English Midterm Review Sheet
Canterbury Tales
Knight- Chivalrous, “Truth, honor, freedom, and all courtesy”, Wise, Meek, Simple
Squire-Lusty, Young, Lover, “With locks well curled as if they’d laid in press”, Talented
Yeoman- “His arrows had no draggled feathers low”, Wore Armor, “Of woodcraft knew he all the useful ways”, wore metal of St.Christopher
Prioress-Madame Eglantine, spoke French, well manners, “And therefrom hung a brooch of gold sheen”, Amor vincit omnia
Monk-enjoyed hunting, “Was he to study till his head went round, Poring over books in cloisters?”
Friar-fixed up marriages, hypocritical, fat, highly regarded member of the clergy, but didn’t do his deeds, “In towns he knew the taverns, every one, and every good host and each barmaid too”
Merchant-dealt with money, but wasn’t rich, “None knew he was in debt, so well he governed all his trade affairs, with bargains, and with borrowings, and with shares”
Clerk-all about books, philosopher, “Not one word spoke he more than was his need, and that was said in fullest reverence”, respectful and formal
Lawyer-rich, “He took large fees and many robes could own, so great a purchaser was never known”
Franklin-lived for pleasure, “For he was Epicurus’ very son”, happy, liked to host parties, etc.
Guildsmen-a group of traveling worksmen who make and sell goods, “Their wisdom could have justified a plan to make each one of them alderman”
Cook-smelly, cooked, “Well could he tell a draught of London ale”, “That on his shin a deadly sore had he”
Sailor-knew a bunch of places, wise, traveled a lot
Physician-doctor, knew a lot about horoscopes, knew the cure for everything-“He knew the cause of every malady, were it of hot or cold, of moist or dry”
Wife of Bath-red face, 5 husbands, large hips (fertile), laugh, knew a lot about love, “Gap-toothed was she, it is no lie to say”
Parson-religion, patient, he would visit patients and give up his own money to help others, “He was a shepard and no mercenary”, he wasn’t looking for money or glory in what he did, hated cursing
Plowman-quiet, wise, helped the poor, “He would help the poor for the love of Christ, and never take a penny”, loyal, honest, good, true, lived in peace, loved god with his entire heart, loved his neighbor as himself
Miller-always drunk, red haired, tavern stories, “His beard, as any sow or fox, was red, and broad it was as if it were a spade”, stocky, bragged about his strength, "gold thumb"- because he would press his finger on the scales so his customers would have to pay him more for their grain.
Manciple- (Katy we don’t really know much, so if you could input on him that would be great)
Reeve-carpenter, people feared him, high up in social status
Summoner-drunk, “Hot and lecherous as a sparrow, black scabby brows he had and a thin beard”, made summons for the church, charged money, corrupt
Pardoner-church, “The pardoner had hair as yellow as wax”, sold indulgences
Wife of Baths Tale
The tale starts out when a knight in Arthur's court that rapes a young woman because he is in lust with her. After hearing this, the court is appalled and decides that he should be beheaded. The knight is given one more chance on behalf of a request by the Ladies of the court. The knight is given an ultimatum: if he can report to the court what it is that women want most within one year, he will not be killed. If not, he will be beheaded.
The knight accepts the Queen's challenge and asks many women what it is that they want most, but is discouraged when each give him a different answer.
(Somewhere in here, the Wife says that women cannot keep a secret. I figured this was important because it was on that test that Raub gave us that we all failed..uhh. Also, the Wife uses Ovid's story of Midas to verify that women cannot keep secrets.)
One day, while the knight is riding through the forest, he sees a bunch of women and considers asking them the question. As he gets closer to the women, they all disappear. In their place is an old, ugly woman. The old woman says that she will help the knight if he pledges himself to her, and his life is guaranteed to be saved.
The old woman says that all women want is to be in charge of their husbands/lovers. The knight then presents this to the court, and his life is saved. The old woman then asks in front of everyone if the knight will marry her. He is forced to say yes, even though he doesn't want to.
When the knight is asked why he is so upset, he admits to his wife that he is embarrassed to be married to someone so ugly. She then tells him that he has a choice: she will be loyal and faithful, but ugly, or she would be beautiful and unfaithful. The knight has her choose, using her best judgment. Because the knight fulfills what all women want (to be in control), the old woman transforms into a woman who has the best of both worlds. She becomes both good and beautiful. They live happily ever after, THE END!
Pardoners Tale
The tale begins with a scene of Flemish people indulging in forms of pleasure, like drinking and hanging out. (The Pardoner begins to criticize their lifestyle. He calls them out on being gluttons, drunks, gamblers, and potty-mouths.) Three of the men are drinking when they hear a funeral knell. A servant of one of the men reveals that "Death" has killed one of their friends last night. The men become angry and vengeful, and sought after "Death" so they could kill him. As they traveled, they met an old man who says that he is waiting to be called away by "Death." After hearing what the old man had to say, they become intrigued and ask where this "Death" could be found. They are directed by the old man to a tree, where they find gold coins instead of "Death."
One of the men tells the others that they will be taken for thieves if they carry the gold during the daytime, therefore they will have to transport the gold during the night. Another of the men, in the meantime, goes to town to get wine and bread. While he is gone, the others discuss killing him when he comes back so that they could split the riches. While in town, the other has the same thought, and poisons the wine with the strongest poison he could find at the apothecary. When he returns, he is immediately killed. Meanwhile, the other two drink the poisoned wine and die as well.
