This is a reference to this story: Ears of a Donkey

An evil spirit that seduces mortal women.

This may be a reference to the near disappearance of pagan belief by this time (though it still lives on as "superstition").

Sure is.

You've made it this far :) "Wife of Bath" is probably the most well-known of the characters in Canterbury Tales; why do you think her prologue is so much longer than her actual tale?

Wonder why he got married at all?

Livia murdered her husband on behalf of her lover, Sejanus; Lucia was said to have poisoned her husband, the poet Lucretius with a potion designed to keep him always faithful.

Chaucer is drawing these stories primarily from St. Jerome and Walter Map sources.

Betrayed by his wife, Eriphyle, he is forced to go to war against Thebes.

With her lover Aegisthus, she slew her husband, Agamemnon. Read about her here.

Here is her story.

(she had intercourse with a bull)

Here she summarizes a common medieval anti-feminist view of women as inherently sinful due to the actions of Eve and the subsequent "fall" of mankind (which is then redeemed only through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross).

old age

Good point.

These are all allusions to other literary texts: "Tertulan" was the author of treatises on sexual modesty. "Crysippus" is mentioned by Jerome as an antifeminist. "Trotula" was a female doctor whose presence here is not explained; "Heloise" is in reference to her love affair with Abelard, her tutor which was a true life medieval love scandal.

"Theofraste": Theophrastus's Book Concerning Marriage. and "Valerie": the Letter of Valierius Concerning Not Marrying by Walter Map.

“Give the water no passage; neither a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.”

Ecclesiasticus (25:25) - KJV

i.e. the lands she had inherited from previous marriages.

Does this contradict her earlier proclamations?

Here she is referring to her natal astrology; a Taurus ascendant and Mars "therin" give her more masculine qualities.

Lit. translation (from the Latin): because. A euphemism for sexual organ.

birthmark of Venus

I really hope she knows dream interpretation....this one's disturbing.

This is quite a metaphor - to carry a "bag" filled with the "needs of marriage".

Then the game's up.

She swears (at my peril = to take an oath)

ie., he was playing hard to get

So visual.

the essential essence of something

What do you think of the transactional view of love presented by the Wife of Bath here?

Argus was a monster whom Juno set to watch over one of Jupiter's mistresses. Mercury put all one hundred of his eyes to sleep and slew him.

direction

Here she warns against covetousness and envy of one's neighbor and his/her possessions or lifestyle.

i.e. have liberty. Here she is saying that women do not want to be controlled by their husbands.

work

desire

Sometimes also translated as "dangerous"- in this case, the term "dangerous" would refer to the act of a woman rejecting a lover. The Wife means she will not withhold sexual favors, in emulation of God's generosity toward man.

Remember that St. Paul had complicated feelings about marriage; celibacy (as he practiced) was the ideal. If you could not bear to be celibate, marriage was acceptable only insomuch as it kept you from "burning in flames."

Logical.

euphemism for "money box"

"Nether purse".....well, that's one way of putting it.

No kidding!

Interesting way of putting amorous longings....

Probably around 8pm in these times.

to provide with food, stores or provisions

that is, a person who blabs.

Pater Noster is Latin for "Our Father" the beginning of the Lord's Prayer. This line is odd but could be understood as "May the Lord Our Father defend us against dark nights (possibly a reference to pagan superstitions).

pity

lustful, eager

aka. Thomas Becket

He made forceful (sometimes translated as "vigorous") advances.

Better translation: "I'll die."

A town near Oxford.

Note that this is a woman from a lower class (upper class women are "ladies").

Referring to the Tower of London where the mint was.

Symbolic?

An astronomical instrument:

fantasy but in this case closer to "desire"

If you look at the middle English version - "Whilom" is the word that launched a thousand fairy tales as it is now translated as "Once upon a time..."

In this case "historical" or true

enough

i.e. how the a clerk made a fool of the carpenter.

I LOVE this line...everyone knows when they're drunk (by...sound?)

in the devil's name

Note that this tale belongs to a specific genre called "fabliau" - a short story in verse that deals satirically (and graphically with intrigues around sex and money - and maybe both!)

