Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales

English 12

Vocabulary lines 1-121

liquor- fluid engendering- bring into existence, produce heath- moor, open wasteland palmer- pilgrim returning from the Holy

Land bringing a palm branch as a token; an emblem

strands- shores; land bordering water

hallow- honor as holy or sacred shire- counties Great Britain is divided into wend- direct hostelry- inn or hotel sundry- various, several degree- rank

lists- place where knights fight tournaments

van- the front part of an advancing group boorish- like a boar; rude, rustic fustian- a coarse, heavy cloth made of

cotton and flax used for clothing in the Middle Ages

yeoman- a person who owned land, but not a large amount, and usually farmed it himself.

Setting pg. 97 early April destination: St. Thomas Becket’s tomb in

Canterbury the narrator meets with the group at the

Tabard (a famous inn at the beginning of the road from London to Canterbury)

narrator joins the 29 and takes it upon himself to offer the introductions

The Knight pg. 97-98 characterized by chivalry, truth, honor,

generousness, courtesy, and modesty. fought in the war has traveled to faraway places Crusades, 15 battles, 3 competitions his clothing is somewhat plain and rough

Squire pg. 98 squire- a young man learning to be a knight

through service son of the knight around 20 yrs. old, curly hair dedicated to military training and courtly

love fought in the cavalry in battles closer to

home

vain: Chaucer pokes fun at his vanity in wearing bright and stylish clothing & his acting the role of the lover

knows courtly customs how to ride, sing, write, joust, draw etc.

Yeoman pg. 99 a freeman and a commoner, servant to the

Knight dressed in “a coat and hood of green” dressed well, somewhat weathered knows woodcraft wears a St.Christopher medal patron

saint of travelers and foresters

efficient well-equipped as a yeoman voc- brace- armor for the arm dirk- dagger baldrick- leather belt worn from one

shoulder to the opposite side of the body

Prioress pg. 99 title means a religious woman who runs a

convent Madam Eglantyne sweet briar meek, doesn’t swear “By St. Loy!” courtly posing speaks inferior French taught to her in an

English convent

excellent table manners “straining/ To counterfeit a courtly kind of grace”

(line 142-3). very emotional, concerned (mice) she keeps small dogs (though she was not

supposed to) her physical description (lines 155) her dress seems to be a mix of the courtly and the

religious “Amor vincit omnia” a gold brooch with an

ambiguous motto with her are a nun and one priest

vocabulary: withal- in spite of all; nevertheless solicitous- showing care or concern;

anxious span- the distance between the tip of the

thumb and the tip of the little finger when the hand is spread out; about nine inches.

Monk pg. 100 loves to hunt could have been an Abbot St. Benedict, St. Maur, St. Augustine all

had rules/ opinions the Monk doesn’t value studying books in

cloisters or manual labor he owns greyhounds dresses well (fur, boots) bald & fat

vocabulary: course- race; run; hunt with dogs garnished- decoration, trim prelate- member of the clergy of high rank,

such as a bishop palfrey- a gentle riding horse, especially

one used by women

Friar pg. 100-101 named Hubert mellow, ill-behaved (loves $ and women),

articulate and charming spends a lot of his time with the prominent

citizens absolution for a price light with his penances (in order to get

more $)

if a sinner gives a lot of $ the Friar takes it as a sign they are being sincere

doesn’t deal with lepers and “slum-and-gutter dwellers”

an amazing beggar (ex: widow) most likely based on a real-life character

vocabulary: shrift- confession of one’s sins to a priest,

followed by the granting of forgiveness shriven- pardon after confessing verity- truth tippet- long, narrow, hanging part of a

hood, sleeve or scarf hurdy- gurdy- stringed instrument

eminent- outstanding, prominent accrue- come as a natural product or result farthing- a former British coin equal to ¼ a

British penny wantonness- recklessness; not restrained

Merchant pg. 102 dressed very well speaks “in solemn tones” about important

topics makes sure that no one knows he is deeply

in debt motley- cloth woven with a figured design

Oxford Cleric p. 102 a cleric is any divinity student, not necessarily a

priest owns a thin horse, clothes look worn (poverty) prefers owning 20 books to other material goods borrows $ for more books respectful, virtuous psaltery- stringed instrument

Sergeant at the Law pg. 102-103 one of the king’s legal servants; only about 20

existed in Chaucer’s day an expert in real-estate law and acquiring land “He was less busy than he seemed to be” (332). knows every judgment since King William’s time not very well dressed assize- session of a court of law screeds- writing