The Pardoner concludes his tale by saying how avarice is a sin that can lead to death, and all must beware.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
A New Years Feast at King Arthurs court, the Green Knight pays the court an unexpected visit. He challenges them to a game, and says that whoever accepts the challenge can strike him with his own axe, on the condition that the challenger find him in one year to receive a blow in return. Arthur is the first to step forward. As soon as Arthur grips the Green Knights axe, Sir Gawain gets up and wants to take the challenge himself. He takes the axe and cuts off the Green Knights head. The court is in amazement, and the Green Knight picks up his head, and reminds Gawain to seek him in a year and a day at the Green Chapel.
Time passes, and the day arrives where Gawain prepares to leave Camelot and find the Green Knight. He puts on his best armor and starts off toward North Wales. He encounters many beasts along the way, suffers from hunger and cold, and becomes more desperate as the days go on. On Christmas Day, he prays to find a place where he can hear Mass, and looks up to see a castle shimmering in the distance. The lord of the castle invites Gawain warmly and introduces him to his lady and an old woman sitting next to her. Bertilak (the host) strikes a deal with Gawain that every day the host will go out hunting with his men and when he returns, he will exchange his winnings with what Gawain has aquired at the castle. Gawain agrees. The first day, the lord hunts a herd of does, and at the castle, the lords wife tries to seduce him, and gives him a kiss. When the lord comes back and gives the venison, Gawain kisses him. The second day the lord hunts a boar, and the lady gives Gawain two kisses. That evening, Gawain gives two kisses to the lord for the boar. The third day the lord hunts a fox, and the lady kisses Gawain three times. She also asks him for a love token, but Gawain refuses to give/take anything from her, until she mentions the girdle. The green silk girdle she wears is said to have magical power to protect the person who wears it from death. Gawain accepts it, and when it comes time to give his stuff in exchange with the lord, Gawain gives the kisses but not the girdle.
New Years day arrives and Gawain with his armor, and the girdle, set of to find the Green Knight. A guide accompanies him out of the estate grounds, and the guide promises not to tell anyone if Gawain gives up on the quest. Gawain refuses, and eventually comes to the crevice in a rock, and hears the whirring of grindstone. He confirms his suspicion when he sees that the strange cavern is the Green Chapel. Gawain calls out and the Green Knight emerges to greet him. Gawain presents his neck to the Knight, who proceeds with two fake blows. On the third, the Green Knight nicks Gawains neck, barely giving any blood. Angry, Gawain shouts that their contract has been met, but the Green Knight laughs.
The Green Knight reveals his name is Bertilak, and explains that he is the lord of the castle which Gawain stayed at. Because Gawain was not honest in exchanging the winnings on the third day, Bertilak drew blood on the third blow. Gawain had nevertheless proved himself a worthy knight, without equal in all the land. When Gawain questions Bertilak further, Burtilak explains that the old woman at the castle is Morgan le Fey, Gawains aunt and King Arthurs half sister. She sent the Green Knight on his original errand and used magic to change his apperance. Gawain, relieved to be alive, but guilty of his sin, wears the girdle on his arm as a reminder of his failure. He returns to King Arthurs court where all the knights join Gawain wearing their girdles to show support.
Idylls of the King – (Alfred Lord Tennyson) –
- A collection of 12 narrative poems
- The legend of King Arthur, his knights, his love for Guinevere and how she betrayed him, and how Arthur’s kingdom rise and fell is retold in this.
- Lancelot, Geraint, Galahad, Balin and Balan, Merlin and The Lady of the Lake (these are the main characters that the individual poems are about).
- Morte d’Arthur (Malory) is the story that Idllys is based off of.
- Written in blank verse.
Beowulf
Beowulf begins with how King Hrothgar of Denmark, a descendent of the great king Shield Sheafson, has a prosperous reign. He builds a mead-hall, called Heorot, where his warriors can drink, receive gifts from the lord, and hear stories sung by the bards. But, the happiness is interrupted when Grendel, the horrible demon who lives in the swamplands, attacks. He terrorizes the Danes every night, killing them, and defeating their efforts to fight back. Eventually, after years of suffering, a Geatish warrior named Beowulf sails to Denmark determined to defeat Grendel. Hrothgar accepts Beowulf’s offer, and holds a feast in his honor. During the feast, a jealous warrior names Unferth taunts Beowulf and accuses him of being unworthy of the reputation he has. Beowulf responds with a boastful description of past accomplishments. Finally, Grendel arrives and Beowulf fights him, proving himself stronger. Grendel tries to escape, and Beowulf tears his arm off. Grendel is mortally wounded, and goes back to his swamp to die. His arm is hung in the mead-hall as a trophy of victory. Hrothgar gives Beowulf gifts, treasures, and a feast in his honor. But, Grendel’s mother comes to Heorot seeking revenge. She murders Aeschere, one of Hrothgars trusted advisors. Beowulf dives into the water of the swamp, and fights Grendels mother in the underwater lair. He kills her with a sword, and brings Grendels head as a prize to Hrothgar. Beowulf leaves after a sad goodbye to Hrothgar, and returns to Geatland where he is reunited with his king and queen. Beowulf hands over most of his treasure to Hygelac (king), who rewards him in turn. After a while, Hygelac is killed in a war and Hygelacs son also dies, and Beowulf ascends the throne of the Geats. He rules for 50 years, bring prosperity. When Beowulf is old, a thief disrupts a dragon hoarding a treasure. The dragon, enraged, unleashes a fiery destruction on the Geats. Beowulf, with the help of Wiglaf, goes to fight and kills the beast. Unfortunately, Beowulf is killed by the dragon’s venom. They bury his body with a massive treasure overlooking the sea.
A few people suggested that we keep the group closed to just 9th period in order for everything to stay within the class. This is everything that we've done over the weekend! Thanks!