The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales

1. The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales The Summoner The Pardoner The Narrator The Host Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

2. The Summoner Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

3. The Summoner • Characterization • Diction • “His face on fire, like a cherubim, For he had carbuncles. His eyes were narrow, He was as hot and lecherous as a sparrow. Black, scabby brows he had, and a thin beard. Children were afraid when he appeared.” (628-632) Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

4. The Summoner • Unattractive man • Cherubim • An angel • In medieval art, angels’ faces were painted red Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

5. The Summoner • Carbuncles • a painful local purulent inflammation of the skin and deeper tissues with multiple openings for the discharge of pus and usually necrosis and sloughing of dead tissue Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

6. The Summoner • “Garlic he loved, and onions too, and leeks, And drinking strong red wine till all was hazy. Then he would shout and jabber as if crazy, And wouldn’t speak a word except in Latin When he was drunk, such tags as he was pat in; He only had a few, say two or three, That he mugged up out of some decree; No wonder, for he heard them every day. And, as you know, a man can teach a jay To call out “Walter” better than the Pope.” (638-647) Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

7. The Summoner • Glutton • Food caused him to smell • Drink intoxicated him • Gets obnoxious and annoying Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

8. The Summoner • Stupid • Just repeats words • like a talking parrot Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

9. The Summoner • “He was a noble varlet and a kind one, You’d meet none better if you went to find one. Why, he’d allow-just for a quart of wine- Any good lad to keep a concubine A twelvemonth and dispense him altogether! And he had finches of his own to feather” (651-656) Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

10. The Summoner • Sarcasm/Irony • Varlet • scoundrel, knave • “noble varlet and a kind one” • does not use the adjectives we would expect when referencing a scoundrel Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

11. The Summoner • Concubine • a woman with whom a man cohabits without being married • The Summoner can be bribed (for a quart of wine) • “For in his purse the punishment should be” (661) • “finches of his own to feather” • guilty of the same sins Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

12. The Summoner • “Thus, as he pleased, the man could bring duress On any young fellow in the diocese. He knew their secrets, they did what he said.” (667-669) • The Summoner can do whatever he wants because he knows the secrets of the men Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

13. The Summoner • Purpose of the Diction • The Summoner is not a good person • Unattractive physical appearance matches his unattractive and intimidating personality Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

14. The Summoner • Our Reaction to the Summoner • We do not like him • We do not trust him Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

15. The Pardoner Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

16. The Pardoner • Characterization • Diction • “He and a gentle Pardoner rode together, A bird from Charing Cross of the same feather, Just back from the Court of Rome. He loudly sang “Come hither, love, come home!” The Summoner sang deep seconds to this song, No trumpet ever sounded half so strong.” (675-680) Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

17. The Pardoner • Demonstrates a strong relationship with the Summoner • Immediately, we do not trust the Pardoner Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

18. The Pardoner • “This Pardoner had hair as yellow as wax, Hanging down smoothly like a hand of flax. In driblets fell his locks behind his head Down to his shoulder which they overspread; Thinly they fell, like rat-tails, one by one.” (681-685) Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

19. The Pardoner • Effeminate imagery • Mocks the Pardoner • Animal imagery • Rat-tails • Again, not complimentary • Rat suggests an untrustworthy personality Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

20. The Pardoner • “His wallet lay before him on his lap” (692) • Desires money Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

21. The Pardoner • “I judge he was a gelding, or a mare.” (697) • Gelding • a castrated animal; specifically: a castrated male horse • Mare • a female horse or other equine animal Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

22. The Pardoner • “For in his trunk he had a pillowcase Which he asserted was Our Lady’s Veil. He said he had a gobbet of the sail St. Peter had the time when he made bold To walk the waves, till Jesu Christ took hold. He had a cross of metal set with stones And, in a glass, a rubble of pigs’ bones. And with these relics, any time he found Some poor up-country parson to astound, On one short day, in money down he drew, More than the parson in a month or two, And by his flatteries and prevarication Made monkeys of the priest and congregation.” (700-712) Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

23. The Pardoner • Sells fake relics • Sells the fake relics to poor farmers • Taking advantage of the poor makes the Pardoner look even worse • Embarrasses everyone involved with the Church Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

24. The Pardoner • Purpose of the Diction • Allows the Pardoner to parallel the Summoner • Forces us to distrust the Pardoner • Forces us to dislike the Pardoner Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

25. The Pardoner • Our Reaction to the Pardoner • We REALLY dislike him Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

26. The Narrator Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

27. The Narrator • Purpose of Chaucer including this section • Describes how he will structure the tales • Begs for forgiveness for his bawdiness Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

28. The Host • Purpose • Proposes the idea that everyone will tell two tales on the way to Canterbury and two on the way back home • Award for the best story will be a free supper • Pilgrims draw straws to see who will tell the first story Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales

29. Wrap Up Information • It is generally accepted that Chaucer intended to portray 29 pilgrims, but descriptions of only 21 are given • “The Knight’s Tale” most commonly follows the Prologue Geschke/British Literature The Canterbury Tales