6,999 Matching Annotations
  1. Jun 2019
    1. And honoured everywhere for worthiness. At Alexandria, in the winning battle he was there; Often put in the place of honour, a chair. Above all nations’ knights in Prussia. In Latvia raided he, and Russia, 55 No christened man so oft of his degree. In far Granada at the siege was he Of Algeciras, and in Belmarie.

      So author is pretty much mentioning a couple of his famous battles in which he was in

    2. To describe to you the state of every one Of each of them, as it appeared to me, 40 And who they were, and what was their degree,

      This is very different to me. In the prologue he is introducing the story and within this section he keeps repeating what he will talk about. Just interesting a different from what I have read before

    3. 40 And who they were, and what was their degree,

      I really like how the story began with a broad introduction of the setting describing the town and taking note of the season. Now we get to know more; we are going to be introduced to the people and the characters. This kind of introduction makes it easier for me as a reader to understand exactly what's going on in the timeline of the story.

    4. And briefly, when the sun had gone to rest,

      At this point, it is referring to the night. But why did the author choose to state it as 'the sun had gone to rest'? Was it because it was a more calm and gentle approach compared to 'it was night'?

    5. It happened that, in that season, on a day

      It is a specific moment. An exact time in the year. I like how it is being emphasized that it was not just the average day, but a time for religious renewal.

    6. heere

      My reflection: I really like that everything is translated. Very easy to understand, but I also found that it's original work to be easy to read as well. I really liked the prologue, I already have an idea of what's coming up next in the next few tales.

    7. loved chivalry,

      Chivalry means, the medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code. So that means the code for knights are " truth, honour, freedom and all courtesy"? I always hear the saying, " Chivalry's not dead" what exactly is that saying?

    8. His tale straightway, and said as you may hear.

      Having the translated version of the text was very helpful. I attempted to read the original text, and I could not understand it at all. Probably one of the most difficult texts I have came across, but with the translated it was great. The prologue did a good job in describing the roles, characters and setting of the tales.

    9. Who had a fiery-red, cherubic face, All pimpled it was; his eyes were narrow As hot he was, and lecherous, as a sparrow; With black and scabby brows and scanty beard; 630 He had a face that little children feared. There was no mercury, sulphur, or litharge, No borax, ceruse, tartar, could discharge,

      Author most definitely does not make the summoner appealing at all. Almost like someone you don't want to be around at all

    10. Hardy, big of brawn and big of bone; Which was well proved, for wherever a festive day 550 At wrestling, he always took the prize away. He was stoutly built, broad and heavy;

      A very well written characteristics of the Miller. Truly shows the strength.

    11. This noble ensample to his sheep he yaf, That first he wroghte, and afterward he taughte. 500 Out of the gosple he tho wordes caughte,

      This is talking about the Bible. the Bible was a very important piece of artifact during the medieval times.

    1. “Then have I got of you the mastery, Since I may choose and govern, in earnest?”        “Yes, truly, wife,” said he, “I hold that best.”

      Important that the woman even gets a little acknowledgement of governering

    2. But truly, before he came upon them there, The dancers vanished all, he knew not where. No creature saw he that gave sign of life, Except, on the greensward sitting, an old wife; 1005 A fouler person could no man devise.

      Symbolizes the sovereignty of the land

    3. “Women desire to have the sovereignty 1045 As well upon their husband as their love, And to have mastery their man above;

      Well thats no shocker. Women are always in the fight for sovereignty from their husbands and themselves as well

    4.  Tell me also, to what purpose or end The genitals were made

      As odd as this sounds, this is a very common and very strong argument for devaluing virginity, religiously speaking. After all, if God created us and was perfect in doing so, why should we not use our bodies to the fullest.

    5. But that the other ladies and the queen So long prayed of the king to show him grace, He granted life, at last, in the law’s place, And gave him to the queen, as she should will, Whether she’d save him, or his blood should spill.

      I sense some girl power coming

    6. And certainly, if there were no seed sown, Virginity, where then should it be grown?

      This is definitely true. If none is willing to foster a family, there will be none to serve and praise God. This also ties into my pervious comment.

    7. For had Lord God commanded maidenhood, He’d have condemned all marriage as not good;

      This is actually a point of debate in both religion and philosophy. Many religious peoples and philosophers believed that marriage was only for the weak, those who could not surpress their bodily desires. The point of existence, according to these peoples, was to study, serve, and praise God. This did not allow room for marriage and a family. However, many philosophers and religion scholars believe that honoring, serving, and praising God can all be done through having a family, not all people must serve and praise God in the same way.

    8. I know well Abraham was holy man, And Jacob, too, as far as know I can; And each of them had spouses more than two; And many another holy man also.

