Chaucer Seminar Syllabus for Spring 2014
Time and place: 2:00 pm - 3:20 PM | MWF | Patterson Hall 118

Text: V.A. Klove and Glending Olson, Eds. The Canterbury Tales: Fifteen Tales and the General Prologue. 2nd. ed. London: Norton, 2005.

Schedule:
Monday, March 31: General Introduction
Why you need to learn Middle English: Compare the original and the Spark Notes translation.
  1. Where is the information that people long to go on pilgrimages presented?
  2. What is the difference between the verb "want" and the verb "long"?
  3. Compare "Some people . . ., but many people . . ." to "Than . . . folk, . . . And specially" (line 12 ff.)
  4. Compare "who had the power of healing people" to "That hem hath holpen, whan that they were seke."
Why you need to learn Middle English II: Compare the original and an interlinear translation.
  1. For fuller understanding: For "priketh" (line 11) compare the flavor of "incite" with the flavor to be extracted from the OED entry for "prick" (Be sure to focus on meanings that predate Chaucer's death in 1400)
  2. For a more nuanced understanding: Compare Klove & Olson's translation of the word "conscience" in "But for to speken of hire conscience" (line 142) with the OED entry for "conscience".
  3. For fun: In the following, "To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes," what are modern words that use the same root as "ferne," as "halwes," and as "kowthe"?
Why you need to learn to read Chaucer aloud: Reading as performance art.

Example of a instance it's necessary to understand both the word choice and the delivery of the words: The description of the Cook

Wednesday, April 2: THE IDEAL AND THE ACTUAL
Reading Assignment: General Prologue through The Friar (lines 1-269; approximate reading time: 35 minutes)
Reading Assignment: The Rule of St. Augustine
Reading Assignment: Canonical hours
Reading Assignment: William Langland, [On Monks], pp. 335 - 337
Reading Assignment: John Gower, [On Monks], pp. 337 - 339
Discussion:
  1. Of the KNIGHT it is said that "he loved chivalrye, / Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisye" (lines 45-46). How does the rest of the section about the knight illustrate his love of those qualities? (I think that there are three, not five, qualities in the list.)
  2. Is there anything that suggests that the KNIGHT deviates from the knightly ideal?
  3. Of the PRIORESSE:
    1. What does her knowledge of French tell us about her background?
    2. She is said to be very courteous. What is her idea of courtesy?
    3. What is the nature of her conscience?
    4. What does her physical appearance imply about her? (Look up some pictures of medieval ladies.)
    5. What does her rosary imply about her?
    6. In what ways does she violate the ideals of a nun?
  4. Of the MONK:
    1. He's an "outrydere." What does that mean?
    2. There's a satiric point in the comparison between the sound of "the chapel bette" and the sound of the bells on his horse's bridle. What is it?
    3. Why does he talk about "Seint Maure," "Seint Beneit," and "Austin"?
    4. How does Geoffrey react to what the Monk says about "Seint Maure," "Seint Beneit," and "Austin"?
    5. What is suggested by his physical appearance?
    6. In what ways does he violate the ideals of a monk?
  5. Of the FRERE:
    1. He's a "limitour." What does that mean?
    2. Can you find the punning sex joke in lines 210 - 214?
    3. What sort of things does he say which gains the goodwill of those who he serves?
    4. What is his attitude towards lepers?
    5. How is a Friar supposed to dress, and what is the significance of a Friar's apparel?
    6. Why is his name mentioned? (Most of the pilgrims are not named.)
    7. In what ways does he violate the ideals of a friar?
  6. What is Chaucer's (not Geoffrey's) attitude towards these characters? Is he puritanical? Devil-may care? What?
Passages to be read aloud:
  1. 43 - 50 -- Anderberg, Eric
  2. 68 - 72 -- Bergh, Gerhardt N.
  3. 118 - 126 -- Cook, Michael B
  4. 151 - 156 -- Giguere, Dominick S.
  5. 168 - 172 -- Griffin, Connor A
  6. 173 - 183 -- Johnson, Anne M
  7. 208 - 214 -- Kephart, John L
  8. 225 - 232 -- La Vanway, Candice M
  9. 240 - 248 -- Lonam, Terri A.
  10. 264 - 269 -- Mathisen, Aaron

