Frame Characteristics In Geoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury...

Frame narratives, a collection of stories or adventures all contained in one book, provide the reader with more information, background and one’s motivation. In the fabliau, The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer uses frame narratives to incorporate the many stories of pilgrims. The author, Geoffrey Chaucer, also known as the â€Å"Father of English Literature,† writes these little stories to mirror his inquisitive language and use of cunning and satirical passion. The tale takes place in the fourteenth century where the wealthy Catholic Church dominates the political scene of England. This story describes twenty-nine individuals who are going on a pilgrimage to Canterbury with the goal of visiting the Shrine of St. Thomas a Becket. Chaucer uses†¦show more content†¦He is described as a fat and robust man, one who savors eating, certainly not deprived despite vows of poverty. Further illustrating the corruption of the church, this religious figure is shown as wearin g very expensive clothes and gold, not customary for a stately religious person. As one observer stated, â€Å"I saw his sleeves were made with fur at the hand/ With fine grey fur, the finest in the land; Also, to fasten his hood under his chin, He had made of wrought-gold a curious pin† (Chaucer 198). Consistent with this, the Monk retells many stories that revolve around wealth, fortune and death rather than aspirations to become better spiritually. Ultimately, he expresses negative connotations through his self-centered stories. With these frame narratives, he is able to focus on the corruption of the church. As the story progresses, the audience encounters a Summoner who similarly is able to expose the Christian church through personal narratives. This unusual character is hired by the Medieval church to summon people to court for possible spiritual crimes. Described as being very smelly and eating disgusting foods, the audience quickly realizes that the Summoner may not be the most admirable person. Furthermore, he frequently gets drunk and is especially cantankerous. Throughout his story, he bellows out certain words in Latin in the attempt to persuade people to think that he is actually educated. During his story or frame narrative, he demeans theShow MoreRelatedThe Canterbury Tales Comparative Essay887 Words   |  4 Pagesa Monk The Canterbury Tales, written at the end of the fourteenth century, is a frame story written by Geoffrey Chaucer. In the novel, the narrator joins a diverse group of twenty-nine pilgrims who are traveling from Southwark to the shrine of the martyr Saint Thomas’a Becket. While the pilgrims are gathered at the inn, Chaucer observes the pilgrims and records a descriptive account of twenty-seven of the pilgrims, which include a knight and a monk. 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