Today in Class Richard presented The Wife of Bath
She had five husbands
was known for weaving
rare for women to own land but she did
had reddish skin meaning that she was passionate
wore red stockings meaning that see was promiscuous
at the time she didn't have a husband
she compared herself to barely bread
TALE
A knight of King Arthur's court rapes a young women. He is condemned to death but the queen allows him to be free for 12 months and find out what women want most in life and after the 12 months he had to report to her. He couldn't find the answer for months and finally he sees a group of 24 women and when he arrives it is one single elderly women because all the others disappeared. She knows the answer but says she will tell him if he does whatever she wants in return. So she tells him that it is sovereignty, a loving husband, and mastery of their husbands. He goes back and tells the queen and gets out of his death penalty but in return to the women he has to marry her. She realizes after a couple of days or so that he doesn't want to be with her. So she gives him choice of a faithful elderly women or ruthless younger more attractive women. He tells her to choose and she gives him the best of both worlds which is a faithful attractive younger women.

Next is John Leskows Tale of the Parson and The Plowman
well you all got a handout but the summary of it is :
It talks about penitence and the seven deadly sins which are Pride, Envy, Anger/Ire, Sloth/Acedia, Avarice, Gluttony, Lechery. It also talks about him being loyal to God. The tale is more like a sermon and essay rather than a tale. It is the longest in the Canterbury Tales. Contains Christian principles and examples.
The plowman's description is that he is the brother of the Parson
collects the dung from the horses pulling the plows
lives in perfect peace and charity
loved God first and with all his heart
was really paid and if so very little

Chaucer uses the Parson to indict the church
Chaucer was anti-institutional

By Sean "The Great" Bronczyk