Chaucers The Franklins Tale from the Canterbury Tales

Chaucers The Franklins Tale from the Canterbury Tales The Franklin’s Tale, one of the many stories comprising the Canterbury Tales, is one of Chaucer’s most celebrated and most contradictory works. This tale set in medieval Brittany narrates the uncanny marriage of the knight Arveragus and his lady Dorigen. This unlikely union was based on mutual trust, love and truthfulness and knew neither the rule of the lady that was typical of courtly love, nor the domination by the husband that was expected of a traditional marriage. In the controversial scene that will be discussed here, Arveragus orders Dorigen to give herself to a man to whom she had made the reckless promise of giving her love if he could accomplish an impossible deed.†¦show more content†¦In their vows Arveragus and Dorigen constantly refer to each other, as shows the presence of many pronouns: He freely gave his promise as a knight That he would never darken her delight By exercising his authority Against her will, or showing jealousy, [†¦] To which Dorigen replies: God grant there never be betwixt us twain, Through any fault of mine, dispute or strife. Sir, I will be your true and humble wife, (Chaucer 337-338) Trouthe is what the promise is based on but it is not the promise itself. The promise is respect and truth to each other, obedience but not authority. Finally, we should also note that Arveragus poses one condition to this agreement: that it should remain private and that it should never stain his honor. Save that his sovereignty in name upon her He should preserve, lest it should shame his honour. (Chaucer 338) After such an ideal marriage agreement comes the time to try its practicability. Arveragus leaves for two years of battle and noble deeds and Dorigen waits in worry and despair. So far, the marriage is safe. No one, not even his wife expected Arveragus to stay home by her side. The rules of knighthood compelled him to go fight. Derek Brewer, Professor Emeritus of English literature at the University ofShow MoreRelatedThe Marriage Debate in The Canterbury Tales Essay613 Words   |  3 Pages In Geoffrey Chaucers work, The Canterbury Tales, many travelers gather together to begin a pilgrimage. During their quest, each of the pilgrims proceed to tell a tale to entertain the group. From these stories arise four different tales, in which Chaucer uses to examine the concept of marriage and the problems that arise from this bonding of two people. In the tales of The Franklin, The Clerk, The Wife of Bath, and The Merchant, marriage is debated and examined from different perspectivesRead MoreAttitudes Toward Marriage in Chaucers the Canterbury Tales1477 Words   |  6 PagesAttitudes Toward Marriage in Chaucers The Canterbury Tales Chaucers The Canterbury Tales demonstrate many different attitudes toward and perceptions of marriage. Some of these ideas are very traditional, such as that discussed in the Franklins Tale, and others are more liberal such as the marriages portrayed in the Millers and the Wife of Baths Tales. While several of these tales are rather comical, they do indeed give us a representation of the attitudes toward marriage at that time inRead MoreGeoffrey Chaucers Experiences In the Canterbury Tales Essay1130 Words   |  5 PagesIn the Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer describes the journeys and life lessons of thirty fictitious pilgrims. Scholars explain that only one of the thirty pilgrims was indeed Chaucer, but other characters in the Canterbury Tales represent the struggles of Chaucer as well. Although the pilgrims’ tales were pretend, they were based on actual events that Chaucer experienced throughout his lifetime. He represents his own insecurities and flaws throughout the array of the characters’ tales. SituationRead MoreThe Relationshipful Relationships In Chaucers Canterbury Tales1165 Words   |  5 PagesThe saying â€Å"Opposites attract, and likes repel† have been around for a long time, but like other adages, it does not have a clear basis. In fact, the opposite of that statement is true with the support of Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and works of modern psychology. In Chaucer’s tales, the duality of marriage is evident. The ones that end with a successful relationship are the result of the partners’ similar external physical traits or internal thoughts, and the vice versa. While many factorsRead MoreThe Idea of Honor in Chaucers The Wife of Baths Prologue and The Franklins Tale673 Words   |  3 PagesThis essay compares the conception honor in Geoffrey Chaucers The Wife of Baths Prologue and The Franklins Tale from The Canterbury Tales. The problem of honor seems to be timeless in its difficulties. There are many ideas and opinions concerning this delicate subject, which always is popular, along with its ability to frustrate and perplex the human. During the time of Chaucer, females such as the Wife of Bath were asserting their rights against the forces of male chauvinism. Apparently,Read MoreEssay about Chaucers Canterbury Tales2379 Words   |  10 PagesChau cers Canterbury Tales After reading explications of Chaucers Canterbury Tales, a student is likely to come away with the impression that the Franklin is the critics favorite punching bag. To the average reader in the modern English-speaking world, the Franklin comes across as surprisingly fair-minded and level-headed, noteworthy as the man kind and inventive enough to resolve the marriage cycle with a tale of decency and openness. The critics, however, often depict the Franklin as a manRead MoreTones, Moods, and Irony in the Canterbury Tales833 Words   |  4 Pagesreaction from him or her. Tone is a literary technique that shows the author’s attitude towards the audience or reader. The tone of a literary work can be informal, formal, serious, angry, playful, intimate, etc. Similar to tone is mood, which is the created atmosphere with the intention of coaxing a certain emotion from the audience, and is created through setting, theme, and tone. Irony, however, is a tone in which the real meanin g is contradicted by the words that were used. The Canterbury TalesRead More The Squires Tale Essay2386 Words   |  10 PagesThe Squires Tale       The Squires tale ends two lines into its third section, and following this abrupt termination is the wordes of the Frankeleyn to the Squier.   The Franklin praises the young Squires attempt at a courtly romance and says that he wishes his own son was more like the Squire.   This is followed by the wordes of the Hoost to the Frankeleyn.   Many critics believe that the words of the Franklin to the Squire are intended as an interruption of theRead MoreAnalysis Of Geoffrey Chaucer s The Wife Of Bath 1371 Words   |  6 Pagesfor folks to read. One of his best known works of art would be The Canterbury Tales, which was written between 1380 and 1400 in England, but was never completed due to his death. It was composed in Middle English and portrays a great example of frame narrative. The Canterbury Tales begins with a group of pilgrims traveling from England to Canterbury. While they are navigating, they gather around taking turns to tell their own tales or for some, none at all. While both the Pardoner and Franklin areRead MoreMarriage And The Role Of Women2150 Words   |  9 PagesKate Eickhoff Dr. White IB 11 English 28 November 2016 Marriage Essay During the 14th century, marriage and the role of women in the marriage were very different from today. Most marriages in the 14th century occurred between an older man and a young girl; a girl is usually chosen because they were pure and could produce the most heirs. The bride’s family would pay the husband through a dowry, consisting of land, money, or anything of high value. The more unattractive the women were, the more the