Dec. 17th Class Notes

Today, the Reeve and the Summoner were presented in class. While the presentations were going on, Mr. Laz went around and checked to see how many lines everyone had done for their poems due next week. The Reeve had a handout. Here is the notes for the Summoner.

Summoner (goes out and finds sinners of the church and extorts money from them)
-was ugly, had very bad skin
-ate very healthy, but smelled horrible because of the food he ate
-speaks Latin when drunk
-drank wine
-was mad at the Friat and tells everyone on the pilgrimage that the Friat lied about the Yeoman and himself
-he made a joke saying "An angel took the Summoner to hell. When the Summoner didn't see any Friars, he asked where they all were. Just then, the Devil himself lifted his tail and all the Friars came rushing out"

Tale
-A Friar is going around asking for money
-He stop at the house of Thomas and is invited inside
-The Friar brags about himself
-Thomas' wife tells the Friar that their son died a week ago
-The Friar says they need to give him money to make sure their son will be ok
-He then tells Thomas that he is poor because he doesn't give enough money to the church
-The Friar tells 3 tales, all with the message that anger is crippling
-He then asks Thomas again for money
-Thomas gets so angry that the Friar is dishonoring him and nagging him that he tricks him. He tells the Friar to stick his hand down his pants and farts in his hand.
-The Friar leaves, humiliated
-The Friar then goes to an official asking how he can divide the fart for him and his 12 borthers

Analysis
-this tale is told because it:
--is entertaining
--shows that the Friar is hypocritical

-Chaucer offends the Church with this tale by questioning its religious advice

Joe Forline