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Arthur and Canterbury Tales Overview

The document summarizes three stories from English literature: 1. The Death of Arthur summarizes the plot of King Arthur's downfall due to adultery between his wife Guinevere and Lancelot, and his final battle with his son Mordred. 2. The Pardoner's Tale describes a pardoner who admits to preaching only for money and tells a story of three men who go in search of Death and end up killing each other due to greed. 3. The Miller's Tale is a bawdy fabliau involving the sexual shenanigans of a clerk, Nicholas, a carpenter, John, and John's wife, Allison, that results

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91 views3 pages

Arthur and Canterbury Tales Overview

The document summarizes three stories from English literature: 1. The Death of Arthur summarizes the plot of King Arthur's downfall due to adultery between his wife Guinevere and Lancelot, and his final battle with his son Mordred. 2. The Pardoner's Tale describes a pardoner who admits to preaching only for money and tells a story of three men who go in search of Death and end up killing each other due to greed. 3. The Miller's Tale is a bawdy fabliau involving the sexual shenanigans of a clerk, Nicholas, a carpenter, John, and John's wife, Allison, that results

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Its Kencha
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© All Rights Reserved
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STORIES IN ENGLISH

1. The Death of Arthur


INTRODUCTION:
PROLOUGE:
CHARACTERS:
- King Arthur
- Queen Guinevere (Arthur’s Wife)
- Lancelot (The Best of the Knights)
- Mordred (Arthur’s Son)
- Merlin (Trusthworthy Magician)
- Knights of the Round Table
- King Uther (King Arthur’s Father)
- Igraine (King Arthur’s Mother)
- Sir Ector
SETTINGS: Camelot
CONFLICT:
- Man V.S. Man
THEME: Adultery and Greediness
PLOT:
a. EXPOSITION: King Uther and Igraine had a son named Arthur but Igraine was
married into another man. So Arthur had no choice but to live with Sir Ector and his
stepbrother, Arthur became a swordsman of His Stepbrother and later in Arthur’s life
with Merlin’s help he became king
b. RISING ACTION: His wife Guinevere and Lancelot had an affair, and Arthur
knew about this. Mordred urged his father to fought Lancelot so that Mordred can
fulfill his desire to become a king. Arthur decided to punish them both. Lancelot
saved his beloved from her punishment.
c. CLIMAX: When Arthur came back into the kingdom his son became the king so
they fought for the throne.
d. FALLING ACTION: Mordred won the fight.
e. RESOLUTION: Arthur died from the battle and his son Mordred is fatally
wounded.
POV (Point Of View): Third Person

The Canterburry Tales


GENERAL PROLOUGE:
The narrator opens the General Prologue with a description of the return of spring. He
describes the April rains, the burgeoning flowers and leaves, and the chirping birds. Around this
time of year, the narrator says, people begin to feel the desire to go on a pilgrimage. Many devout
English pilgrims set off to visit shrines in distant holy lands, but even more choose to travel to
Canterbury to visit the relics of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, where they thank the
martyr for having helped them when they were in need. The narrator tells us that as he prepared to
go on such a pilgrimage, staying at a tavern in Southwark called the Tabard Inn, a great company of
twenty-nine travelers entered. The travelers were a diverse group who, like the narrator, were on
their way to Canterbury. They happily agreed to let him join them. That night, the group slept at the
Tabard, and woke up early the next morning to set off on their journey. Before continuing the tale,
the narrator declares his intent to list and describe each of the members of the group.

2. The Pardoner’s Tale (from the Canterburry Tales)


INTRODUCTION:
The Host reacts to the Physician’s Tale, which has just been told. He is shocked at the
death of the young Roman girl in the tale, and mourns the fact that her beauty ultimately caused the
chain of events that led her father to kill her. Wanting to cheer up, the Host asks the Pardoner to tell
the group a merrier, farcical tale. The Pardoner agrees, but will continue only after he has food and
drink in his stomach. Other pilgrims interject that they would prefer to hear a moral story, and the
Pardoner again agrees.
PROLOUGE:
After getting a drink, the Pardoner begins his Prologue. He tells the company about his
occupation—a combination of itinerant preaching and selling promises of salvation. His sermon
topic always remains the same: Radix malorum est Cupiditas, or “greed is the root of all evil.” He
gives a similar sermon to every congregation and then breaks out his bag of “relics”—which, he
readily admits to the listening pilgrims, are fake. He will take a sheep’s bone and claim it has
miraculous healing powers for all kinds of ailments. The parishioners always believe him and make
their offerings to the relics, which the Pardoner quickly pockets.

