AN APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF THE CHARACTERS IN CHAUCER’S “PROLOGUE”

Portrait

# of lines

Degree & 20th Century Equivalent

General Impression (key words, lines)

Condicion (includes physique, features, character and disposition)

Array (attire, mount, weapons, musical instruments)

Chaucer’s Attitude (particularly note his adjectives)

The Knight (11.43 – 78) - - - - - - - - - The number of lines determines the relative importance attributed to character.

36

High degree 20th Century equivalent: a general or colonel

72: “He was a verray

parfit, gentil knight”

43: “a worthy

man” 49: “and ever

honoured for his worthinesse.”

Physique – no specific details – Physical prowess inferred. (How?) Character 45: “He loved chivalrye,/ Trouthe

and honour, fredom and curteisye.”

47-48: Valiant & bold: “full worthy was he in his lordes were, / And thereto had he ridden, noman ferred or “at mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene.”

61- 63: “In listes thries, and ay slayn his foe”

68: Wise – “He was wys.” 69: Modest – “And of his port as

meek as is a mayde.” 70-71: Respectful of others of all

degrees: “He never yet no vileinye ne sayde / In all his lyf, unto no maner wight.”

77-78: Devout: “And he was late y-coma from his viege / And

wente for to doom his pilgrimage.” (Not even time to go home or change his clothes before offering thanks at the shrine)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Note: use quotations and inferences

75-76: “A gyp on of fustian / Al

bismotered with hishabergeon”

74: “His hors were

goode, but was nat gay.”

See quotations under General Impression and Condicion. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In each of the portraits, determine whether Chaucer’s attitude is one of respect, admiration, amusement or contempt. Particularly note his use of irony and his choice of adjectives. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Perhaps the knight represents a type already fast disappearing – the flower of medieval chivalry.

A B C D E F G

A/B These columns list the portrait for the knight and number of lines in the General Prologue . Since the number of lines would determine what Chaucer felt as far as importance of the individual, we pay attention to this. The more lines .. the higher importance according to Chaucer.

C Here we try to determine the current place in society. D We pick out words from the Middle English or whatever version to determine what we feel are key words which help us

understand the character. E Here we describe the character. The condicion (condition) of the character. F What did they wear, carry, (What was their baggage)? G Some determination with respect to how Chaucer felt about this character. This is gathered from as many places as you see fit. This should be done in a chart format. A POWER POINT would also be acceptable.