The harsh voice usually associated with the character of Pontius Pilate in the mystery plays (and based on the character from the Gospels).

It is speculated that Chaucer had planned to do a "Part II" of each tale but died before he could get around to it. Oh, and he may have been assassinated, if you're interested....

Okay then...definite theme of decapitation going on in these recent readings (unintentional!)

This is a reference to the shrine of Thomas Becket, a 12th century saint (and archbishop of Canterbury) who was martyred in a dispute with Henry II. He was thought to perform many miracles during this time.

Cheapside, business center of London.

food

A reference to a second tavern in the area.

false tricks

A false relic.

A way of saying "from one end of England to another"

A Pardoner dispensed papal pardon for sins to those who contributed to the charitable institution that he was licensed to represent; this Pardoner purported to be collecting for the hospital of Roncesvalles in Spain.

These were common ointments applied to cure skin conditions at the time.

The "Summoner" is an employee of the ecclesiastical court whose duty is to bring to court persons whom the archdeacon--the justice of the court--suspects of offenses against cannon law. Bt this time, however, they were more like corrupt detectives who spied offenses and then blackmailed offenders by the threat of summons.

He made fools of them all.

Here used as a euphemism for a community of lawyers in London (a "temple").

Deduct from the grain far more than the lawful percentage.

These are the best kinds of jokes....

This is now what I'm picturing:

Dispenser of papal pardons.

Biblical reference to the "golden rule"

He would be most reluctant to invoke excommunication in order to collect his tithes.

i.e., she knows all the tricks of the trade (as you will soon find out!)

small shields

These are references to famous pilgrimage sites in Europe at the time.

Flemish fashion centers/clothing manufacturers of the time.

He managed to save the money made during the Black Plague (i.e. pestilence).

These are all references to the "great names" of medical history and the doctor is clearly familiar with them all.

To learn more about the philosophy of "humors" (commonly held during this time), read this.

I.e. "from Hull" (in northern England) to Carthage (in Spain).

He drowned his prisoners.

a white stew or mousse.

These are flavoring materials for cooking.

Feudal landholder of lowest rank.

Tables during this time were usually dismounted when not in use (but not so with the Franklin!)

The Greek philosopher whose teaching is popularly believed to make pleasure the chief goal in life.

Definition: "(in medieval science and medicine) of or having the constitution associated with the predominance of blood among the bodily humors, supposedly marked by a ruddy complexion and an optimistic disposition."

The "Frankelain" is a prosperous country man whose lower-class ancestry is no impediment to the importance he has attained in his county.

Here referring to William i (i.e. "William the Conqueror").

owned outright

Also called "The Paradise" - the porch of St. Paul's Cathedral which was a place where lawyers often met their clients during this time:

Here this word may also mean "alchemist" (a person who tries to turn base metals into gold).

i.e. "ecclesiastical living" such as the income of a priest.

This is a vital channel in the import/export of wool (the basis of England's chief trade at the time). Note that Chaucer had quite a lot of experience in wool.

Trans: "In the beginning" (a common salutation of friars).

The friar is a hypocrite; note that the oldest order of Friars (founded by St. Francis) was expressly charged with serving the spiritual needs of the lower classes (including lepers).

he won first place

absolved

licensed to hear confessions.

well to do country men.

Friars are members of religious orders that are sustained by begging; a "limiter" in this context has been granted exclusive rights to beg in a particular or "limited" area.

Remember that only the very upper class can eat swan (which is a royal delicacy) - this monk is living rather large.

an important churchman

Shout out to Austin! But seriously, folks...this is actually a shortened form of the name "Augustine" which refers to St. Augustine and, in this context, his injunction that all monks should perform manual labor.

This is a great idiom. How much do you care? Not a plucked hen!

These two were founders/authors of monastic orders.

A monk charged with supervising property distant from the monastery. Monasteries obtained income from their large landholdings.

Note that in the next readings, these "three priests" will get reduced to just one nun's priest.

This is a curios reference that likely means the French she learned (in a suburb of London) was not "up to snuff" ("....of Paris style she did not know").

sincere and shy

A supporting strap.

wrist guard (worn by archers).

