Study Guide #1: The Middle Ages

Beowulf - Elegy

1. Summary: Beowulf deals with the idea of honor through a series of trials when he arrives to help the Danes because a promise his father did to the people pof Danes. Grendel has been terrorizing the mead-hall because he hates the noise and jubilation, and in comes the savior, Beowulf to save them. Beowulf battles him without weapons and defeats him by ripping off his arm. He goes back to celebrate and then Grendel’s mother begins to terrorize the people, again so he goes to find her lair to kill her, but this time he takes his sword. Once he faces her he beheads her and brings back Grendel’s arm that was in the cave. They come back to celebrate again and Beowulf departs to go back to the Geatland and gives his rewards to his king. After Hygleac dies, Beowulf becomes the king. When Beowulf becomes much older a dragon gets disrupted and begins to terrorize his people, so Beowulf knowing he is going to dies goes to face the dragon. Wiglaf is the only loyal subject who accompanies Beowulf against the dragong who bites Beowulf, poisoning him and then they kill the dragon. To Beowulf wishes to be built a pyre and burn his body with all the treasure.
2. Characters:  
1. Beowulf - son of Ecgtheow; Leader of the Geats; heroic; well-respected for his legendary battles; loyal to his kinsmen; ring-giver; very prideful; respected by his promises;
2. Grendel – demon; Cain’s descendant; “malignant by nature”; he is terrorizing the Hall of Heorot; killed by Beowulf;
3. Hrothgar- King of the Danes;
4. Unferth – part of the Geats; jealous of Beowulf; boasts and tries to demean Beowulf’s honor to no avail; very afraid and lost his honor;  betrayer and killed his brothers
5. Grendel’s Mother – the demon’s mother; “monstrous hell-bride;” seeks revenge for the killing of her son; gets beheaded
6. Wealhtheow- Hrothgar’s wife; gives him a necklace as a gift;
7. Hygleac- King of the Geats; betrays his friends
8. Hygd – wife of King Hygleac;
9. Wiglaf- is there during Beowulf’s final moments when he fights the dragon; the only loyal one that remained by his side;
10. Dragon- greedy; hides his gold in a cave; venomous; last battle with Beowulf
3. Analyze·         Honor-

·         Loyalty of king and kinsmen

·         Death – 2 ways

·         Code of Vengeance or Payment

·         Glory

·         Fate

·         Balance

·         Good vs evil

·         Greed

·         Mead hall (Heorot)

·         Courage

·         Funeral- being buried with treasure

·         Monsters – demons/dragons

·         Heroism

·         Strength

4. Important Quotes:

·         "Whichever one death fells / must deem it a just judgment by God / If Grendel win, it will be a gruesome day; / he will glut himself on the Geats in the war-hall, / swoop without fear on that flower of manhood / as on others before" (440-45).

o   Beowulf is telling this to his men before meeting Grendel and is explaining that if he dies that it will be meant to be. Must face death because we will all meet it someday, we just need to make sure that it will be legendary to leave a name for yourself.

·         "Wise sir, do not grieve. It is always better / to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning. / For every one of us, living in this world / means waiting for our end. Let whoever can / win glory before death. When a warrior is gone, / that will be his best and only bulwark."(1384-1389)

o   It shows the importance of vengeance within this culture, as well as emphasizing how we will all eventually die; however, when we do die it is important to look for glory when meeting our end. The only thing that will make us legendary is the glory in death and how legendary it was.

·         “Beowulf spoke, made a formal boast for the last time [saying]: ‘I risked my life often when I was young. Now I am old, but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight for the glory of winning, if the evil one will only abandon his earth-fort and face me in the open’” (2510-15).

o   This speech was made when he was about to face the Dragon. Towards the end of his life and his search of glory is still important, but it is even more important to fight for his people for something more worthy. 

