Friar's Tale

- Literary Value -

- Works Cited -

Lenaghan, R. "The Irony of the Friar's Tale." JSTOR. Web. 10 Nov. 2014. <http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/25093240?uid=3739920&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21105168404453>.

Newman, Simon. "Religion in the Middle Ages." The Finer Times: Excellent in Content. The Finer Times. Web. 3 Nov. 2014. <http://www.thefinertimes.com/middle-ages/religion-in-the-middle-ages.html>.

"Religious and Intellectual Life in the High Middle Ages." Web. 2 Nov. 2014. <http://facstaff.bloomu.edu/hickey/High Middle Ages religious_and_intellectual_life.htm>.

"The Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer Summary and Analysis The Friar's Prologue and Tale." <i>The Friar's Prologue and Tale</i>. Web. 9 Nov. 2014.

"The Friar's Tale Notes from The Canterbury Tales." BookRags. BookRags. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.

"The Friar's Tale." <i>The Friar's Tale</i>. Web. 12 Nov. 2014. &lt;http://english.fsu.edu/canterbury/friar.html&gt;.

In the high medieval ages, very few opposed the church due to its power. Chaucer took a dramatic leap as he openly went against the Church. We see in the general prologue that the narrator views the knight as high and noble but doesn't hold the same view of the church officials on the pilgrimage. This characterization shows us that Chaucer believes there is good in people; however, a reigning, all-authority group, the Catholic Church, could warp people's good intentions. Specifically, in the Friar's and Summoner's tale, their idle bickering hinders the actual work that they are trying to advance the Kingdom of God. By trying to demote others to advance the self, Chaucer highlights the hypocrisy of the Church that other's were afraid to point out. Eventually, we see others take notice, like Chaucer, and thus leading to new orders such as Protestantism and the Church of England. However, it can be concluded the Chaucer's Canterbury Tales are the first to criticize the system in power, and thus stimulating the eventual downfall of the Church.

- Church & the Friar's Tale -

- The Friar -

The Church accumulated its wealth through members like the archdeacon and the Summoner. The money these people essentially stole from the people funded the churches extravaganza, such as the stained glass art and other ornate decorations that eventually started to symbolize religious culture. Churches began collecting large sums of money called indulgences to fund massive projects such as constructing cathedrals. This is where the Summoner in the story comes into play. The Summoner was the one who collected the tithes, indulgences, and Peter's Pence. The friar tries to "smoke out" the validity of the Summoner's position by testing if his authority is authenticated. As we see that the Summoner in the story works with whores and thieves, his work is already illegitimate according to the medieval church rules. Even the "fiend" or demon has a sense of place in hierarchy due to his limited power with the farmer's plea. In this playful yet heated discussion between the actual Summoner and the actual friar, Chaucer challenges the validity or effectiveness of an all-powerful organization residing over a community. In Chaucer's lifetime, this power was the medieval Catholic Church.

- The Friar's sense of entitlement and materialistic demeanor contradicts the behavior he is supposed to possess as a member and supporter of the Roman Catholic Church.

- A Friar, a member of a mendicant religious order in Catholic Christianity, is suppose to be a humble person of authority. Friars are called to live the evangelical counsels (vows of poverty, chastity and obedience) in service to society, rather than through secluded self-discipline and dedication. Friars usually work with the public and are supported by donations or other charities.

- However, the Friar's mannerisms as presented in The Summoner's Tale and The Character Prologue are everything but humble and pious. Clearly, the Friar doesn't meet the standards of society as he possesses a corrupt soul. He used the money given to the Church for his own pleasures, particularly in the wooing of many women. He spent more time in bars and inns, instead of in the Church. The Friar also was a crooked businessman, for he used his position in the church to fill his own pockets. He misleads the public into believing that he had the power to forgive sins, but only for a price.

The Friar's Prologue and Tale

- Other Characters -

- Summoner

Corrupt

Man of God

No

- Yeoman/Fiend

Uses power appropriately

Servant to a Knight, Servant to Satan

Yes

- Summary -

- Satire -

- The Friar's Tale tells the story of a corrupt Summoner, while the Summoner's tale tells the story of a corrupt Friar.

- Personal animosity between the Friar and Summoner lead to underlying themes of corruption and legitimacy of their professions.

Friar

This tale satirizes the entire belief system of the Roman Catholic Church and its members. In the quote "But, in order that we may be saved from that cursed pit, watch and pray Jesus for his grace," the Friar claims that we should only look to Jesus because he is our way out of eternal hellfire. Thus, implying that we accept a holy life not because that's what we see as morally right, but because we are too afraid to commit an act that's not pious as it might make us hell bound. Essentially, this statement implies that we lead Christian lives because of fear and not love. Chaucer is criticizing the role religion has taken in medieval society. Instead of looking to religion for knowledge and safety, we see it as our only escape out of hell. The fear instilled into the medieval society by the church prevents people from attaining true piety as the reason most people practiced Christianity was because of their fear, not their love. The members of the Clergy are further satirized in the quote ""He was, if I shall give him his full praise, a thief, and a summoner, and a pimp." Although, a member of the Roman Catholic Church is supposed to be a pious man that leads by example, we clearly see that not the case in this tale. The character of the Summoner, who supports the Church, has succeeded in possessing every characteristic that is the complete opposite of the what the Church preaches. Chaucer is criticizing the fact that the Church is hypocritical, as it constantly preaches piety to the people, yet its own members fail to conduct themselves in a decent manner.

Summoner

MUD

- Quotes -

Literary Devices &

The Friar's Tale

- Allusion -

- Metaphors -

- "And just as Judas had a little purse of his own and was a thief, the very same sort of a thief was he"

Basically, by alluding to Judas, the apostle that betrayed Jesus, the Friar implies that the Summoner is of the same degree of evil. According to Biblical text, the Devil entered Judas and provoked him to commit this act of evil. Similarly, the Friar believes that evil has entered the Summoner and is the reason for his immorality.

