The Franklin's Tale: From the Canterbury Tales

By Geoffrey Chaucer

Book Overview

This new edition of one of Chaucer's most popular Canterbury Tales will enable the modern reader to participate fully in the imaginative experience it has to offer. Lexical notes are provided at the foot of each page of text to help those approaching Chaucer for the first time to read his poetry as it is intended to be read. The Introduction sets that poetry in its historical context, and suggests the kind of imaginative adjustment that today's reader of medieval literature needs to make in any critical response to it. Laying the emphasis on medieval rather than modern conceptions of unity, character and style, the editor suggests that the organising principles of the tale are to be found in the pattern of moral and philosophical ideas that are contained within it. The general issues considered in the Introduction are developed in greater detail in the Commentary that follows the text. A Select Bibliography concludes the book.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0716525011
• ISBN13: 9780716525011
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Irish Academic Press
• Length: 116 Pages

Customer Reviews

Marriage, adultery and promises - Chaucer was ahead of his t

Who is the narrator? By the end of the tale i was confused if Chaucer, The Franklin or one of his characters was speaking to me! Chaucer, the author of Canterbury Tales introdues the Franlin who now has to tell his tale to the rest of a pilgrimage on their way to Canterbury. The franklin who is just below the nobility in rank spells out an exquisite teale in which Arveragus marries Dorigen and promises never to be her master or force her to do anything unwillfully. Arveragus soon departs the scene as he goes to fight abroad and along comes Aurelius who declares his true love for Dorigen. Dorigen is upset and is in two minds what to do so she casts Aureilus away by setting him an impossible task of removing all the rocks in the sea to win her love. Aurelius nearly dies but with help from his brother and a magician an illusion is created whereby all the rocks disappear. Dorigen is now in trouble as Arveragus returns and she cannot possibly confess to love both men at the same time. She tells Arveragus of the situation who forces her to live with Aurelius. Dorigen thinks about committing suicide but then decides to approach Aurelius who forgives her and tells her to live with her husband. Aurelius now has no money to pay the magician for his illusion but all ends well as the magician lets him off. Who is the most kindes of them all? It is difficult to suggest who but this tale is so enthralling that you have to read it to believe it!