Lanval – Lai/lay

1. Summary: Lanval is one of Arthur’s trustworthy knights but he is treated very badly even though he does great deeds. The knights leave him and Lanval meets two messengers that say that their Queen would like to meet with him. He follows and falls in love for the beautiful fairy lady and he goes through the sequence of courtly love. It is love at first sight and he begins to worship her, so he begins to partake in “courtly love.” She gives herself to him as long as he doesn’t tell anybody about her. When the knights return for him to take him back to Camelot, Queen Guinevere sees they have Lanval and plots to reveal her feelings. When she tells him how she feels and he rejects her because of devotion to his King, she claims that he probably enjoys little boys instead. Insulted he says no but instead that he has found someone who is even more beautiful than her, and yet she is not even as beautiful as the servants of his fairy queen. Thus this makes Lanval break the code of unspoken love. Guinevere gets mad and plots to punish him by lying to the King that Lanval made advances on her and when she rejected he insulted her. Enraged, King Arthur sends Lanval to be put to death, but Lanval is to distressed because he thinks he lost his love. When he is about to be beheaded, his Fairy Queen comes in to explain everything. They let him go and he rides off into the sunset behind his love.
2. Characters:

-Lanval- valiant; loyal; beautiful; generous; poor; envied by the other knights including King Arthur; falls in love with the Fairy; never begged his King for money even if he would not pay him, he would remain loyal;

-King Arthur- “brave and courtly”;dislikes Lanval because of his awesomeness;

-Guinevere- temptress; flirtatious; frames Lanval because she was insulted; liar; vain; 

-Queen Fairy lady- beautiful; good; fair; worthy; savior; supernatural

3. Analyze

·         Chivalry

·         Courtly Love

·         Honor

·         Loyalty

·         Role reversal (men and women)

·         Duty (to love or lord)

·         Homosexual fear

·         Women are vindictive and temptresses

·         Supernatural women =good

4. Important Quotes:

·         "Love stung him with a spark /that burned and set fire to his heart/'Lovely one,' he said, if it pleased you, / if such joy might be mine / that you would love me, / there is nothing  you might command, / within  my power, that I would not do,/whether foolish or wise. I shall obey your command; /for you I shall abandon everyone. (118-28)

o   This shows the beginning of “courtly love” when he first sees her there is an immediate attraction and he becomes completely devoted to her. Eternal devotion.

·         “Lanval gave rich gifts, / Lanval released prisoners, /Lanval dressed jongleurs / Lanval offered great honors. / There was no stranger or friend / to whom Lanval didn't give." (209-214)

o   Lanval has always been loved by the community, due to his great deeds and is sucha generous person thast it makes you sympathize how the other knights, including his King, treat him.

·         “’My lady,’ he said, ‘let me be/ I have no desire to love you/ I’ve served the king a long time/ I don’t want to betray my faith to him/Never for you or for your love/ Will I do anything to harm my lord’” (269-274).

o   Lanval truly abides to the chivalric code and is beyond loyal to his king even after he was so mistreated. He chooses duty to his lord over any type of pleasure that may betray King Arthur, thus showing his great loyal character.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight – bob and wheel

1. Summary: Sir Gawain is one of Arthur’s trustworthy knights but he is still a person that thinks about the needs of survival. The story begins at the New Year’s Party where the Green Knight challenges their most honorable person to strike at him with his axe, if they agree that in one year they find him so he can strike them. King Arthur steps up first, but Gawain steps up and claims that Arthur is too important to do something like that. Therefore, Gawain swiftly cuts off his head, but the Green Knight just gets up, picks up his head, and reminds Gawain to do as he promised. Gawain holds off on his quest for almost a year and sets out about six months later. He arrives at Lord Bertilak’s castle where he is warmly welcomed and is offered a place to stay on one condition. That as the Lord goes hunting, whatever gifts that Gawain receives while he is in the castle, must be given to the Lord as well while he gives his achievements from his hunt. The first day, Lord Bertilak’s wife begins to tempt Gawain and achieves in manipulating the chivalric code to kisses. So when Lord Bertilak returns, Gawain gives him kisses. Before he sets of to find the Green Knight, Bertilak’s wife offers him gifts which he refuses until she promises the green girdle that can save his life. He accepts it but does not give that gift back to Lord Bertilak breaking his promise. The next day he seeks out the Green Knight and was there to fulfill his task, but he flinches several times while the Green Knight teases him. On the final strike the Green Knight only scratches his neck because he failed to comply with the game of Lord bertilak by returning the girdle. The Green Knight then explains that he is also Lord Bertilak, and that this was to test his worthiness and bravery. He then commends Gawain for his true loyalty and that he beyond chivalrous. Gawain totally ashamed asks to keep the girdle and begins to claim that women are evil and are the downfall of great men. He wears the green girdle to remind him of his failure and sin which the rest of the knight’s end up adopting as a type of a respect and unity because he is the best model for chivalry around.  
2. Characters:

