The Clerk's Tale Analysis

The Connection Between the Oxford Cleric and His Tale The Canterbury Tales is a literary work written by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. The story takes place during the fourteenth century and tells the story of a group of thirty people making a pilgrimage to pay their respect at the Cathedral in Canterbury, where Saint Thomas a Becket was assassinated. This story is seen through the eyes of Chaucer the pilgrim, who is along for the odyssey. It consists of a collection of smaller stories told by the pilgrims in order to pass the time on this journey to Canterbury. Geoffrey Chaucer, known as the father of English Literature, is widely considered the Middle Ages’ greatest English poet. He wrote The Canterbury Tales in poetic form. It was originally written in Middle English, but has since been translated. The Oxford Cleric, or the Clerk, is one of the pilgrims on the journey to Canterbury. He is

He doesn’t quite like the story that the Wife of Bath tells about women who desire sovereignty over their husbands and his story responds to hers with an opposing view of a woman who is completely submissive and loyal to her husband. The Clerk shows his strong moral values through his speech. “Filled with moral virtue was his speech; / and gladly would he learn and gladly teach”(309). In his tale, the clerk reflects these virtues through Griselda. Griselda, just like the Clerk, wasn’t wealthy and she grew up working hard and she was taught well. She had a great heart and was kind to everyone. “If one should speak of virtuous beauty, / then was she of the fairest under the sun”(211). She demonstrates her moral values throughout the story. Walter is very cruel to her and seems to enjoy testing her. She stays true to her word though, and accepts all of his decisions, even though she doesn’t like them. All in all, “The Clerk’s Tale” is a result of the Clerk’s strong moral values, which he displays through