Just like in comedy, irony plays a prevalent role in literature; in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, irony is not only used several times to poke fun at character and the narrator, but also gives them more life and a greater depth. In its multiple uses it is especially noticeable in The Prologue, The Pardoner's Tale, and The Wife of Bath. In the stories irony helped to show the reader the relevance of the story, but also the importance of its message.
In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales, irony was used multiple times to introduce the characters. For example, the monk who lives his life more lavishly than he should, normally would be thought to be a prudent and virtuous man. The monk is described as being large and boisterous, he loves to hunt and moreover he loves to eat.
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For the Knight's punishment he is told by the queen to go and figure out what women want most, in the time of one year. Unfortunately the knight never gets a similar answer from a single woman. However the knight was running out of time, and while he was on his way back he came across an ugly old woman who asks if she could help him. Having no other option the knight accepts her help and she guarantees that his life will be saved if he pledges his life to her. The woman answers the question for the knight ,which was control over her husband, saving him and in return asks the knight to marry her. Since the knight pledged his life he has to marry her, but is miserable because he has to marry an ugly old woman. The woman later asks the knight why he is miserable, and upon hearing his response she asks him which he would rather have and ugly old wife who is faithful or a beautiful wife who cheats. The knight then tells her to decide, trusting her judgement, and upon having what women desire most she turns into a beautiful
The king and his knights wake up early one morning to go on a hunt for a boar. While they are gone, the lady of the castle goes to Sir Gawain’s room. On her way out, “she kissed him,” (12) and then was on her way. Because the lady of the castle is married to the king, the love shared between her and Sir Gawain must stay a secret. Although they just met, he is very polite to the lady and wins a kiss from her in the end.
In addition to the fire scene, once the knight and she are married she gives a second appearance of an enchantress. The Wife of Bath makes an offer to the knight. She tells him she can be beautiful and unfaithful or stay ugly and remain faithful forever. The knight tells her to be whatever she pleases, which was the right thing to say! When he gave her authority over him, she transformed into a beautiful girl who will also be faithful.
Throughout history, irony has been used in a multitude of ways. It is not just a way to inject humor into a story, but a way to slip a message in without saying it flat out. By doing that, it allows the reader to take in the information, and possibly come to the conclusion that the author wanted them to. This way, though, it does not seem like something forced upon them. Authors who used this tactic were Frederick Douglass in The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and Mark Twain in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
But this wretched, whimpering fool, like a whimpering puppet, she looks at this good fortune and answers, “I won’t get married. I can’t fall in love. I’m too young. Please excuse me.” Well, if you won’t get married, I’ll excuse you.
Physical appearances are not everything, this is something that people neglect to see in today’s society. People are too focused on having this perfect body when perfection is a mere figment of the mind. Perfection does not exist, so the wife shows the knight that even the ugliest beings can have value. Think, can one be happy with a person who is rude and hateful, but yet are physically attractive? In some aspects maybe, but to like such a person is difficult.
The court is scandalized by the crime and decrees that the knight should be put to death by decapitation. However, Arthur’s queen and other ladies of the court intercede on his behalf and ask the king to give him one chance to save his own life. Arthur, wisely obedient to wifely counsel, grants their request. The queen presents the knight with the following challenge: if, within one year, he can discover what women want most in
(lines 93-98) It appears as if women are hard to understand and decipher when it is men who simply have a misunderstanding of the women’s needs. It seems as if the knight will never find his answer to such a simple question until he comes across an old lady who
Dramatic irony occurs in the tale when Arcite escapes from prison and works for Emelye’s family in disguise. Then Palamon escapes from the prison and finds Arcite on Emelye’s property. It also occurs when the two men pray to Greek gods to help what they each think is most important to win Emelye’s love and hand in marriage, but Emelye secretly prays to stay single. These examples of dramatic irony is Chaucer’s way of pointing out that life is not always fair and is unpredictable, and comes with joys and sorrows and all the emotions in
As when first born.--And, sirs, that’s how I preach. ”(914-915). To sum up, Chaucer has littered irony all throughout “The Pardoner’s Tale”: in the prologue, tale, and epilogue. Chaucer has also use three different types of irony within the story: verbal, situational, and dramatic irony. All in all, the irony used was meant to show how society is deliberately ignorant at times for self gain, this is still occuring today as it did during Chaucer's time.
The King forces the girl to spin straw into gold, and locks her in a room. If she fails, then he threatens to kill her. But once he sees that she can be of use to him, he decides to marry her.
He could see the jealousy in the princess’s eyes that increased every second but knew that he had to marry the lady anyway. Not even a minute later the Priest was joining them together and they began to say their vows. “Do you take her as your wife?” ask the priest and no answer. The priest asks again “Do you take her as your wife?”
While perusing "The Pardoner's Tale", the peruser can comprehend the tone all through the tale around a religious man addressing confidence. He then subjects the distinctive indecencies he lectures against, similar to bad faith, pride, apathy and untruthfulness. Quite a few people need to do the wrong thing and take the path of least resistance, however he demonstrates to them the blunder of their ways. This demonstrates a concerned disposition his group of onlookers - he needs them to be better individuals. The introduction additionally makes clear that he take a basic tone toward himself.
“The Pardoner’s Tale” by Geoffrey Chaucer, the three rioters originally planned to travel to kill Death. After traveling less than half a mile, The three rioters met a poor, old man; the old man told them where they could find Death. The three rioters followed his directions and found not Death but a pot of gold coins under a tree. After, discovering the gold coins, they secretly plotted to kill each other, hoping to keep the treasure to only himself. Because of this, the role of the gold coins acted as the source and main cause of their death.
He waits and holds his love for her, even though he may have to wait an eternity. Finally, a knight of faith endures a great leap of faith, or accepting something that is impossible. Different from the others, he believes that in this world and life, he and the princess will be together. He believes in the impossible “…namely on the strength of the absurd, on the strength of the fact that for God all things are possible” (Kierkegaard 75) . This is the last stage one must go through before faith due to the aforementioned paradox of recognizing the impossible, while at the same time believing it.
When he comes across a decrepit lady who makes him a deal, it saves his life. Subsequently, she forces the Knight to marry her. He’s compelled to corporate, and marries the old and hideous lady. During the story, Chaucer says, “He who accepts his poverty unhurt I’d say is rich although he lacked a shirt.