-Sir Gawain – loyal and honorable knight; sacrifices himself for his good king; lives by the chivalric code; would rather die than be dishonored; follows through with his word.

-Green Knight- also known as Lord Bertilak; immortal; green and awesome;

-King Arthur- respects Gawain for his true honor;

-Morgan le Faye – Gawain’s aunt that designs this whole test; witch; plays a part at Lord

Bertilak’s castle; ugly

-Lord Bertilak- generous and kind lord; enjoys the hunting and giving his winnings to his guest;

-Lord Bertilak’s wife – temptress and plays with Gawain; flirty; temptress; gorgeous;

3. Analyze: Motifs/themes/dominant symbols/morals

·         Chivalry

·         Temptation

·         Courtly Love

·         Honor

·         Loyalty

·         Honesty and Morality

·         Time allegory

·         The Pentangle

·         Forgiveness

·         Trials and fate

·         Self-preservation

·         Duty (to love or lord)

·         Women are vindictive, temptresses, conniving, and evil

·         Green girdle

·         Supernatural women =bad

4. Important Quotes:

·         "For Gawain was as good as the purest gold– / devoid of vices but virtuous, loyal / and kind, / so bore that badge on both / his shawl and shield alike, / A prince who talked the truth: / known as the noblest knight" (633-39).

o   They are basically explaining his character as one of the most virtuous knights all around and how he was one of the worthiest to have hold the shield and title of a knight.

·         "The harm which you caused me is wholly healed. / By confession, your failings you are free from fault / and have openly paid penance at the point of my axe. / I declare you purged, as polished and as pure / as the day you were born, without blemish or blame"(2390-2394).

o   The Green Knight is trying to tell Gawain that he is forgiven because of his confession truly proving he is a trustworthy and noble man. He has already paid the price with his quest and truly proved his worth.

·          Holding up the girdle he exclaims it was “The symbol of sin, for which my neck bears the scar; / a sign of my fault and offence and failure, / of the cowardice and covetousness I came to commit. / I was tainted by untruth. This, its token, / I will drape across my chest till the day I die. For a man’s crimes can be covered but never made clean; / Once sin is entwined it is attached for all time.” (2505-12)

o   Since Gawain is such an honorable man, he is so ashamed of not upholding his chivalric code that he is self-punishing himself by creating his own punishment because sin even if confessed can never truly be absolved as others believe. 

The General Prologue

1. Summary: Basically giving an overview of the tellers of tales and the English pilgrims that go on quests to the holy lands. They specifically like to go to St. Thomas Beckett shrine to Canterbury Church. He describes the tabard Inn that he stays at before venturing out, as well as telling the other pilgrims about the tales he has heard from his travels.  
2. Characters:

The Miller- introducing us to different stories that we are about to be told

3. Analyze:Motifs/themes/dominant symbols/morals

·         Conspiracy

·         Honor

·         Seasons and the use of time

·         status

·         On a quest

·         Chaucer criticizing his society

4. Important Quotes:

·         Me thinketh it accordant to resound / To telle you al the condicioun/ Of eech of hem, so as it seemed to me, / And whiche they were, and of what degree, / And eek in what array that they were inne: /And at a knight thane wol I first biginne. (37-42)

o   Not only does he give us descriptions of the teller of the tales but also his opinions of these people. Specifically, starting with a knight because of his social status.

