly because they were rich, old, and submissive. She laughs to recall the torments that she put these men through and recounts a typical conversation that she had with her older husbands. She would accuse her -husband of having an affair, launching into a tirade in which she would charge him with a bewildering array of accusations. If one of her husbands got drunk, she would cloim he said that every wife is out to destroy her husband. He wouid ihen ieei gully and give her whai she wanied. Ail of inis, ihe ¥ Bath tells the rest of the pilgrims, was a pack of lies—her husbands never held these opini but she made these claims to give them grief. Worse, she would tease her husbands in bed, refusing to give them full satisfaction until they promised her money. She admits proudly to The Wife of Bath's Tale In the days of King Arthur, Britain was filled with fairies and elves, unlike now, those creatures are gone because their spots have been taken by the friars that rape women and other mendicant. A lusty young knight in Arthur's court is riding through the forest when he spies a beautiful maid. Overcome with desire, he rapes her. The court is scandalized by the crime and decrees that the knight should be put to death by decapitation. However. Arthur's queen and other ladies of the court intercede on his behalf and ask the king to give him one chance to save his own life. Arthur, wisely obedient to wifely counsel, grants their request. The queen presents the knight with the following challenge: if, within one year, he can discover what women want most in the world and report his findings back to the court, he will Keep his fife. if He Canna find five Urswer iu fie Queen's quesiiun, UF if his unower is wrong, he will lose his head. The knight sets forth sorrowfully through the countryside and ‘asks the question of every woman he meets. Everyone answers differently. Some say riche: