Canterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer began writing The Century Tales sometime around

1387 A.D.; the uncompleted manuscript was published in1400, the year he died. Having recently passed the six hundredth anniversary of its publication, the book is still of interest of modern students for several reasons. For one thing, The Canterbury Tales is recognized as the first book of poetry written in the English language. Before Chaucers time, even poets who lived in England wrote in Italian or Latin, which meant that poetry, was only understandable to people of the wealthy, educated class. English was considered low class and vulgar. To a great degree, The Canterbury Tales helped make it a legitimate language to work in. Because of his work, all of the great writers who followed, from Shakespeare to Dryden to Keats to Eliot, owe him a debt of gratitude. It is because Chaucer wrote in English that there is a written record of the roots from which the modern language grew. Contemporary readers might find his word nearly as difficult to follow as a foreign language, but scholars are thankful for the chance to compare Middle English to the language as it is spoken now, to examine its growth.

Knights Tale
Characters: Arcite Cousins, noblest, Theban Palamon Emily Dukes sister Duke Theseus - lord of Athens Perotheus liege ( devoted follower of the Duke ) - Friend of Arcite

Summary: Many years ago, there lived a duke named Theseus. He was the lord of all Athens and a mighty man, always victorious in battle. Having once same quarrel with the king of Thebes, Theseus with all his army attached the great kingdom of great

kingdom of Thebes and won. All of the Theban men were killed but two of the noblest were taken prisoners. When Theseus heard these two sons of two royal sisters had been taken, he summoned them. Theseus: The two noblest will be imprisoned for the rest of your lives. I hereby, sentence you to imprisonment for life within a single cell. They were taken to the highest tower in the Athenian prison, and there locked in the same cell. They were overjoyed at being together. But after many days of being together imprisoned, these two who have been sworn brothers were all too early to became sworn enemies. One day as they stood together by the single window of their cell, they saw a young women walking below in the gardens of the earth. She was the most beautiful creature either of the cousins had ever seen, and both fell in love with her instantly. Arcite : cousin, if I dont see her again, I think it will be my death. Palamon : Oh cousin, if she is taken from my sight I shall die. Both cousins swearing that someday the lady, who was indeed the fairest in the kingdom and the Dukes own sister, would be his alone. But the fate of the cousins locked in prison tower seemed hopeless, for their sentence was for life. And so that time passed, winters came, summer disappeared and even years went by. Then one day, an old friend came to visit the royal court. The Duke and his guest, Perotheus, were seated at the table, the Duke turned to his long-absent friend. Duke Theseus dont want Perotheus to doubt his loyalty for their friendship. The Duke want his guest to ask a favor to proof their friendship. Then Perotheus ask a boom to the Duke to release his friend Arcite. The Duke set free Arcite, but only in condition that Arcite leave the kingdom, never to return, if he does, he will die. Arcite was freed. Then Palamon think, which of them suffers the worse fate, Arcite is free, but he is banished from Athens, and can never seen upon the face of the women he loves. Palamon can see her every day, but in prison what good does this to him? Both of them are cursed. Palamon do every plan to win Emily, but Arcite two has plans. Then Palamon escaped and disguise of a servant. And Arcite returns to Athens. They saw each other in the heart of the Athenian forest, thinking that they are safe. But as luck would have it, the two were destined to meet.

Then the two kinsmen begin to fight. Their fury set the birds to crying and the animals of the forest wakened at their noise. The noise attracted the carriage of the Duke, who was then passing by. The Duke asked what is their quarreling for, and wandered that all the world known about their friendship, are found at swords point in the dead of night. They both said that they were in love to the Dukes sister, Emily. The Duke forgiven them and they will do battle for the hand of Emily, according to the ancient rules of tourney. He who is victorious shall have the ladys hand. The tourney was begun and they start fighting. Their fight was long and furious. Arcite scored a hit then the Duke end the tourney and declared that Arcite won. Arcites had won but as he rode to claim his prize at the place were Theseus sat, his horse bolted and threw him to the ground. There Arcite play, his chest crushed by the saddle, blood streaming from his head. For 3 days and 3 nights he lay in a fever, but no remedy would avail. Arcite must soon to die. He called Emily and his kinsmen together by his side. Arcite said to Emily to take his cousin Palamon as her husband. With these words, Arcite died. And all came to pass as he wished. Palamon and Emily were wed. Thus were years of sorrows ended with joy and years of bitterness finally ended by forgiveness and love. Lesson: Love is a great healer and forgiveness is the greatest of all.