·         "A Knight ther was, and that a worthy man, / That from the time that he first bigan / To riden out, he loved chivalrye, / Trouthe and honour, freedom and curteisye" (43-46).

o   Basically, this is describing the idea of chivalry and honor that was given to knights and what they upheld.  

·          “He was a janglere and a Goliardais, / And that was most of sinne and harlotries. / Wel coude he stelen corn and tollen thries-- / And yit he hadde a thombe of gold, pardee” (562-565).

o   The doctor who builds his little apothecaries but is more interested in the gold that comes from it. 

The Miller's Prologue/Tale

1. Summary: The Miller’s story deals with his drunkenness and cuts in front of the monk’s tale. He tells the tale of a cuckold and how he was betrayed by his wife, Alison and Nicholas the person who was boarding with them. Nicholas becomes attracted to Alison and they plan to sleep together a night. Since Nicholas is an astrologist he is able to trick the carpenter by making up a story that there will be a flood that will wipe out everyone and they have to build boats. The carpenter who is afraid of his wife dying  agrees in making the boats and waits for Nicholas’ signal to release the boats. As they sleep together, Absolon comes to Alison’s window to serenade her as she is naked they plan to trick Absolon and promises him a kiss. But gives him her “arse” and he freaks out thinking it is bearded. He comes back to take his revenge with a hot iron pike, and this time Nicholas gives him his butt then he gets burned  by the iron while farting in Absolon’s face who screams and runs. Nicholas screams “water” and runs off, while the carpenter lets go of the boats and breaks his arm. So everyone gets punished except Alison.
2. Characters:

The Miller- tells the story; drunkard; probably a cuckold himself

John the Carpenter- married to Alison; uneducated; old; not very bright; jealous;

Alison- carpenter’s wife; young-18 yrs old; has an affair; bright; pretty young thang (pyt); does not get punished

Nicholas- boarding w/ Joohn and Alison; attractive; bold; flirtatious; astrologist; college educated

Absolon- parish clerk; in love w/ Alison; uptight; squeamish about farts; musician (singer and guitarist)

3. Analyze:

·         Fabliau – comedic dirty tale

·         Class issues/ hierarchy(age/educ)

·         Honor

·         Entrapment and oppression of women

·         Duty (vengeance

·         Astrology

·         Women are vindictive and temptresses

·         Sexual deviance

·         Men/women relations

·         Jealousy fear of ↓

·         Cuckoldry

·         Religion/hypocrisy

·         Temptation

·         Loyalty

4. Important Quotes:
• "Now hertkneth," quod the Millere, "alle and some. / But first I make a protestacioun/ That I am dronke: I know it by my soun. / And therefore if that I mispeke or saye, / Wite it the ale of Southwerk, I you praye;  / For I will telle a legende and a lif /Bothe of a carpenter and of his wif, / How that clerk hath set the wrightes cappe." (29-35)

o The miller about to begin his tell and already shows his drunkness

·         “Jalous he was, and heeld hire narwe in cage, / For she was wilde and yong, and he was old, / and deemed himself been lik a cokewold / he knew nat Caton, for his wit was rude, / that bad men sholde wedde his similitude."(116-120).

o   John’s jealousy shows how he entraps his wife for fear of being a cheated on. Cuckold was far worse than being uneducated.

·         "This carpente was goon til Oseney, And hende Nicholas and Alisoun Accorded been to this conclusioun, That Nicholas shal shapen hem a while This sely jalous housebonde to bigile, And if so be this game wente aright, She sholden sleepen in his arm al night-For this was his desir and hire also." (292-300)

o   They begin to plan how they will spend the night together and how they will sleep together.