The Pardoner admits that he preaches solely to get money, not to correct sin. He argues
that many sermons are the product of evil intentions. By preaching, the Pardoner can get back at
anyone who has offended him or his brethren. In his sermon, he always preaches about
covetousness, the very vice that he himself is gripped by. His one and only interest is to fill his ever-
deepening pockets. He would rather take the last penny from a widow and her starving family than
give up his money, and the good cheeses, breads, and wines that such income brings him. Speaking
of alcohol, he notes, he has now finished his drink of “corny ale” and is ready to begin his tale.

CHARACTERS:
- The Pardoner
- Three men (assistant of The Pardoner)
- Death
- Old Man
SETTINGS:
- Tavern
- Tree in a nearby grove (owned by Death)
CONFLICT:
- Man V.S. Supernatural
- Man V.S. Himself
- Man V.S. Man
THEME:
- The Result of greediness, gluttony and drunkenness is betrayal.
PLOT:
a. EXPOSITION: The story states about the greediness of the pardoner. The three
men goes to the barn and saw a coffin suspected to be killed by a thief called Death.
b. RISING ACTION: They learned the whereabouts of by Death by asking an Old
Man, and He said that Death lived in a tree nearby grove.
c. CLIMAX: As they saw the gold coins and the wines below the tree they decided
to fought each other to compete for the treasure (gold coins and wines)
d. FALLING ACTION: They are deceived by Death by taking their own lives.
e. RESOLUTION: In the end, Death took their souls because of their greediness
POV (Point Of View): Third Person
3. The Miller’s Tale (from the Canterburry Tales)
INTRODUCTION/PROLOUGE:
The pilgrims applaud the Knight’s Tale, and the pleased Host asks the Monk to match it.
Before the Monk can utter a word, however, the Miller interrupts. Drunk and belligerent, he
promises that he has a “noble” tale that will repay the Knight’s (3126). The Host tries to persuade
the Miller to let some “better” man tell the next tale (3130). When the Miller threatens to leave,
however, the Host acquiesces. After the Miller reminds everyone that he is drunk and therefore
shouldn’t be held accountable for anything he says, he introduces his tale as a legend and a life of a
carpenter and of his wife, and of how a clerk made a fool of the carpenter, which everyone
understands to mean that the clerk slept with the carpenter’s wife (3141–3143). The Reeve shouts
out his immediate objection to such ridicule, but the Miller insists on proceeding with his tale. He
points out that he is married himself, but doesn’t worry whether some other man is sleeping with his
wife, because it is none of his business. The narrator apologizes to us in advance for the tale’s
bawdiness, and warns that those who are easily offended should skip to another tale.
CHARACTERS:
- John (Husband of Allison)
- Allison (Wife of John and had a secret affair with Nicholas)
- Nicholas (student of John)
- An Old parish clerk
SETTINGS:
- House of John and Allison
CONFLICT:
-Man V.S. Man
THEME:
- FABLIAU
-usually a humorous story featuring sexual shenanigans and outlandish tricks.
PLOT:
a. EXPOSITION: There was a man named John who has a wife named Allison, and
John has a student named Nicholas. Nicholas and Allison secretively has an affair
for each other.
b. RISING ACTION: Nicholas pretended that there was a great flood coming and
they should pack their supplies in three tubs so that when the flood came it will
float.
c. CLIMAX: Nicholas and Allison get off in their tub and had a sex.
d. FALLING ACTION: The Next day, the Old Man that also desires Allison to
came to their house and request for a kiss so that he will go away. But Allison
tricked him by kissing instead Allison’s buttocks because his eyes are closed.
e. RESOLUTION: The Old Man Learned that Allison tricked him and went to the
blacksmith and requested for a hot iron. As he went back to the house he planned
to put the how iron in Allison’s buttocks but the buttocks shown was Nicholas’.
POV (Point Of View): Third Person