Wife of Baths Tale

Characters: King gave an unusual sentence to Squire Squire committed a crime Old Crone save Squire to death

Summary: Once there was a young handsome Squire who had committed a crime against the crown was given an unusual sentence by the king. The king will give the kingdom of the young Squire if he could tell the king what is that every woman must desires. And return to the court a year from today for him to be a free man. Then the Squire quickly

go away and asked every woman he met. What it is that every woman desires most ? one question but they have different answers. One of them answered: Thats easy, Squire. Every woman wants beautiful gowns. Nothing could be more obvious, Squire. Every woman wants gold and precious jewels What a simple question, Squire. Every woman wants love At last the year had but one day more. He was grift-stricken, for no two woman had agreed upon an answer. He was just about to despair for his life, when he came upon an old, withered crone-without doubt the ugliest woman he had ever seen. Squire asks the old crone the riddle. The old crone said that if she answered the riddle he will do anything. The Squire agreed. Then together they rode off on the Squires horse. On their way, the Squire wants to know the answer for the riddle for him to know if he will be freed or died. Then the old crone said that she is a witch and know all things. And she will tell what the Squire wants to know, and when he fulfilled his promised, the old crone ask is to marry her. But the Squire obviously dont want to marry the crone. The Squire said that marrying her or die are both miserable. Then the crone said that if the Squire marry her, she would promise to choose choice: either the Squire could have 100 children or none. But the Squire said No man wishes to be childless, but no man can support a hundred babies and he said he cannot marry the crone. Then the crone give him another choice. If he marry the crone, the crone will be either the most beautiful woman in the world or the most faithful. Then the Squire said : That is even less choice than before. It is up to the crone what will she choose, either beautiful woman or faithful, a hundred babies or none its up to her just let her live and answer the riddle. Then the crone decided that, they will be married and shall both beautiful and faithful. They shall have as many sons as his heart shall wish and his purse shall support and they shall live together in peace and harmony for all their days.

Then the Squire once again asked what is the answer to the riddle? Then the crone answered: What every woman wants more than anything else in the worldis to have her own way.

Lesson: What every woman wants more than anything else in the worldis to have her own way.

Nuns Priests Tale

Characters: Chanticleer- a rooster with a merriest crowing ever heard at sunrise. Dame Parlett- wife of the rooster. Reynard- The Fox.

Summary: Once there was a window who kept a coop, a hen yard for raising fowl. Of all the poultry she owned, two were the finest to be seen in the whole country one was a rooster, by the name of Chanticleer. His crowing was the merriest ever heard at sunrise and his feathers were of every color of the rainbow. The second noble bird was the roosters wife; plump and fire she was and her name was Dame Partlett. All day, they sing each others praises. One morning, Dame Partlett noticed that Chanticleer seemed upset. His feathers are not so lustrous as they were yesterday, and his voice lost its suppleness of time. Chanticleer said that he is upset because he dreamed yester night that a terrible animal with whiskers and sharp teeth came into the barnyard and carry him away in his mouth. Dame Parlett said that he dont need to rely everything in a dream. Then after giving an advice, the rooster came to normal. Then on that night, Reynard the Fox came sliding upon to him. But the foolish rooster had been convinced by his wife that there was nothing to fear and boldly walked right up to the Fox. Reynard asked a favor to Chanticleer to sing. And with that the foolish rooster, flattered beyond sense, threw back his head and close his eyes. Then the wily Fox grabbed him in his jaws. Then the rooster think of escape. Chanticleer said to the Fox that if he was the Fox, he should not leave the barnyard without telling everyone how he had smarted Chanticleer. The flattery worked like a charm. So great was Reynards vanity that he thought Chanticleers idea is brilliant. He opened his mouth in order to sing his own praises whereupon Chanticleer instantly flew out and took refuge in the top of the tree.

Lesson: Some words are flattery to hear like a charm, but not all of it is true.

Canterbury Tales
(Knights Tale, Wife of Baths Tale, Nuns Priests tale)
Submitted by: Arjane T. Cruz Submitted to: Ms. Granado BSN 3-1 World Literature