The Wife of Bath's Prologue/Tale

1. Summary: The Wife of Bath’s describes her five marriages and the control that she had on all of them. Although the last one did give her more trouble than the other ones. She describes has the general idea that “happy wife is a happy life” Describes her sexual freedom and she uses it to her advantage. She goes on to the story of a knight that raped a female in the court. King Arthur gives him for his queen to give him his punishment. Gives him a year to figure out what a woman truly wants in a marriage. He has one year to find out. On his quest he gets different answers and starts to return when he comes upon the old lady who will give him the answer on one condition; that he must do whatever she asks of him. He gives her, his word and goes to the court answering that women want sovereignty above all else in the marriage. He gets it right so in open court the lady says she wants to marry him which he is horrified with but obliges. In the end the old lady gives hiom the option that he can have her beautiful but unfaithful or old and loyal. He givesd her the choice to do whatever she wants and pleased with that answer she turns beautiful and remains faithful.
2. Characters:

Wife of Bath’s – introducing us to different stories that we are about to be

First Three Husbands- older than her; controlled them

4^th Husband – was better but she still controlled hime

5^th Husband – younger than her; more violent; better in bed; hit her; like reading about witches

Knight – rapes one of Arthur’s court; gets a chance to survive if he finds out what females want;

Old lady – knows the answer that was posed by the queen; supernatural; smart; conniving; also beautiful

Guinevere- saves his life by putting the knight up to a test

3. Analyze:Motifs/themes/dominant symbols/moral

·         marriage

·         Honor

·         Sexual lisence

·         Seasons and the use of time

·         Role of women in marriage

·         Licentiousness by church standards

·         What women want

·         Old female

·         Rape

·         Supernatural women

·         status

·         On a quest

·         Chaucer criticizing his society

4. Important Quotes:
• “A wis womman wol bisye hire evere in oon / To gete hire love, ye, there as she hath noon. / Sut sith I hadde hem hoolly in myn hand, / And sith that they hadde yiven me al hir land, / What sholde I take keep hem for to plese, / But it were for my profit and myn ese?” (215-20)

·         Not only does he give us descriptions of the teller of the tales but also his opinions of these people. Specifically, starting with a knight because of his social status.

·         “As help me God, I was a lusty oon, / And fair and riche and yong and wel-bigoon, / And trewely, as mine housbondes tolde me, I had the best quoinam mighte be” (611-14).

o   Basically, the wife had control of her body and satisfied her own sexual pleasure, but also used it as a type of control in her marriage.

·         We women han, if that I shal nat lie,  / In this matere a quainte fantasye:  /Waite what thing we may nat lightly have,  / Therafter wol we crye al day and crave; / Forbede us thing, and that desiren we; / Preesse on us faste, and thane wol we flee.  / With daunger oute we al oure chaffare: /Greet prees at market maketh dere ware /And too greet chepe is holden at litel pris. / This knoweth every womman that is wise” (520-30).

o   Basically, she is telling the audience that females shouldn’t sugar-coat the truth and satirically explains how materialistic all woman are because we are complainers and manipulate the people who will listen. If females are denied something, they must cry and whine until they get it. But if they get something that is too good of a bargain, then it truly has no value. The last line where it generalizes how all women should know this strategy, to get what one wants is very interesting. It also shows how women should be in control in all aspects of their lives.

The Pardoner's Prologue/Tale

The Pardoner’s Tale

1. Summary: The Pardoner .is a conniving cheating man that steals money for people to touch his “holy relics” which he doesn’t even believe in the church. Tells the story of three young men seeking revenge on Death for killing their friend. So they go searching and find an old man under a tree waiting for death.  He then sends them to the grove where they end up finding gold. They then plot against each other to keep the gold. One goes to town for drink while the others plan to stab him on his return. The other poisons the drinks but on his return he is killed. The others toasting to their success get poisoned and die due to their avarice.
2. Characters:

Pardoner – the jerk who sells the belief but is a liar.

Three guys- seeking revenge but die in the face of greed

Death – following those that have sinned

Old Man – waiting for death; thought to be a spy

3. Analyze:Motifs/themes/dominant symbols/morals

·         Conspiracy

·         Greed

·         “Avarice is the root of all evil”

·         Seasons and the use of time

·         Hypocrisy

·         Pride

·         Sin leads to death

·         Irony

·         Gluttony

·         On their quest to Canterbury

·         Liar

·         cheater

·         On a quest

·         Chaucer criticizing his society

4. Important Quotes:

·         For myn entente is nat but for to winne, / And no thing for correction of sinne: / I rekke nevere whan that they been beried / Though that hir soules goon a-blackberied" (115-18).

o   He even admits to his sin that he doesn’t believe in the relics or the curch in confessions.  

