Babel : arabic: Rules of transliteration

Babel : arabic: Rules of transliteration

REFLECTING ON YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Based on your experience as a reader, what was the most difficult thing for you when reading this book? Propose some ideas about the way to overcome that difficulty.

QUESTION 3

Men in the Tales are described as idiots, blindly and foolishy adhering to outdated, impractical codes of chivalry and honour." Do you agree? Refer to some of the tales.

QUESTION 2

After reading the tales, what can you say about the definition Chaucer gives of love? Explain this concept refering to a tale.

QUESTION 1

What can you say about the characterization and presentation of women in these Canterbury Tales? Refer at least to 2 different tales.

Your comment on some tales

In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer speaks of God's love or God's "aegis" over mankind. The pilgrimage to Canterbury itself is a sign of man's love of God, as well. It's difficult to tell how sincere the pilgrims are, however, since some of them are the most corrupt and secular.

Chaucer speaks of love in marriage, but his words are tongue-in-cheek, especially in The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale. In the Wife of Bath's view, love in marriage boils down to the husband giving the wife sovereignty in all matters. Once the husband has done this, the wife gives the husband everything he asks for, especially in the bedroom!

The Knight's Tale deals with "courtly love," in which two brothers fall in love with the same woman. Instead of "love," it seems to be something Rene Girard would call "mimetic desire." One brother wants Emily because the other brother also wants her. Mimetic desire involves a love triangle, which inevitably devolves into violence. And, Emily is completely objectified, not truly loved.

The only "real" love of which Chaucer speaks is that of the Parson who has a genuine love for mankind, who works tirelessly among those in need, and gives all he has in a selfless and truly humble way. Perhaps Chaucer's definition of love lies closer to the humanitarian and compassionate than to modern notions of "romantic love."

Canterbury Tales

Late 14th‐cent. unfinished masterpiece byChaucer. The General Prologue presents portraits of diverse pilgrims congregated at the Tabard inn (Southwark), including a battle‐worn Knight, sweetly pretentious Prioress, and emaciated scholar‐Clerk. They lighten the journey to Thomas Beckt´s shrine at Canterbury by exchanging twenty‐four tales, which range from high romance set in ancient Greece (Knight) to low comedy in contemporary England .