English Poetry

The Canterbury Tales

A collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the late 14th century, representing the height of Middle English poetry.

Chaucer’s General Prologue

An introductory piece in The Canterbury Tales that presents a diverse group of pilgrims, each embodying different aspects of medieval society.

The Prioress (Madame Eglentyne)

A character in The Canterbury Tales symbolizing superficial piety and worldliness, showcasing refined manners mixed with hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy

The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform.

The Friar (Huberd)

A character in The Canterbury Tales who mocks the corruption of religious authority, portraying greed and manipulation behind a charming facade.

Corruption of faith

The distortion or decay of spiritual values, often illustrated through manipulative behavior of religious figures.

The Pardoner

A character in The Canterbury Tales that epitomizes ecclesiastical hypocrisy, selling fake relics and profiting from the sins of others.

Moral decay

A decline in moral standards, often depicted through characters who exploit their positions for personal gain.

The Doctor of Physic

A character in The Canterbury Tales representing intellectual greed, prioritizing profit over genuine care for patients.

Materialism

The tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values.

Gentle irony

Chaucer's tone in The Canterbury Tales that combines humor with moral criticism without overt condemnation.

Radix malorum est cupiditas

A Latin phrase meaning 'Greed is the root of all evil,' used by the Pardoner to ironically highlight his own hypocrisy.

Superficial piety

A shallow display of religious devotion not grounded in true faith or humility, exemplified by the Prioress.

Social ambition

The pursuit of social status or respectability often at the expense of genuine values, as seen in characters like the Prioress.

Rhetoric

The art of persuasive speaking or writing, which the Pardoner uses effectively to manipulate others.

Satire

A literary technique that uses humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize or mock, particularly prevalent in Chaucer’s portrayals.