·         " Now goode men, God foryive you youre trespas, / and ware you fro the sinne of avarice “ (616, 617)

·         Basically, this is describing the idea of confession and honor that was given to pardoners that would go absolving sins but for a fee. 

·          “And here is gold, and that ful greet plentee, / That shall departed been among us three. /But natheless, if I can shape it so / That it departed were among us two. (523-6).

·         That their greed for more gold had tohem to plot against their friend. Was more powerful than friendship. . 

Margery Kempe - Confession

1. Summary: Margery Kempe is having allusions to her having conversations with God and how the priest makes her feel more horrible but she is fine. She describes many physical aspects of Jesus and describes physical experiences through her faith. Basically going through different descriptions she shows her getting closer to God and doing his deeds gets her closer to the Heavan
2. Characters:

Margery “I” – pretty looney; believes she talks to God; very extreme

Husband – is okay with her pilgrimage as long as she is celibate

God– is married to Margery

3. Analyze:Motifs/themes/dominant symbols/moral

·         marriage

·         conservative

·         celibacy

·         forgiveness

·         class issues

·         confession

·         Pilgrimage

·         Sexual licence

·         On a quest

4. Important Quotes:

·         "Then she gave thanks and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ for the high grace and mercy that he showed unto her, an unworthy wretch"  (Kempe; 433)

·         She is constantly giving praise to the lord for her unworthy self but she is thankful to God for always being forgiving.

·         "“I wish no longer for you to fast, therefore I bid you in the name of Jesus eat and drink as your husband does” (228).

·         Basically, this is describing how Jesus uses his manipulation to get what they need. 

·          “If she might have had her will, oftentimes she would have taken the children out from the mother’s arms and have kissed them in the place of Christ. And, if she saw a handsome man, she had great pain to look on him in case she might have seen him who was both God and man” (p. 431).

·         This exemplifies how she showed physical experiences through her faith Giving how she got excited through seeing a young man she thought she was seeing Jesus. 

Everyman - Morality Play 

1. Summary: Everyman deals with someone who is about to die and he is at the gate way of heaven and trying to figure out how he can have more time but there is no option for more time. So he has a discussion with all the things in their lives to see who will follow him through death. Since we are older there is no use for beuty, strength only repentance will get you in through the doors of Heaven. In the end, Everyman enters because he admits to not doing much in life and the Doctor even enters at the end to explain the morality of the play.
2. Characters:

Messenger – introducing us the story

God- Says to go pick up man and sends Death after them

Death – giving options to Everyman; main seekerto take someone with him

Everyman –

Fellowship Kindred

Cousin

Good Deeds

Knowledge

Confession

Beauty

Strength

Discretion

Five-wits

Angel

Doctor-  

3. Analyze:Motifs/themes/dominant symbols/morals

·         Morality play

·         Honor

·         repentenence

·         Seasons and the use of time

·         materilistic

·         On a quest

·         Times as a restriction

·         Mortality

·         Good deed are the way to heaven

4. Important Quotes:

·         I proffered the people great multitude of mercy, / And few there be that asketh it heartily. / they be so cumbered with worldy riches / That needs on them I must do justice–" (58-61).)

·         God discussing with the messenger what the punishment is for those that stop thinking in him.

·         " Fellowship: “Now by God that all hath brought, / If Death were the messenger, / For no man that is living today / I will not go that loath journay - / Not for the father that begat me!” (265-269)..

·         Basically, this is describing the idea of questioning faith and whether not they should trust God for putting a time on lives. 

·          “This memorial men may have in mind/Ye hearers, take it of worth, old and young/ And forsake Pride, for he deceiveth you in the end"(901-903).

·         Get rid of the sins in order to enter the Heaven because there is no use for that there. They should only worship the lord because that is the only person they will need in their new life.