"The Summoner"
contains crude, but entertaining humor in his prologue and tale of a friar.
In one of the last classes we discussed the motive behind tales- satire or spite. "The Summoner's Tale" is one told out of spite with the intention of making the friar out to be the butt of his joke. However, I also think this is a satiric tale as it criticizes friars who have become dishonest and worldly.
The Summoner begins his tale with an angel showing a friar around Hell. Obviously, Hell is not a place one would normally expect to see clergy. When the friar asks whether or not his kind are sent to Hell, the angel tells him, "Yis...many a milioun" reside in Hell. The angel then reveals the special place in Hell reserved for friars- nesting in the Devil's "thin ers" (1690). This suggests that since such a great number of friars are deserving of such "tormentz of this sorry place" the lot is spoiled.
The reader is then introduced to a sick, bedridden man that the friar visits and takes advantage of. This is a low act and demonstrates the irredeemable qualities of the friar. However, as shown in the picture above, the friar falls for the invalid's prank and not only becomes the butt of his joke, but that of the Summoner's as well.
P.S. Sorry for the crude, but seemingly accurate image for "The Summoner's Tale."
In one of the last classes we discussed the motive behind tales- satire or spite. "The Summoner's Tale" is one told out of spite with the intention of making the friar out to be the butt of his joke. However, I also think this is a satiric tale as it criticizes friars who have become dishonest and worldly.
The Summoner begins his tale with an angel showing a friar around Hell. Obviously, Hell is not a place one would normally expect to see clergy. When the friar asks whether or not his kind are sent to Hell, the angel tells him, "Yis...many a milioun" reside in Hell. The angel then reveals the special place in Hell reserved for friars- nesting in the Devil's "thin ers" (1690). This suggests that since such a great number of friars are deserving of such "tormentz of this sorry place" the lot is spoiled.
The reader is then introduced to a sick, bedridden man that the friar visits and takes advantage of. This is a low act and demonstrates the irredeemable qualities of the friar. However, as shown in the picture above, the friar falls for the invalid's prank and not only becomes the butt of his joke, but that of the Summoner's as well.
P.S. Sorry for the crude, but seemingly accurate image for "The Summoner's Tale."
