Page 149 - DENG405_BRITISH_POETRY

British Poetry

Notes • Sir Thopas offers up one of the funniest moments in the Canterbury Tales.
• Prudence, his wife, stopped his tears, and gave him some useful advice from various
authorities.
• Melibee is also rather self-consciously a construction; a patchwork of proverbs, sayings and
wise words.

16.5 Keywords

Usury : Interest at such rates.
Maxims : A short statement expressing a general truth.
Apologetic : Constituting a formal justification of a theory.
Miracle : A remarkable and very welcome occurrence.
16.6 Review Questions

1. Why do the Jews in the story hate the boy so much?
2. How is the abbot able to release the boy’s soul?
3. What lead the reader to understand that the story is a parody?
4. What causes Harry Bailley to disapprove of the tale of Sir Thopas?
5. Explain how the tale of Sir Thopas is a joke on the Host.

Answers: Self Assessment
1. The protagonist is a very young school boy.
2. He sings a hymn to the Blessed Virgin.
3. His throat is slit and his body is thrown on a dung heap.
4. The singing represent a miracle.
5. The Jews are tortured and killed.
6. The tale of Melibee is based upon ancient Greek and Roman myths.
7. It is sober, serious and long.
8. Prudence is wise and patient.
9. He calls them “fits”.
10. A low, base form of poetry with forced rhyme.

16.7 Further Readings

The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales — Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales — Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer — Harold Bloom

Online links http://www.pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/monkeynotes/pmCanterbury02.asp
http://www.bookrags.com/notes/ct/index.html

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