- "We are God's instruments"

Here, a metaphor is used to explain that "fiends" are necessary evils. They are the creatures doing God's dirty work. The work of the fiends actually benefit the world. This is explained later in the tale when the Fiend, disguised as a Yeoman, takes the corrupt Summoner, who was about to steal from a widow, to hell.

- Fabliaux -

- "Satan, the Tempter"

Once again a metaphor is utilized in order to associate the act of evil with the Devil. The Friar is implying that those who conduct themselves in an unholy manner have been conquered by the Devil. Instead, of accepting the axiom that some human beings are led to an immoral path by their own desires, the Friar chooses to blame the Devil.

- A fabliaux is another word for a parable. It is a short story that culminates in the teaching of a universal law. In this tale, the Friar's states that the moral of the tale is that one must establish the strength to overcome "Satan, the tempter." We must also accept Jesus as our Knight and Champion against the Devil. Furthermore, the Friar mentions that we must also be conscientious of our thoughts, what we wish, and our words. It is important for us to acknowledge the power of our words.

- Paradox -

- "For even if you were the devil Satan, I would hold my pledge to my brother"

The Summoner is aware that the man that is his companion is a Fiend out of Hell, yet he continued in his partnership with the Yeoman. Furthermore, the Summoner is a member of society that supports the Church. It is contradictory for a man of his stature to be hanging around a hell dweller. Here, Chaucer is implying that although he is of holy background, the Summoner's intentions, and for that matter, the intentions of the Roman Catholic Church, are more influenced by corruption rather than piety.

- Foreshadowing -

- "He was, if I shall give him his full praise, a thief, and a summoner, and a pimp"

The importance of the quote is that it describes the Summoner as everything except a pious human being. It lists all of his characteristic, which are all negative. Furthermore, this quote is satirical as the Friar refers to the listing of the Summoner's characteristic as praising. It is obviously not praising, because the Summoner's characteristics are not admirable nor are they pious.

- "Without my extortion I could not keep body and soul together"

The Summoner claims that his lifestyle is the result of his desire to survive. This is clearly a lie as the Summoner always takes beyond what he needs. Furthermore, his reasoning is ignorant, as he is not considerate of the fact that he steals money from others who are also just trying to survive.

- "I am a fiend, my dwelling is hell"

Here, a plot twist occurs as the Yeoman turns out to be a fiend instead of a bailiff as he claimed. The twist is significant because it shows that the Summoner's lifestyle is not different from that of a fiend. This is ironic as the Summoner is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and is suppose to ideally represent piety.

- "Sometimes, we are God's instruments.

The Fiend states that sometimes Demons are helpful and beneficial creatures in context to the overall course of humanity. They are a necessary evil, whose actions and exists will lead to an overall good. Basically, they help God even though they work for Satan.

- "He went with the devil to the place where summoners have their heritage"

The Friar mentions that the Devil takes the Summoner to a place in hell where many other summoners have already built camp. This statement implies that majority of the summoners are like this Summoner. They all take advantage of their power to gain wealth. This statement also suggests that majority of clergy members may lead lives similar to the Summoners.

- "But, in order that we may be saved from that cursed pit, watch and pray Jesus for his grace"

Here, the Friar claims that the reason we look to Jesus for salvation is because we fear our placement in eternal hellfire. Thus, implying that we accept a holy life not because that's what we see as morally right, but because we are too afraid to commit an act that's not pious as it might make us hell bound. Essentially, this statement implies that we lead Christian lives because of fear and not love.

- "May the foul fiend fetch me if I excuse you, even if you perish for it"

Here, the Summoner, while quarreling with an old widow, announces that the fiend, disguised as a Yeoman, should take him if he doesn't fulfill his duty. The Summoner's duty is actually to get indulgences only from those who've committed sins. The Summoner knows that the widow is innocent, yet he still is demanding monetary repentance. Thus, it can be concluded that the Summoner is not achieving his job properly, which may lead him to be taken by the fiend.

- Hyperbole -

- Simile -

- "He knew of more ways of extortion than I could tell in two years"

The Friar claims that the Summoner is extremely knowledgeable in the field of extortion. This reveals not only that the Summoner has been leading a corrupt lifestyle for a long time but also that he has no conscience. The Summoner is wiling to use any method necessary to get the money he wants. Furthermore, this also implies that although he's been a part of the Church all the while, he has yet to be saved. This conveys the idea that in some the force of evil may be greater than the force of goodness.

- "This Summoner was mad as a hare"

While describing the Summoner, the Friar talks about the Summoner's sanity. The Friar claims that the Summoner is crazy, as he will go to extreme measures in order to get what he wants. However, the Summoner is not determined to fulfill his duty because of the hereafter promise, but because of his worldly desires.

- "This false thief, this summoner, always had bawds as close at hand as any hawk in England to come to the lure"

Another characteristic about the Summoner is cunning and sly demeanor. He is a sneaky man that will exploit everyone around him to get what he wants. He will take advantage of his authority and association with the Church to legitimize his corrupt lifestyle.

- Dramatic Irony -

- "Brother, now where is your dwelling, if I should seek you another day"

Dramatic Irony occurs here as the reader is aware that the Summoner's intentions aren't to meet the Yeoman at a later time, but instead to rob him. The Summoner asks the Yeoman to give a detailed description of his dwelling so that he would be able to identify it come the time for him to rob the dwelling. Thus, the Yeoman gives a detailed description of his house, unaware that the Summoner's true aim is to rob him.

The Friar's Tale

Lalee, Kellen, Marquez