Page 143 - DENG405_BRITISH_POETRY

British Poetry Digvijay Pandya, Lovely Professional University

Notes Unit 16: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales

(Non-detailed Study): Discussion and Analysis-VIII

CONTENTS
Objectives

Introduction
16.1 The Prioress’s Tale

16.1.1 Prologue of the Prioress’s Tale
16.1.2 The Prioress’s Tale Text

16.2 Chaucer’s Tale of Sir Thopas

16.2.1 Prologue to the Sir Thopas
16.2.2 The Tale of Sir Thopas Text

16.3 Chaucer’s Tale of Melibee
16.3.1 The Tale of Melibee Text

16.4 Summary
16.5 Keywords

16.6 Review Questions

16.7 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit, you will be able to:
• Explain the text and prologue of the Prioress’s and Sir Thopas tale
• Describe briefly the analysis of the tales.

Introduction

After jesting rather coarsely about the monk in the Shipman’s Tale—and monks in general—the Host
switches to a tone of exaggerated politeness in inviting the Prioress to tell her tale. A very young
schoolboy learns a difficult Latin hymn of praise to the Virgin Mary because of his deep devotion to
her. Every day, on the way to school and on the way home, he passes through the Jewish ghetto of the
town singing the hymn.
True to her perfectionist, sentimental nature, the Prioress begins with a long apologetic prayer to the
Virgin Mary. Her story of the martyred child resembles popular saints’ stories of the day. It has a very
preachy and morbid tone. Though they appear to the modern reader as very negative aspects of this
story, her reverence for chastity and her harsh judgment of the Jews are both reflections of common

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