FREE ESSAY ON CANTERBURY TALES

CANTERBURY TALES

Fred Baxter November 15, 1999
English 7S
Canterbury Tales 
The Friar's Tale 
The tale begins with the noble Friar describing his district, which is ruled by an
archdeacon. The archdeacon is "one of high degree who boldly does the execution due on
fornication, witchcraft, and many kinds of crime." He is a merciless ruler who torments
those who fail to pay their tithes or give offerings. He has "powers to administer
correction." 
The archdeacon has a summoner to teach him where his profit might arise. The Friar
expresses much dislike toward the Summoner in his tale. "A summoner isn't much to be
commended. A Summoner's one who runs about the nation dealing out summonses for
fornication, is beaten up by every villager," he says. The Summoner knows so much of
bribery and blackmail. 
The Summoner meets a young yeoman who is also familiar with bribery and blackmail. The
yeoman advises him to "take whatever anyone will give. At any rate by tricks and
violences from year to year all expenses will be covered." The Summoner has no sorrow for
his ways of making profit. The Friar explains the incident in which the Summoner demands
"twelve pence" from an old poor woman. He issues a summons-bill because of her lack of
communication. The woman believes that "the devil will carry him away." 
The moral of the Friar's tale is that if one will commit ruthless acts to make a profit,
then the devil will get him. The tale the Friar tells does not relate to Chaucer's
description of him. Chaucer views the Friar as corrupt and immoral. In the Friar's
prologue, he is viewed as noble. Chaucer says that the Friar is the "finest beggar of his
batch." However, in the Friar's tale, the Friar talks about the bribery and blackmail
committed by the Summoner. 
The Cook's Tale 
The Cook's tale concerns Revelling Peterkin, a jolly and gallant person. The tale takes
place in a town called Cheapside. Peterkin is "as full of love, as full of sin as hives
are full of honey, and as sweet." He dances so merrily and with such a will. At every
wedding, he would sing or hop. Peterkin also has such a nice touch when it comes to
casting dice. However, he is extravagant in spending which soon catches the attention of
his master. 
Unfortunately, Peterkin's master thinks that Peterkin should not be associated with him.
He scolds Peterkin all the time. "Throw out a rotten apple from the hoard or it will rot
the others," he says. Shortly after he says this, he gives Peterkin the sack "with
curses, and forbids him to come back. Peterkin takes revenge and gives his position to a
"fellow who is of the self-same sort equally fond of revelling, dice and sport." 
The tale the Cook tells does not relate to Chaucer's description of him. Chaucer
describes the Cook as a knowledgeable man who can "roast and seethe and broil and fry,
make good thick soup and bake a tasty pie." 
Canterbury Tales