And Chaucer’s interest in middle class characters, such as a cook, carpenter, miller, lawyer, merchant, clerk, physician reflects the rise of the middle class in the fourteenth century (Collin 1).
https://youtube.com/watch?v=AsZeF0mlihU
How was the middle class portrayed in the Canterbury tales?
In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer depicts this rising middle class of medieval England in a positive light by joining all the classes together during the pilgrimage, by describing the variety and utility of the middle class through details of different characters, and by stressing the value of education to the middle
Who are the members of the middle class in the group of pilgrims to Canterbury?
- Nobility/Ruling Class – Knight and Squire.
- Clergy – Monk, Friar, Prioress, Parson, Summoner, Pardoner.
- Middle Class – Merchant, Doctor, Student, Wife of Bath.
- Peasants – Miller, Plowman, Skipper.
- Physical Characteristics, Clothing, and Accessories.
- Words, Experiences, and Personality Traits.
serf
The reeve, named Oswald in the text, is the manager of a large estate who reaped incredible profits for his master and himself. He is described in the Tales as skinny and bad-tempered and old; his hair is closely cropped reflecting his social status as a serf.
the middle class
Lesson Summary
We’ve learned that the Franklin in The Canterbury Tales is a wealthy member of the middle class. The details of his physical description include his white beard and white silk purse, which he wears on a belt.
How did Chaucer feel about the middle class?
Although in Chaucer’s society, the middle class was not a third of the population, he felt it was important to make them a large part of his story, due to their rising importance. The Knight is symbolic of those who belong in the highest social class, or the nobility.
Who was in the lower class in The Canterbury Tales?
In conclusion, all the characters in The Canterbury Tales fall in one of the three social classes: nobility, clergy, and peasants, implying that England was structured during the feudal and medieval periods. The peasants belonged to the lowest class and lived under poor conditions.
The five groups were Royalty, Nobility, Church, Merchants, and Peasantry.
The Prioress, a type of nun, is the leader of an order of nuns and a member of the Church. However, her mannerisms and clothing suggest a woman of a high social class and a wealthy background.
Why was the merchant in The Canterbury Tales in the middle class?
Characters like the Merchant and the Wife of Bath are considered a part of the middle class because their careers were considered honorable and more noble than that of peasants, similar to the Reeve.
The Plowman is of the peasant class and yet Chaucer describes him as giving a portion of his yearly salary to tithes for the church.
Symbolism. In The Canterbury Tales the Plowman[8] symbolizes the lower class that is good and not corrupt like the upper and middle classes. He is the poor man who believes in God and works hard to make it in life.
What class is the merchant in Canterbury Tales?
middle class
The Merchant outfits himself in fashionable attire, with his multicolored cloak and his forked beard. He is a member of the new, rising middle class that Chaucer the author belongs to.
The Knight, as the highest ranking member of the train of pilgrims, is chosen “whether by chance, luck, or destiny” (844) to tell the first of the Canterbury tales.
How does The Canterbury Tales reflect the Middle Ages society?
Its vivid portrayal of a diverse group of travelers reveals much about the composition and values of society in late medieval England. It shows us shifting dynamics of social power, an economy in flux, and diverse expressions of faith and doubt within late medieval Christianity.
What three major groups are represented in the prologue to The Canterbury Tales?
The pilgrims represent a diverse cross section of fourteenth-century English society. Medieval social theory divided society into three broad classes, called “estates”: the military, the clergy, and the laity.
What class is the clerk in Canterbury Tales?
Answer and Explanation: In The Canterbury Tales, the Clerk was a part of the laity. He would be considered middle class even though he didn’t have any money because he was educated and well mannered.
The three Medieval estates were the Clergy (those who prayed), the Nobility (those who fought) and lastly the Peasantry (those who labored).
Based upon the descriptions and illustrations of the characters, it aims to explore the hierarchal structure of the medieval society which is divided into three main groups or ‘estates’: the ones who pray, the ones who rule and govern, and the ones who work.
What level of society is the Miller in Canterbury Tales?
Throughout “Canterbury Tales,” each of the characters fits into a certain type or class of person; the Knight being a noble upperclassman, the Miller is a peasant/tradesman, the Wife of Bath representing the women/middle class, and the Pardoner portraying the Clergyman.
Tom Buchanan and Daisy belonged to the upper class, Nick Caraway belonged to the middle class and the Wilson’s were part of the lower class. Gatsby had the wealth to be part of the upper class but he was not.