"he" here refers to the Knight.

It was a squire's duty to care his lord's meat.

This refers to the constant skirmishes between the English and the French during this time.

Note that the vague term "Squire" here likely translates best as "Bachelor" - a young knight still in the service of an older one.

Any sort of person

here he has made an alliance with a Muslim lord against a "heathen" in Turkey (alliances of this sort, ironically, were rather common during the Crusades).

Tournaments fought to the death.

i.e. "seat of honor"

The capture of Alexandria (in Egypt) in 1365 was considered a famous victory though the Crusaders abandoned it after a one week period of looting.

"Christendom" here refers to Crusades launched by the Roman Catholic Church in lands under other dispensations, primarily Arabic, Turkish and Moorish Islam but also, as indicated in the Knight's campaigns--the Eastern Orthodox Church. Conspicuously absent here is any mention of the 100 Years War.

Note here that Chaucer begins with a knight - in the feudal system (still in operation at this time) of the "three estates" - the knight is the most senior in stature among the group. Note also that the Miller will interrupt him once the tales begin (after this prologue) which shows how Chaucer upends these traditional hierarchies in this text.

Southwark, site of the Tabard Inn, was then a suburb of London, south of the Thames river.

The sun is called "young" here because it has run only halfway through its course in Aries, the Ram--the first sign of the zodiac in the solar year.

Related the Zephyrus, the Greek embodiment of the west wind.

To generate in

i.e. in plants

He will wear the the girdle across his chest to remind him of the covetousness and cowardice he displayed on his journey.

The woman from the castle (Morgana) is also Arthur's half sister (which makes Gawain her nephew, too).

This character has quite the backstory.

His identity is revealed.

"the frailty of his flesh is mean's biggest fault."

Women are definitely getting a bad rap here.

Thanks but no thanks.

His wife will now be a true friend, not an enemy.

the green knight gives him back the girdle as a "souvenir" of his time at the castle.

Such terrible mistakes / and I shall bear the blame. / But tell me what it takes / to clear my clouded name.

Gawain is ashamed of his own cowardice.

It was all his work...

How do you interpret this line?

Then, he missed him a second time, and this for the morning when he "kissed [my] pretty wife then kindly kissed [me]".

He could have done more harm had he been put more muscle in.

Gawain is so incredibly happy (never so happy as when he was his mother's babe).

A flesh wound.

Is the green knight having a crisis of conscience?

Good point.

As Gawain saw the blade coming down, he flinched.

with every fiber of his life.

Praising him for keeping his vow.

This is a particular type of Viking axe that was used until the middle ages:

sharpening his blade

No sounds will scare him.

"chapel of mischance" = haunted house

Better translation: "a ghostly cathedral"

This is reminiscent of the dragon's "barrow" in Beowulf.

He has faith that he will be all right.

He's begging Gawain to turn back, even offering to lie and tell everyone that he fulfilled his pact (to "loyally keep your secret").

This is interesting considering that the green knight does apparently have twenty lives to spend...

He's warning him about the dangers of the green chapel...

The description of the landscape here is incredible; this attention to detail in setting is a unique feature of this otherwise enigmatic text.

a mound that serves as the foundation for a castle.

He's still wearing the girdle...here's hoping it works.

They are sorry to see him go as they consider him one of their own.

They were giddy with each other - only lunatics and drunkards would look more delirious.

another name for a fox.

Meanwhile....the lord is still off hunting (looking for that fox again....)

He is the happiest at this moment - why do you think this is?

He puts the girdle on, careful to hide it under robes and armor.

Okay, then. Here's a visual (though hers was made of silk):

It is a magic girdle !

Why do you suppose this detail is included? What might it mean?

Since he cannot give her anything, she is offering a present to him instead.

He wishes he could offer her something more valuable, but he is far away from home and doesn't have much to give.

nor will he love anyone during this period (i.e., in anticipation of his meeting with the green knight)

He is really fighting temptation here; translation: "I shall not succumb."

rude

This is to say that a bond of friendship is forged there.

"suffer without struggle"

If this doesn't work, nothing will....

Gawain's asleep again....wonder who will visit him?