medieval literature test

romance tale characteristics

courtly setting, quest, idealized heroes, emphasis on noble actions, plots governed by chance, fantasy/magical elements, chivalry

ballad characteristics

simple language, repetition, dialogue, tragedy, narrative form, fast pace to climax

frame story

literary technique where a main story serves as a framing device for more inner stories

what is the purpose of frame stories?

provide context or perspective for the stories within

examples of a fram story

frankenstein recounting his story to walton; story of the creature told to victor

what ia barbara allen about?

a man confessing his love to barbara allen

what happens after william dies?

barbara is met with grief and regret and she dies the next day

what appears from the grave of william and barbara?

a rose and briar

what is lord randall about?

a son who is poisoned by his lover

what is get up and bar the door about?

a husband and wife refusing to close a door

what do the intruders threaten to do?

kiss the wife

what conflict is sir thomas met with

does not know whether to marry the brown girl who is rich or fair ellen

what does the brown girl do?

stabs ellen’s heart with a penknife

how does lord thomas react to the brown girl’s actions?

he cuts off her head and throws his sword

how does lord thomas die?

sword hits him in the breast

what is the significance of how lord thomas was buried?

holding fair ellen and brown girl at the feet 

who is questioning edward?

his mother

what is edward’s first lie?

says he killed a hawk

what is edward’s second lie?

says he killed a horse

what does edward say his mother will receive at the end?

a curse because she told him to kill his father

knight

humble, modest

ideal member of the nobility

squire

son of the knight, curly hair, colorful clothes, fights to impress women

yeoman

attendant of the knight

nun

tries to appear delicate, big forehead, bad at french, superficial

monk

fat, bald, greasy, bulgy eyes, hunter

wordly

friar

forgives sins for money, scarf with pins, corrupt, flirts with young girls

merchant

fashionable, knows a lot about business/money but is in debt

oxford cleric

studious, borrows money for books, prays

lawyer

acts busier than he is

cares about appearance

doctor

knowledgeable, cures illnesses, relationship with apothecaries

wife of bath

5 husbands, traveler, red clothing, tooth gap

parson

poor, hardworking priest, generous

plowman

religious peasant

honest workers

miller

fat/brawny, red beard, mouth like a furnace

fights at the bar, stole grain

manciple

illiterate, outsmarts people, money saver

reeve

old, feared by farm workers, stole land from his lord

summoner

disgusting skin appearance, garlic/onion, wine, latin, bribes to forgive sins

pardoner

yellow hair, indulgences, fake relics, preaches to make money

what does the king have the pilgrims do>

each will tell four tales which will be judged

winner gets a free meal