Medieval Ages Test Overview

I. Background:

Political system of medieval ages is Feudalism…

KingVassalsKnightsSerfs

Language of the time is Middle English

Chivalry requires people to serve three “masters” Heavenly lord, feudal (political lord), lady

II. Gawain Summary:

- Green knight arrives and offers a test… a Beheading game

- No one initially accepts the challenge

- The Green Knight is shocked at the knights’ lack of courage

- King Arthur, because he believes in the honor and good name of his court, accepts the

challenge finally

- Gawain steps up to say “may this melee be mine”

- He says this because the loss of his life would mean the least to the court

- Gawain must leave to find the Green Knight in a year and a day

- On the way he meets the Green Knight’s wife, without knowing it. She gives him a

green girdle to protect him.

- If Green Knight = Godthen Girdle = faith that protects Gawain

III.Canterbury Tales General Prologue – (these are on the graphic organizer we covered in class).

Which ones are good/not ironic? Which ones aren’t?

Knight

Parson

Pardoner

Monk

Wife of Bath’s Tale

The lusty knight commits a despicable act and Queen Guinevere spares his life.

He must find “What women want” after searching, no one can answer it until an old hag arrives

He returns in a year, and answers that they all want sovereignty (power) in a relationship

The court agrees

The Old Hag offers to the lusty knight a choice… he can have her old and faithful or young and unfaithful.

He chooses neither, and gives her the sovereignty. This shows he learned his lesson.

Pardoner’s Tale

Funeral bell is tolling for a victim of the plague

Rioters (people partying here) set out to find death

An old man says it’s under a tree.

Rioters arrive to find gold coins under the tree

Their greed makes them plot against one another. One sets out to find poison, the other two will jump the third guy. At the end, “death is under the tree” because the rioters’ greed causes their death.

At the end of the tale, the Pardoner tries to extort money from the pilgrims.

“Radix malorum est cupiditas” is his phrase. This translates to greed is the root of all evil.

The pardoner himself is motivated by greed. This hypocrisy is critiqued by Chaucer.

Significance of The Canterbury Tales

  1. It showcases the breadth of medieval society and gives a historical account of the various types of people.
  1. It utilizes a narrative frame (frame story) effectively.
  1. It is a true social critique…
  1. Wife of Bath’s Tale – Male Chauvinism and Medieval Misogyny
  2. Pardoner’s Tale – Church Corruption and Hypocrisy