Common questions

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The framing of a pilgrimage in The Canterbury Tales provides a structural mechanism that unifies diverse tales and characters, enhancing reader engagement. It emulates a journey where each story offers insights into the human condition, reflecting societal norms and personal virtues or vices. This setting creates a microcosm of society, allowing the audience to relate to the characters as archetypes within their own journeys, thereby enriching the thematic depth and relatability of the tales .

The prologues in The Canterbury Tales serve to establish the narrative tone and character dynamics. For example, the General Prologue introduces the idea of a pilgrimage and a diverse group of travelers, setting up a framework for storytelling that mixes morality with humor. Similarly, the Miller's Prologue, with its drunken and bawdy introduction, anticipates the coarse nature and comedic tone of The Miller’s Tale. These openings prepare the reader for the thematic and stylistic elements of the subsequent tales .

Both narratives convey moral lessons on the destructive nature of personal vices: greed and betrayal. The Pardoner’s Tale explicitly condemns greed through the fatal consequences faced by the three men, making the lesson clear and direct . In contrast, King Arthur's narrative subtly critiques betrayal and infidelity, demonstrated by the downfall of Arthur’s kingdom due to personal trespasses like Mordred’s ambition and Lancelot’s affair. Both outcomes demonstrate the ruin brought by moral failings .

In the story of King Arthur, greed manifests through Mordred's desire to usurp Arthur's throne and become king, leading to conflict and ultimately Arthur’s death . In The Pardoner's Tale, the theme of greed is central to the narrative and moral lesson: the three men are led to their deaths because of their insatiable greed for wealth, exemplified by their murderous intentions over gold . Both stories highlight the destructive consequences of greed.

Merlin's guidance is crucial in King Arthur's ascension, as he assists in orchestrating events that lead to Arthur's kingship, symbolizing wisdom and foresight in leadership. Conversely, the Old Man in The Pardoner's Tale guides the three men deceptively towards their doom by pointing them to Death's location. This comparison shows Merlin's guidance is benevolent and purposeful, while the Old Man's guidance is malevolent, reinforcing moral lessons on leadership versus avarice .

Arthur's relationship with Mordred reflects betrayal and familial conflict, as Mordred, Arthur's illegitimate son, betrays him by seizing power. This action exemplifies the destructive potential of rivalry within a family, serving as a catalyst for tragedy and downfall. Mordred's usurpation highlights the theme of betrayal by disrupting the societal and familial order, ultimately leading to mutual destruction in their final battle .

The supernatural in The Pardoner's Tale primarily symbolizes death and leads to the greed-driven downfall of the characters. Death is personified and the Old Man directs the three men to search for Death under a tree, where they find gold coins. This supernatural guidance sets the stage for their betrayal and demise, illustrating how greed can drive individuals to irrational actions .

The Pardoner's open admission of corruption highlights ethical contradictions and hypocrisy in religious discourse. By admitting he preaches solely for monetary gain while condemning greed, he undermines moral authority and illustrates the exploitation of faith for personal gain. This raises questions about authenticity, trust, and moral integrity within institutional power structures, critically reflecting on how moral teachings are often manipulated for self-serving ends .

The Miller's Tale employs humor through bawdy and exaggerated scenarios, making the act of infidelity appear comical rather than morally reproachable. The absurdity of the situations, such as Nicholas pretending a flood is coming and the old clerk kissing buttocks by mistake, diminishes the seriousness of adultery and shifts the focus onto the cleverness and human folly involved in the escapades, providing a humorous critique of marital fidelity .

Lancelot's affair with Queen Guinevere is central to the theme of adultery in King Arthur's story. His actions lead to personal and political strife, igniting conflict with King Arthur and contributing to the kingdom’s destabilization. The affair foreshadows Arthur's downfall, illustrating how personal betrayal can have far-reaching consequences, both morally and in terms of societal structure .

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