Irony In Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

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Working in pairs, each person chooses a pilgrim from the three different social classes in “The General Prologue” and answers the following: What social class is the pilgrim, upper,middle, or lower class? What figure of speech does Chaucer use to characterize, or show the pilgrim’s character traits, loyalty and honor (Chaucer 144)? What imagery does he use to describe the pilgrim (Chaucer 144)? Describe how Chaucer’s words, or irony affects the audience (Chaucer 145). This is your opinion, so no citation needed. Rank and explain who is the best\worst pilgrim based on the values of loyalty and honor. Pilgrim\ Class Figurative Language- “Quote”(Chaucer line #). Imagery-Physical Description- Reword (Chaucer line #). Chaucer’s Satire- Explain …show more content…

it appeared; White as a daisy-petal was his beard” (Chaucer lines 341-342). Franklin had a white beard, a ruddy complexion, but was high colored and kind.With Chaucer’s irony, he is saying that Franklin was not pure (Chaucer lines 341-342). Chaucer is saying Franklin always has the best food and clothing but does not work for it, so that makes him unhonorable because he is never putting in the effort to get the things he wants himself. Haberdasher, Carpenter, Weaver, Dyer, Tapestry Maker . Cook-lower “... but what a pity-so it seemed to me, that he should have an ulcer on his knee.” (Chaucer lines 395-396) The cook appeared to have a ulcer “an infected sore” on his knee. Having an infected sore meant that he slept with lots of women (Chaucer lines 395-396). Chaucer is saying that the cook was always lonely, but since he used verbal irony, he is saying that the cook is always sleeping with different women. Sleeping with a lot of different women makes people believe that you are unloyal, untrustworthy, and honorable. Shipman Doctor of Medicine Wife of Bath Parson …show more content…

Chaucer is saying that he is unworthy of the things he receives, but is not unhonorable The merchant would be the worst pilgrim because Chaucer said that no one around him knew that he was is debt, so that means that he can not be trusted and is not trustworthy. Since trust is the most important thing in a person, not being trustworthy is looked down

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