A
Birhtnoth spoke, raised his shield, brandished his slender ash-spear, uttered words, angry and resolute gave answer: "Dost thou hear, seafarer, what this folk says? They will give you spears for tribute, poisoned point and old sword, heriot that avails you not in battle. Sea-wanderers' herald, take back our answer, speak to thy people a message far more hateful, that here stands with his host an undaunted earl who will defend this country, my lord AEthel-red's homeland, folk and land. Heathen shall fall in the battle. It seems to me too shameful that you should go to ship with our tribute unfought, now that you have come thus far into our land. Not so easily shall you get treasure: point and edge shall first reconcile us, grim battle-play, before we give tribute."
B
Byrthnoth spoke, his shield raised aloft,
Brandishing a slender ash-wood spear, speaking words,
wrathful and resolute did he give his answer:
"Hear now you, pirate, what this people say?
They desire to you a tribute of spears to pay,
poisoned spears and old swords,
the war-gear which you in battle will not profit from.
Sea-thieves messenger, deliver back in reply,
tell your people this spiteful message,
that here stands undaunted an Earl with his band of men
who will defend our homeland.
Aethelred's country, the lord of my
people and land. Fall shall you
heathen in battle! To us it would be shameful
that you with our coin to your ships should get away
without a fight, now you thus far
into our homeland have come.
You shall not so easily carry off our treasure:
with us must spear and blade first decide the terms,
fierce conflict, is the tribute we will hand over."
SEMINAR #2
Geoffrey Chaucer “Canterbury Tales”
1. What are the major themes of the Canterbury Tales?
2. Which pilgrims does Chaucer satirize? Which does he praise most highly? How does his treatment of these people indicate his own ideals about man?
5. Discuss Chaucer's use of irony in his treatment of one or more of the Canterbury pilgrims.
6. Discuss the ways in which Chaucer's style (diction, syntax, tone, selection and presentation of detail, etc.) reveals his feeling about two or more of the pilgrims he describes.
7. The complex question of marriage was much debated one in the 14th century, and the "Wife of Bath" appears as an expert on the subject. Yet Chaucer doesn't limit marriage views to those of the Wife. Instead he presents a series of characters who deal with marriage in highly individual ways, both comic and tragic. Speak about these characters and their attitudes to marriage.
12. In the Prologue Chaucer shows the traditional class sturucture of medieval society:
· aristocracy
· middle class
· lower class and ruffians
Who are the characters of each division?
2. "General Prologue" to Canterbury Tales
1. What is the basic purpose of the "General Prologue?"
2. What seem to be the motives offered for the pilgrimage that is about to begin? In what way are the season and the nature imagery important factors?
5. Regarding the description of the Pardoner:
a. How is the Pardoner described? What are his physical attributes? Of what "color" is he?
b. Whose companion is he, and what are the implications of this?
c. From lines 674-76, the Pardoner and the Summoner sing a song. How does this song affect our view of the Pardoner?
d. What does the narrator end up by emphasizing from lines 709-16?
6. Read lines 749-860. How does the host affect the nature of the journey, if he does? What does he propose to the pilgrims, and what will the "winner" receive?
In the "Prologue," much of the humor springs from the narrator's tone, which is detached and ironic. Instead of openly criticizing the scoundrels of his age for their greed and hypocrisy, he understates his opinions about them or says the opposite of what he really thinks. His seemingly impersonal attitude forces readers to draw their own conclusions.
For example, the narrator describes the Monk:
He was a prelatefitfor exhibition,
He was not pale like a tormented soul.
He liked a fat swan best, and roasted whole.
His palfrey was as brown as is a berry.
The narrator's tone reinforces the discrepancies between the Monk's life and the ideal monastic life of humility and self-sacrifice.
Look for evidence in the form of particular words and phrases. Organize your ideas in a chart like this one.
| Character | What Narrator says | What Narrator means |
KNIGHT
But none the less, while I have time and space,
Before my story takes a further pace,
It seems a reasonable thing to say
What their condition was, the full array
Of each of them, as it appeared to me,
According to profession and degree,
And what apparel they were riding in;
And at a Knight I therefore will begin.
There was a Knight, a most distinguished man,
Who from the day on which he first began
To ride abroad had followed chivalry,
Truth, honor, generousness and courtesy.
He had done nobly in his sovereign's war
And ridden into battle, no man more,
As well in Christian as in heathen places,
And ever honored for his noble graces.
When we took Alexandria, he was there.
He often sat at table in the chair
Of honor, above all nations, when in Prussia.
In Lithuania he had ridden, and Russia,
No Christian man so often, of his rank.
When, in Granada, Algeciras sank
Under assault, he had been there, and in
North Africa, raiding Benamarin;
In Anatolia he had been as well
And fought when Ayas and Attalia fell,
For all along the Mediterranean coast
He had embarked with many a noble host.
In fifteen mortal battles he had been
And jousted for our faith at Tramissene
Thrice in the lists, and always killed his man.
This same distinguished knight had led the van
Once with the Bey of Balat, doing work
For him against another heathen Turk;
He was of sovereign value in all eyes.
And though so much distinguished, he was wise
And in his bearing modest as a maid.
He never yet a boorish thing had said
In all his life to any, come what might;
He was a true, a perfect gentle-knight.
Speaking of his equipment, he possessed
Fine horses, but he was not gaily dressed.
He wore a fustian tunic stained and dark
With smudges where his armor had left mark;
Just home from service, he had joined our ranks
To do his pilgrimage and render thanks.
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