The Canterbury Tales
Geoffrey Chaucer
The Man of Law's Tale
Constance(daughter of the Lord of Rome)
Syrian sultan
the butler and his wife Hermegilda
Alla(King of Northumberland)
Alla's mother
Characters
Plot
faith
the ability not to give up and not to lose hope
Virtue Vice Moral
cruelty
malice
violence
lie
always think before you do anything
never lose hope and faith in the best
the ability to forgive
The Physician's Tale
Chernova Alyona 10b
Characters
-Virginia is a fifteen-year-old girl of incredible beauty
-Virginius is a brave knight, Virginia's father
-Appius is a judge
-Claudius is a servant of the judge
The plot
In Rome, there lived a knight Virginius, who had a beautiful daughter, who was admired by everyone. Judge Appius wanted to possess her and, through Claudius, accused Virginia of theft, claiming that she was his daughter. The judge decided to give the girl to Claudia without listening to her. Stunned, Virginius decided to kill his daughter to save her from shame. Virginius cut off her head, and went with her to the judge. At that moment, the people stormed into the court and freed Virginia. Appius was imprisoned, where he committed suicide, and Claudius was exiled from Rome.
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Love for daughter
Nobility
Humility with fate
Lust
Envy
Deception
Evil will have its hour of reckoning
"The Prioress's Tale"
Characters
Widow
Widow's son
Jews who killed the boy
The Virgin Mary
Abbot
The plot
A seven-year-old boy, the son of
a widow, singing "Ave Maria",
aroused the anger of local
Jews, which led to his murder.
They cut his throat and dumped
his body in a cesspool. The
widow searched for her son all
night, and God told her to sing.
The boy answered his mother's call
with the song "Hallelujah". His body
was taken to the abbey, where it continued
to sing. The boy reported
that the Virgin Mary put a seed on
his tongue, thanks to which he
could speak. The abbot of the
abbey extracted a grain from his
tongue, which led to his death.
Virtue
Moral
Vice
faith, mercy, martyrdom
not respect for faith
even in a situation of martyrdom, it is important to show mercy and believe in the action of grace
The Manciple's Tale
Shishkina Alina 10B
Characters
Phoebus (Apollo) is a beautiful and powerful god
Phoebe's wife is a beautiful woman in love with another
The white crow is Phoebe's favorite bird
The Plot
Phoebus, the god Apollo, lives among people and has a beautiful wife. He is jealous of her, locking her in the house. He also has a white crow in a golden cage. The crow can speaks and imitates a human voice. When Apollo leaves, his wife and lover meet at his house. Upon returning, Apollo hears a crow croaking "Stolen!", he learns of the betrayal and, overcome with rage, kills his wife.As punishment, he stripes her of her snow-white coloring, makes her black, takes away the power of speech and banishes her to the street. Since then, all crows are black and cawing, reminding of the fate of their predecessor.
A warning about the consequences of wrong words and frivolous decisions
The vice in this story lies in Apollo' excessive jealousy and violent tendencies.
It is important to weigh your words before saying anything. Defamation can have devastating consequences.
Hasty actions can lead to regrets.
Virtue
Vice
Moral
The Canon's Yeoman's Tale
Shishkina Alina 10B
Characters
Yeaomen absorbed in dark science, he initially sought wealth and fame, but finds himself in a debt pit, having lost his freshness and health. His misanthropy and failures make him a sad symbol.
Canon naive and eager for knowledge, he strives to comprehend science, but gradually realizes the futility of his mentor's efforts and possibly his own.
The Plot
In the text, the alchemist shares his frustrations and suffering from defending his dangerous and fruitless science. On the practical side, he describes the complex processes and ingredients that he uses, but all his efforts are in vain.
Moral
Vise
Virtue
A person who strives for dishonest ways of wealth is doomed to failure. Real wealth is not in material values, but in knowledge and wisdom.
Greed and stubbornness that lead to self-destruction.
Striving for knowledge and self-improvement.
Sohina Adelina, 10B
The Cook’s Tale
Characters
Perkin Reveller
The Cook's apprentice who loves fun and gambling
Roger of Ware
The cook who is telling the tale
Harry Bailey
The tavern owner and the instigator of the conflict, criticizing Cook's food
Perkin's friend
Perkin's reckless companion
Wife of Perkin's friend
During the day - the owner of the shop, at night - a «night butterfly
Plot
The prologue to Cook’s Tale begins with the Cook, named Roger of Ware, who applauding the Reeve for his tale.He warns Harry Bailey, the Host, not to take the story too seriously, even though it is about a “hostileer” (pub-owner).
The Cook’s Tale begins by describing an apprentice named “Perkin Reveller,” because he enjoyed “reveling,” or dancing and partying.Although his job is to sell food, he prefers to hang out in the tavern or dance in the streets. One day, Perkin’s master decides to get rid of him. However, Perkin friends lodging with a companion who also loves to party and who has a wife who keeps a shop, but whose actual job is selling sexual favors. The story ends there.
Virtue
Joy
Responsibility
Balance
Vice
Excess
Indulgence
Irresponsibility
Moral
A life without responsibility or moral grounding can lead to downfall, affecting not just the individual but those around them.
