Geoffrey Chaucers Use of Sarcasm to Describe His Characters
Geoffrey Chaucers use of sarcasm to describe his characters.
Geoffrey Chaucer used sarcasm to describe his characters in "The Canterbury Tales." It will point out details that are seen in the book that help explain how he used this sarcasm to prove a point and to teach life lessons sometimes. I will also point out how this sarcasm was aimed at telling the reader his point of view about how corrupt the Catholic Church was. Chaucer uses an abundance of sarcasm, as opposed to seriousness, to describe his characters in "The Canterbury Tales." Chaucer did not begin working on "The Canterbury Tales" until he was in his early 40s. Chaucer took his narrative inspiration for his works from several sources but still remained an entirely individual poet, gradually developing his personal style and techniques. (Wallace 293)
"The Canterbury Tales" was written by Chaucer during the late fourteen hundreds. This book tells about a pilgrimage by around thirty people, who are going, in April, to the shrine of the martyr, St. Thomas Becket. On the way, they amuse themselves by telling stories. These stories are called tales. Chaucer never really got to finish the book because he died about five or six years after starting it. So as you read this report and maybe the book, you can see that he probably would have went along with Martin Luther and criticized the Catholic Church in the same ninety eight or so on years. So maybe, just maybe, this book isn't even half way done, even though it is like a stab in the back of the Catholic Church. (Morrison 41) Chaucer uses sarcasm to describe Phoebus, in the Manciple's tale. "Phoebus had a wife, whom he loved more dearly than his own life, and guarded her with the greatest protection possible. He knew that he must let a free spirit fly like any other caged animal, but he made sure to keep her closed in and guarded at all times." (187) However Phoebus' wife had a secret lover. One day when Phoebus went out of town on business, his
Geoffrey Chaucer used sarcasm to describe his characters in "The Canterbury Tales." It will point out details that are seen in the book that help explain how he used this sarcasm to prove a point and to teach life lessons sometimes. I will also point out how this sarcasm was aimed at telling the reader his point of view about how corrupt the Catholic Church was. Chaucer uses an abundance of sarcasm, as opposed to seriousness, to describe his characters in "The Canterbury Tales." Chaucer did not begin working on "The Canterbury Tales" until he was in his early 40s. Chaucer took his narrative inspiration for his works from several sources but still remained an entirely individual poet, gradually developing his personal style and techniques. (Wallace 293)
"The Canterbury Tales" was written by Chaucer during the late fourteen hundreds. This book tells about a pilgrimage by around thirty people, who are going, in April, to the shrine of the martyr, St. Thomas Becket. On the way, they amuse themselves by telling stories. These stories are called tales. Chaucer never really got to finish the book because he died about five or six years after starting it. So as you read this report and maybe the book, you can see that he probably would have went along with Martin Luther and criticized the Catholic Church in the same ninety eight or so on years. So maybe, just maybe, this book isn't even half way done, even though it is like a stab in the back of the Catholic Church. (Morrison 41) Chaucer uses sarcasm to describe Phoebus, in the Manciple's tale. "Phoebus had a wife, whom he loved more dearly than his own life, and guarded her with the greatest protection possible. He knew that he must let a free spirit fly like any other caged animal, but he made sure to keep her closed in and guarded at all times." (187) However Phoebus' wife had a secret lover. One day when Phoebus went out of town on business, his