The draft not only focuses on the content of the tale but particularly analyzes its linguistic idiosyncrasies. Thus, several aspects of Medieval English are taken into consideration: pronunciation, morphology, terminology and syntax.
Table of Contents
1. Who ist the Reeve?
2. Summary of the Reeve’s Prologue
3. Summary of the tale
4. Sources
4.1 The Miller and the Two Clerics
4.2 Giovanni Boccaccio - From the Decameron; The Story of Pinuccio and Adriano
5. Linguistic Aspects of the Reeve’s Tale
5.1 Etymological Origins of Some Terms
5.2 Pronunciation
5.3 Morphology
5.4 Syntax
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines "The Reeve’s Tale" from Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales," focusing on the characterization of the Reeve, the plot dynamics of the tale, its literary sources, and a detailed analysis of its Middle English linguistic features.
- Character profile of the Reeve based on the General Prologue.
- Narrative summary of the Reeve's Prologue and the ensuing tale.
- Comparative analysis of "cradle-trick" folk tale sources.
- Linguistic examination of Middle English etymology, pronunciation, morphology, and syntax.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Who ist the Reeve?
According to the general prologue the Reeve was choleric, i.e. dominated by the humor called choler (or yellow bile), and thus hot-tempered by nature. (Lines 587- 622) “The Reve was a sclendre colerik man.” (587)
The Reeve in the prologue: A Reeve was a manager and accountant on an estate or manor and chosen from among the serfs.
As we stated once, several surnames derived from former professions. Christopher Reeve
Precise description of the Reeve in the general prologue, translated into Modern English: “Choleric, had a shaved beard, hairs cut off above his ears, his top was cut short like that of a priest, long and thin legs like a staff, no calf was seen. Well could he keep a granary, well he knew by drought and rain the yielding of his seed and his grain, his lords sheep, his cattle, his cows, his pigs, his horses, his livestock and his poultry was wholly under this reeves governing, and by his contract he gave the reckoning since his lord was twenty year of age. No man could bring him in arrears. There was no overseer, nor herdsman, nor other servant that did not know his cunning, and his deceit. They were afraid of him as of the death. His dwelling was fair upon the heath. He knew better than his lord how to increase his possession. He was very rich, he lend his own lord from his own resources in sly ways, he was good in trade and a good craftsman, the reeve sat on a horse that was dappled grey and named Scot. He was from Norfolk and wore a blue coat.” (Lines 587- 622)
Chapter Summary
1. Who ist the Reeve?: This chapter introduces the Reeve's character, detailing his personality as a choleric individual and his professional role as an estate manager.
2. Summary of the Reeve’s Prologue: This section covers the Reeve's defensive reaction to the Miller's tale and his reflections on aging and his own life.
3. Summary of the tale: This chapter outlines the narrative of the Miller Simkin, the deception by the students John and Alain, and the final retaliatory outcome.
4. Sources: This chapter identifies the "cradle-trick" motif as the origin of the story and compares it to similar tales by Boccaccio and other traditions.
5. Linguistic Aspects of the Reeve’s Tale: This comprehensive section provides an analysis of the Middle English language used in the text, including etymology, phonetics, grammar, and sentence structure.
Keywords
The Reeve, The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer, Middle English, Cradle-trick, Simkin, Etymology, Morphology, Syntax, Choleric, Literature, Narrative, Medieval, Pronunciation, Social roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of Chaucer's "The Reeve's Tale," covering both its narrative content and its specific Middle English linguistic characteristics.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Central themes include the characterization of the Reeve, the structure of the "cradle-trick" narrative, and the evolution of Middle English language usage.
What is the main objective of the author?
The objective is to analyze the Reeve's personality, summarize the plot of his tale, trace its source material, and conduct a detailed linguistic study of the text.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The work utilizes literary analysis, comparative analysis of folkloric sources, and descriptive linguistic methodology to examine etymological, phonetic, and grammatical patterns.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers the Reeve's background, a summary of his prologue and tale, a comparison with Boccaccio's work, and an extensive technical breakdown of Middle English features.
Which keywords define this academic work?
Key terms include Middle English, The Canterbury Tales, the Reeve, cradle-trick, linguistics, etymology, and medieval literature.
How does the author interpret the Reeve’s character?
The author identifies the Reeve as a choleric, cunning, and wealthy man who manages an estate and reacts defensively to the Miller's story because he is a carpenter by trade.
What is the significance of the "cradle-trick" in this context?
The "cradle-trick" is identified as a popular narrative motif in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance that serves as the foundation for the plot of "The Reeve's Tale."
- Quote paper
- Toni Friedrich (Author), 2007, Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Reeve's Tale" - Summary and Linguistic Examination, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/184586
