Hood College Chaucerians

Thow and thy ofspring evere shul be blake, Ne nevere swete noise shul he make, But evere crye again tempest and rain, In tokeninge that thrugh thee my wif is slain. (299- 302)

from Rebloggy Why does the Manciple blame this man's ridiculously rash anger  on the crow? Killing the cheating wife makes sense, sort of, but WHY MUST THE CROW SUFFER? THE CROW IS LOYAL! Guys, I wish I could be there to talk about how annoying the moral of this tale is. Hasn't anyone ever told the Manciple that you don't shoot the messenger?

How might this tale be a different version of the Clerk’s tale? (The one where the king constantly tests Griselda, his wife.)

I thought alchemy was about making potions, but aren't these guys just magicians? Tricking priests into thinking they can turn anything into silver doesn't make me think of alchemy... While the Yeoman is introducing them, the Canon even tries to sneak away because he is worried the Yeoman is sharing too many of his secrets. They remind me more of con artists than potion makers :( I was really hoping they were mixing up cool potions. I was especially convinced that these guys were phonies when he sells his secret for 40 pounds and then disappears. Slightly disappointed, but they are still very entertaining and an unexpected surprise.  https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VlRXDwsJ9zE/maxresdefault.jpg

I was really excited to read a tale about alchemy, because let's face it, alchemy is cool. Unfortunately for these guys, alchemy (while cool) isn't exactly lucrative, and they are broke. I find it interesting that these characters are new (?) to the crew; it adds a layer of detail that somehow authenticates the journey. The detail of the ingredients they use is a specific thing that seems to validate these guys as "alchemists", although the Yeoman basically admits that their so-called skill isn't quite as legit as they'd like people to believe. The moral of this story is along the lines of not taking what you have for granted, and not looking for the greener grass. Perhaps it also wants to tell the reader to not trust "magic", because God gives us what he wants us to have. One final thought: I struggled with why alchemy is okay and witchcraft wasn't, but I guess it's because alchemy is science-ish and witchraft is satanic?  

Why does Chaucer include a story about abstinence in contrast to the many “lecherous” and marriage-related stories that have be told so far?

Cecile answerede, ‘O nice creature, Thow seidest no word, sin thow spak to me, That I ne knew therwith thy nicetee, And that thow were, in every manner wise, A lewed officer and a vein justise. (493-497)

“Thre dayes lyved she in this torment, And nevere cessed hem the feith to teche That she hadde fostred; hem she gan to preche,” (Lines 537-539) This is the mosaic above the altar in the crypt of St. Cecilia

And if that he may feelen, out of drede, That ye me touche, or love in vileynye, He right anon wol sle yow with the dede, And in youre yowthe thus ye shullen dye; (155-158)

Three Amigos from fasttrack.hk 'That shal I telle,' quod she, 'er I go. Right as a man hath sapiences thre - Memorye, engin, and intellect also - So in o beinge of divinitee Thre persones may ther right wel be.' (Lines 337-341)

"The longe nyght, and eek a day also, For al the fir and eek the bathes hete She sat al coold and feelede no wo. It made hire nat a drope for to swete. But in that bath hir lif she moste lete," (519-523) https://33.media.tumblr.com/3d237d837ba9e594ccf80074dcb8fe41/tumblr_n5bylldedi1s95j2so1_500.gif

"Men myghten dreden wel and skilfully This lyf to lese, myn owene deere brother, If this were lyvynge oonly and noon other." (320-322) (Jurassic Park, 1993)

Why did Chaucer choose to use an animal fable, instead of keeping it consistent with the previous settings of his tales? (i.e., humans are the main characters)

Why does Chaucer choose to tell this tale as a fable? How does it benefit the story/moral/intention for the tale?

There are A LOT of things happening in this tale, but underneath it all, is this a tale about trusting fortune or faith?

Nightmares are often manifestations of fears we already have, whether they’re subconscious or conscious. This means that we could very well have dreams about the typical irrational fear, such as vampires sucking our blood, but the nightmare Chauntecleer has about getting attacked in the yard is a very rational fear. I mean, he’s a helpless chicken. Getting eaten should be his number one fear. Pertelote tries to say he should never fear a dream, and there’s an entire argument with proof for why you should or shouldn’t take dreams seriously. I’m so annoyed by this! Humans (or, in this case, chickens) are so binary, thinking you either fear or don’t fear something. The in-between exists, and I think Pertelote forgets that dreams can serve as reminders. For example, if you have a nightmare where your mother dies, you don’t need to fear her death, but you might remind yourself to tell her you love her more often. Chauntecler’s nightmare could have served as a reminder to watch out fo...

"And in oure yerd tho herbes shal I finde, The whiche han of hire propretee by kinde To purge yow binethe and eek above." (2952-2954) https://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/1337306865460_8421392.png

In al his drede unto the fox he spak, And seyde, "Sire, if that I were as ye, Yet shoulde I seyn, as wys God helps me, Turneth agayn, ye proude cherles alle! A verray prestilence upon you falle! giphy.com

“Nay thanne,” quod he, “I shrewe us bothe two. And first I shrewe myself, bothe blood and bones,  If thou bigyle me often than ones. Thou shalt namoore thurgh thy flatyre  Do me to synge and wynke with my eye; For he that wynketh, when he sholde see, Al wilfully, God lat him nevere thee!” (3426-3432)

What is the significance of the prioress telling this tale, rather than someone else?