Canterbury Tales Clergy

Canterbury Tales Clergy

  • Submitted By: jakelonglegs
  • Date Submitted: 03/01/2009 11:42 AM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 476
  • Page: 2
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Jacob Myers Ms. Buuck English IV Honors – 5th Period 10/21/08 Outline Introduction Opening Three Clergy members Monk Character description Chaucer’s attitude Nun Character description Chaucer’s attitude Friar Character description Chaucer’s attitude Conclusion My opinion about Chaucer’s opinion In the poetic story, The Canterbury Tales, many characters in the clergy are portrayed by Chaucer. One such character is the Monk, who is interesting in pleasures other than God. Another is the Nun, a woman who believes in exquisite appearances more than religion. A third character written about is the Friar, a greedy man who claims to support the Lord; in truth, he only supports his success. Chaucer holds opinions of each of these characters, opinions he is not afraid to share, such as the Monk’s lifestyle. The Monk did not seclude himself from the world as his brethren did. He regularly hunted and made a point of it with the noise his bridle made. He could have been the head of a monastery, but he chose to follow a secular lifestyle, hunting. Chaucer views him as a monk who wrongly holds his title. This monk does nothing to retain his title, and he lives in the modern world, opposing the “Rule of good St. Benet or St. Maur.” Overall, Chaucer seems to dislike the Monk. The Nun, another member of the clergy, is portrayed by Chaucer as a woman who lives to look beautiful. Nuns are not supposed to worry about physical appearances, as their priorities lie with Jesus Christ. She had the means to support dogs by feeding them roasted flesh or fine white bread, and she wore many accessories; this is not expected of a nun. Chaucer believes she is too focused on her appearances and possessions to truly be in the clergy. The third member of the clergy written of is the Friar, a man who seems devoid of all morals. He is only interested in making money from rich people by asking...

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