The Franklin’s Tale
Sohina Adelina,10B
Characters
Arviragus
is a Breton knight, Dorigen’s husband
Dorigen
is the wife of Arviragus, faithful, but became the object of love of Squire Aurelius
Aurelius
is a squire who in love with Dorigen
The magician
is a scientist who knows the art of illusions
Plot
The tale follows the Breton knight Arviragus and his wife Dorigen, who live in a marriage based on mutual respect and equality. While Arviragus is away, Dorigen, distressed by dangerous coastal rocks that might harm her husband’s ship, jokingly tells a squire named Aurelius—who loves her—that she will love him if he removes the rocks. Aurelius takes her seriously and hires a magician to create the illusion that the rocks are gone. When the “impossible” task is seemingly done, Aurelius demands Dorigen keep her word. Distraught, Dorigen tells Arviragus, who insists she must honor her promise. Aurelius, however, is moved by their integrity and releases Dorigen from her pledge. The story ends with the Franklin asking the audience who was the most noble or generous among the characters.
Virtue
Vice
Moral
Honesty
Humility
Generosity and nobility
Lightheadedness
Desire for control
Pride
The moral of the story “The Franklin’s Tale” is the importance of faithfulness to one’s word, honesty and nobility. True virtue manifests itself in a willingness
the Friar’s Tale
Molofeev Alexandr 10B
Characters
A Poor Widow
Devil
the Summoner
The Friar
Plot
A corrupt Friar encounters a Summoner on the road. They quickly bond over their unscrupulous ways. The Summoner reveals his method of extorting money from those he summons to church court, while the Friar shares in the deception.
The story takes a turn when they meet a poor widow who is about to be wronged by the Summoner. As the Summoner tries to extort her, the Friar steps in but only to try to benefit himself. The tale culminates with the arrival of the Devil, who exposes the true nature of the Summoner and takes him away as punishment for his wickedness.
Virtue
Compassion
Humility
Self-awareness
Vice
Exploitation
Manipulation
Lack of Shame
Moral
"The Friar’s Tale" serves as a critique of moral failings present in society, particularly within religious institutions, reminding readers of the importance of authenticity, compassion, and the consequences of ethical misconduct.
The Miller’s Tale
Characters
Alison
Nicholas
John
Plot
Nicholas and Alison conspire to trick John. They devise a plan to make him believe that a great flood is coming, prompting him to hang three tubs from the rafters to save himself. While John sleeps in one of the tubs, Nicholas and Alison sneak away to have an affair.
Absolon, seeking Alison's affection, comes to her window to serenade her. In a moment of mischief, she exposes her backside to him instead. Enraged, Absolon returns with a hot poker to seek revenge. He tricks Nicholas into leaning out the window for another kiss, branding him in the process.
The tale ends with John waking up to find his wife and Nicholas together, leading to chaos and laughter.
1)Cleverness and Wit 2) Love and Desire 3)Humor and Joy 4)Revenge and Justice
Virtue
Vice
1)Revenge 2)Manipulation 3)Impulsiveness
4)Lust
Moral
It serves as a reminder to be wary of deceit and to recognize that the schemes we devise may backfire in unexpected ways
The Wife of Bath's Tale
Nikolaev Alexandr 10B
Characters
The Knight
The Queen
The Old Hag
Plot
At the begining, a young knight commits the crime of raping a maiden. As punishment, the king wants to execute him, but the queen gives him a chance to save life. She orders him to discover what women truly desire. The knight embarks on a quest, meeting various women who offer different perspectives and he learns from an old hag that women desire sovereignty and control over their own lives. When he returns to the queen with this answer, he is forgiven and forced to marry the old hag. Through a series of trials, the knight learns to respect his wife's desires, which leads to her transformation into a beautiful young woman.
Virtue
Vice
Moral
True love and partnership arise from equality and mutual respect
The Monk’s Tale
Main characters
Hector:
A Trojan prince and a heroic figure, Hector is celebrated for his bravery and noble character. In "The Monk's Tale," his tragic fate symbolizes the fleeting nature of glory and heroism in warfare.
Samson:
Known from the biblical narrative, Samson is a man of immense strength who ultimately falls due to his love for Delilah. His tale warns against the dangers of betrayal and loss of virtue.
King Saul:
Another biblical character, Saul’s story is one of pride and downfall. He loses his kingdom due to his disobedience to God, reflecting the consequences of hubris.
Lucifer:
As the fallen angel, Lucifer represents the ultimate tragic figure, having lost his place in heaven due to pride and rebellion against God, emphasizing the theme of loss and despair.
The plot
"The Monk's Tale" from Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" consists of a series of tragic stories about historical and mythical figures. Each story emphasizes the transient nature of fortune and the inevitability of fate. Notable Characters and Their Stories:
Hector: The noble Trojan warrior whose death reflects the futility of war.
Samson: A biblical figure whose strength leads to his betrayal and downfall.
King Saul: His pride results in his tragic end, illustrating the dangers of hubris.
Lucifer: The fallen angel who faces the consequences of rebellion against God.
Julius Caesar: His assassination reveals the turmoil of power and betrayal.
King Lear: Themes of madness and familial betrayal resonate.
Theseus and Tristram: Their tales explore nobility and tragic love.
The Monk's tales serve as cautionary lessons about human flaws and suffering, underscoring that everyone, regardless of status, is vulnerable to fate's whims. Each story wraps up with reflections on the sorrow and wisdom inherent in the characters' experiences.
Virtue
Moral
Vice
Fortitude and Honor
The Transience of Fortune
Hubris and Betrayal