Monday, April 7: Thoroughly Modern Chaucer
Today's assignment is to pick a character from the general prologue, one that we have not already discussed, and bring that character up to date. For example, what is the modern equivalent of the Squire's "lokkes crulle, as they were leyd in a presse"? Discuss as many details as you can. Pictures will enliven the proceedings. Also, each presentation must include a reading of at least twelve lines. Claim your character on the Canvas discussion board.

Wednesday, April 9: Fortune and Pity: "The Knight's Tale"
General Questions:
  • How does this tale -- in both its style and subject matter -- fit the Knight's outlook and life?
  • How does the view of what Fortune is and does evolve in the course of the story?
  • How does the view of how people respond to the actions of Fortune evolve in the course of the story?
  • What is the connection between the theme of Fortune and the theme of pity?
Questions about Part I:
  1. Lines 842 - 858: Why is the Knight the first to tell a tale? What is the response of the rest of the pilgrims to the fact that he will go first? What is the knight's response to the fact that he will go first?
  2. Lines 893 - 974: When Theseus speaks to the ladies in black, he first asks which of two reasons they have for their importunate wailing. What are those two reasons? Which of the two is the true reason? What seems to be the reason that the ladies in black have a claim on Theseus' pity? How does Theseus respond to the ladies in black? Find a picture of "Fortune and hire false wheel" and explain its significance.
  3. Passages to read aloud for the following questions: 1234 - 1243 -- Eric Anderberg; 1251 - 1256 -- Gerhardt Bergh; & 1313 - 1321 -- Michael Cook
  4. Lines 1219 - 1354: How does this passage complicate the portrayal of Fortune in lines 893 - 974? What is the nature of the Gods that Palamon complains about? Do those Gods alleviate the suffering caused by Fortune? What is the answer to the question in lines 1347 - 1348? What does the question have to do with the themes of fortune and pity?
Friday, April 11: Fortune and Pity: "The Knight's Tale"
Significant Passages in Part II:
  1. Lines 1462 - 1490: "aventure" or "destinee"?
  2. Lines 1663 - 1673: "destinee" as the hand of "purveyaunce" | Passage to read aloud: 1663 - 1672 -- Dominick Giguere.
  3. Lines 1747 - 1781: Theseus' wrath is converted to pity, and he explains why. | Passage to read aloud: 1762 - 1772 -- Connor Griffin.
  4. Lines 1829 - 1844: Theseus explains why destinee must come into play.
    5. | Passage to read aloud: 1800 - 1819 -- Anne Johnson Candice La Vanway.
Monday, April 14: Fortune and Pity: "The Knight's Tale"
General Questions:
  • How does this tale -- in both its style and subject matter -- fit the Knight's outlook and life?
  • How does the view of what Fortune is and does evolve in the course of the story?
  • How does the view of how people respond to the actions of Fortune evolve in the course of the story?
  • What is the connection between the theme of Fortune and the theme of pity?
Significant Passages in Parts III and IV:
  1. Lines 2211 - 2270: Palamon appeals to Venus. Passage to read aloud: 2238 - 2243 -- John Kephart.
  2. Lines 2297 - 2366: Emelye appeals to Diane. Passage to read aloud: 2322 - 2330 -- Candice La Vanway Anne Johnson.
  3. Lines 2438 - 2478: Saturn (not Jupiter) promises Venus that she will have her way.
  4. Lines 2700 - 2730: Commentary on the outcome of the tourney. Passage to read aloud: 2719 - 2722 -- Terri Lonam.
  5. Lines 2837 - 2852: Egeus' words of comfort.
  6. Lines 2986 - 3056: Theseus' words of wisdom. Passage to read aloud: 3041 - 3050 -- Aaron Mathisen.
  7. Lines 3075 - 3089: Theseus' advice to Emelye.