Franklin pg. 103 “free man”, wealthy landowner loved to eat, drink and provide for his

guests known for his hospitality Member for the Shire sanguine- cheerful and hopeful; healthy red

color bream- freshwater fish related to the carp

Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter, Weaver & Carpet Maker pg. 103 the Guildsmen new-looking clothing silver, not brass on their knives trying to appear like burgesses or aldermen have wives who also want to rise socially

vocabulary: livery- any special uniform adopted by any

group or profession avouch- declare positively to be true burgess- citizen of an English borough dais- a raised platform

The Cook pg. 104 a good cook good at distinguishing tastes has an open sore on his knee voc: blancmange- chicken stew

Skipper pg. 104 tanned deals in wines (Bordeaux) , steals wines from Dartmouth made prisoners walk the plank widely traveled his barge = the Maudelayne lanyard- loose cord around the neck to hang a

knife or whistle

Doctor pg. 104 believes in astrology, charms etc. studies the elements (earth air, fire, water)

& the humors makes $ with the apothecaries well-read in his profession doctors had a reputation for free-thinking

and impiety (didn’t read the Bible)

wears “blood-red garments, slashed with bluish gray and lined with taffeta”

loves gold…as a cure?!? (he keeps it instead)

voc: ascendant- moving upward; controlling apothecary- druggist; pharmacist pestilences- plagues

The Wife of Bath pg. 105 somewhat deaf why? makes cloth, weaver dresses extravagantly her Sunday

handkerchiefs (10lbs.), red stockings her procession to the altar (bold!) pretty, gap-toothed, outgoing

has had five husbands (and still looking…) and is experienced

has been to Jerusalem three times has visited shrines in Italy, France, Spain,

Germany voc: ground- cloth used as background for

embroidery or decoration wimpled- veil buckler- shield; protection

Parson pg. 105 practices what he preaches the ideal priest a religious parallel to the knight no real physical characteristics won’t excommunicate parishioners for failing to

pay their tithes (1/10 of their wealth) always loyal. If the highest weaken, what will the

lowest do? doesn’t abandon them for easier $

voc: benefice- a church office and its income mercenary- working for money only estate- condition of stage in life; large

piece of land scrupulosity- strict regard for what is right

Plowman pg. 106 the brother of the Parson honest, good, true hard worker ! pays his tithes on time voc: repined- fret, complain tabard- coarse outer garment worn by the

poor in the Middle Ages

Miller pg. 106 224 lbs= 16 stone big, tough, strong guy brags about breaking down doors read beard, wart on his nose carries a sword and buckler knows a lot of stories, uses vulgar language

“thumb of gold”- cheats customers when he weighs their grain

blue hood, white coat plays the bagpipes

Manciple pg. 107 means an administrator for a society of

London lawyers; purchased food for their meals

shrewd, practical buys food, supervises the kitchen and cook could humble the lawyers with his practical

knowledge of how to buy and manage

illiterate and yet can “outpace” (cheat?) 30 men

voc: victuals: food or provisions abstruse: hard to understand

The Reeve pg. 107 minor official serves between the lord of

the manor and his serfs old, irritable thin has skinny legs accounts for the harvest and the livestock very organized knows the downfalls/

tricks of every person around him (feared!)

has hidden away money from his previous shrewd dealings. This money he technically steals and re-loans to his lord for gifts.

knows carpentry gray horse named Scot bluish overcoat, rusty sword from Norfolk rides last

vocabulary choleric- having an irritable disposition garners- storehouse for grain bailiff- overseer or steward of the estate,

boss to the Reeve serf- slave of the land sward- grassy surface, turf splayed- spread out, extended

Summoner pg. 108 paid messenger who summoned “sinners”

to appear before an ecclesiastical court red face, frightening skin lecherous loves pungent food and excess parrots Latin phrases when he’s drunk gets bribes to ignore sins or sell

parishioners out

knows everyone’s secrets wears a garland carries a cake or a loaf of bread voc: cherubim- angel carbuncles- swellings like boils tag- familiar quotation varlet- low, mean fellow

excommunication- concubine- mistress; woman who lives

with a man without being married to him duress- use of force; imprisonment

Pardoner pg. 109 sold remittance (forgiveness) to sinners associates with the Summoner thin long blond hair, goat’s voice,

beardlessness (effeminacy, treachery) a complete fraud performs well in religious services (to earn

trust and get more money from the crowds)

“relics” in the form of Our Lady’s veil (a pillow case) or a sail from St. Peter’s ship (not really)

voc: gelding- a horse that has been castrated gobbet- piece ecclesiast- a member of the clergy

The narrator’s voice: says he plans to use their words “however

rudely spoken or unfit” or else he would be lying.

broad- outspokenly scurrility- coarse joking; indecent abuse

Host pg. 110 handsome, merry, hospitable suggests telling two stories each way winner of the best story gets a free meal acts as a guide, referee