Wednesday, April 16: The Miller's Tale
Sock Puppet Day

Friday, April 18: The Miller's Tale
Reading Assignments:
  • The Miller's Prologue and Tale
  • "The Three Guests of Heile of Bersele" (p. 341)
Readings:
  • 3274 - 3287 (Nicholas woos the young wife): Gerhardt Bergh & Michael Cook
  • 3360 -3369 (Absolon sings at the window of John and Alison): Dominick Giguere
  • 3448 - 3460 (The Carpenter congratulates himself on his own simplicity): Connor Griffin
  • 3501 - 3525 (Nicholas cons John): Anne Johnson & John Kephart
  • 3697 - 3713 (Absolon pitches woo to Alisoun): Terri Lonam & Aaron Mathisen.
Four projects:
  1. Show how each of the three men is punished appropriately. Explain why Alison receives no punishment at all.
  2. Find, in the tale, and in the prologue to the tale, all the instances of the use of the word "privetee." Is there a significant pattern?
  3. The Miller says, "By armes and by blood and bones, / I can a noble tale for the nones, / With which I wole now quyte the Knights tale" (lines 3125 -3127), which suggests that Chaucer might be dropping a hint that there is some significant relationship between "The Knight's Tale" and "The Miller's Tale." Try to find such a relationship without worrying too much if you are over-interpreting.
  4. By comparing the Miller's Tale with "The Three Guests of Heile of Bersele" come to some conclusions about what Chaucer did to make art out of a bawdy tale.
Monday, April 21: The Miller's Tale (continued)
Wednesday, April 23: The Marriage Group (Prologues and tales for the Wife of Bath, the Friar, the Summoner, the Clerk, the Merchant, and the Franklin.)
Friday, April 25: The Marriage Group (Prologues and tales for the Wife of Bath, the Friar, the Summoner, the Clerk, the Merchant, and the Franklin.)
Monday, April 28: The Wife of Bath's Prologue: Michael Cook, Connor Griffin, & Terri Lonam
Wednesday, April 30: The Wife of Bath's Tale: Candice LaVanway & Anne Johnson
Friday, May 2: The Friar's Prologue and Tale: Aaron Mathisen, John Kephart, & Eric Anderberg
Monday, May 5: The Summoner's Prologue and Tale: Dominick Giguere & Gerhardt Bergh
Wednesday, May 7:
Friday, May 9: no class

Monday, May 12: The Clerk's Prologue and Tale -- Aaron Mathisen & John Kephart
Wednesday, May 14: The Merchant's Prologue and Tale -- Dominick Giguere & Terri Lonam
Friday, May 16: The Franklin's Prologue and Tale -- Anne Johnson, Candice LaVanway, & Gerhardt Bergh

Monday, May 19: Marriage Group Review -- Eric Anderberg, Michael Cook, & Connor Griffin
Is it all about marriage? Is there a statement about marriage?
Wednesday, May 21: The Nun's Priests' Prologue and Tale: Connor Griffin, Aaron Mathisen
Please assign at least one supplementary reading.
Friday, May 23: no class

Monday, May 26: Memorial Day -- EWU closed
Wednesday, May 28: The Manciple's Prologue and Tale: Eric Anderberg, Terri Lonam
Please assign at least one supplementary reading.
Friday, May 30: The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale: Michael Cook, Dominick Giguere, & Gerhardt Bergh
Please assign at least one supplementary reading.

Monday, June 2: The Prioress's Prologue and Tale: Candice La Vanway, Anne Johnson
Please assign at least one supplementary reading.
Wednesday, June 4: Final Presentation Previews
Possible Questions to be answered:
  1. Is there any consistency in Chaucer's portrayal of women?
  2. Who is Geoffrey?
  3. What is going on in the other world?
  4. Is pity a feminine virtue?
  5. Do any of the tales end with a clear-cut moral?
Friday, June 6: no class

Monday, June 9, 1-3 pm: Final Presentations