      Again, this is true, but none of these men are considered holy. In fact, all of them received some form of punishment as a result of their many wives.

    9. Solomon; I understand he had more wives than one; And now would God it were permitted me To be refreshed one half as oft as he!

      I think this is pointing out a bit of hypocrisy in Biblical teachings. It is not okay for a woman to have many husbands, but it is fine for a man to have multitudes of wives. In defense of the Bible however, Solomon was not praised for his number of wives and ultimately destroyed his relationship with God, if I recall correctly.

    10. When he’s pleased to come forth and pay his debt. 160 I’ll not delay, a husband I will get Who shall be both my debtor and my thrall And have his tribulations therewithal Upon his flesh, the while I am his wife. I have the power during all my life 165 Over his own good body, and not he.

      She believes she should have a husband who is both her debtor and her slave, and wants total control and power over him and owns his body and flesh. She is extremely blunt and open about her ideas and her sexuality.

    11. My husband he shall have it, eve and morrow, When he’s pleased to come forth and pay his debt.

      She is surely one of the first feminist characters in literature. In her age when men had superiority over women and women were totally dependent on men, she claims that men owe women the debt of sex in marriage!

    12. And so to be a wife he gave me leave 90 Out of permission; there’s no shame should grieve In marrying me, if that my mate should die, Without exception, too, of bigamy.

      She says he allows her to marry again if her husband dies, so long as it involves no bigamy.

    13. God bade us to increase and multiply; That worthy text can I well understand. 30 And well I know he said, too, my husband Should father leave, and mother, and cleave to me; But no specific number mentioned He, Whether of bigamy or octogamy; Why should men speak of it reproachfully?

      She believes that God commanded us to go out and multiply, so there's nothing wrong to be engaged in bigamy, or even polygamy.

    14. But someone told me not so long ago 10 That since Our Lord, save once, would never go To wedding that at Cana in Galilee, Thus, by this same example, showed he me I never should have married more than once.

      She was recently told that because Christ only went once to a wedding, near Galilee, that by this example he meant to tell her that she should have been married only once.

    1. !

      This was definitely a fun story. The love and medieval romance in this story were more realistic than other medieval tales that were pushing it too far. We got the dramatic romantic story; the cheating, the sex, the love triangle, everything you could possibly think of in a normal but still crazy love story.

    2. It’s little thought you give me and my woe, Who for your love do sweat where’er I go. 595 Yet it’s no wonder that I faint and sweat;

      Smart tactic to get the lover's attention. Medieval romance really sets the basis of how moves are made nowadays haha

    3. solace;

      comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness. The end point of the secret love. If its a secret type of love then its probably between people who aren't supposed to be together for various reasons; different classes etc

    4. If men but asked of him in certain hours When they should have a drought or else have showers, Or if men asked of him what should befall 90 To anything; I cannot reckon them all.

      Dismissive type tone in this passage.

    5. cuckold

      Cuckold means a man whose wife is sexually unfaithful, often regarded as an object of derision. Basically it means that the wife is cheating but it also says " the man who has no wife". What does it mean then?

    1. .

      I will admit, I do not understand this story nearly as well as our others thus far. However, I think I picked up on the necessary or important parts. From my understanding, the summoner is basically an evil, thieving, lying man who only cares about his personal gain regardless of its repercussions on others. Due to this lack of care, he finds an old widow he believes he can take advantage of in her feeble state. Much to his surprise, she is not willing to hand over her money to pay a ridiculous fee for which she is not guilty. Upon his insisting she pay him, the widow curses him and the devil drags him to hell that night. Quite the satisfying ending and is used to show the power of grace and Christ, though the connection here is a bit fuzzy to me.

    2. “Yes,” said this summoner, “pay straightway -let’s see- 335 Twelvepence to me, and I’ll have you acquitted.

      The summoner knows well that the widow is unwell and unable to make it to answer the summons. Knowing this, he stopped at her home regardless of the fact she had done no wrong. He did this to gain money from her that will not be contested due to her unwell state.

    3. .

      I like the satire in this story--the summoner's deceptions have caused his own downfall. However, it seems that none of the characters is relatable, so it does affect my connection to the story. The poor old widow, perhaps, is the most interesting character, as she doesn't only refuse to pay the summoner, but also has the courage and wit to curse him to hell.

    4. Dispose your hearts in grace, that you withstand The devil, who’d make you a slave among his band. He cannot tempt more than beyond your might; For Christ will be your champion and knight.

      The demon has no power to tempt you if you make an effort to ward him off, so let Christ be your champion and your knight.

    5. Never was I, till now, widow or wife, Summoned unto your court in all my life; Nor ever of my body was I untrue!

      The widow is saying she has never been summoned to his court, not as a widow nor as a wife, and she's always faithful to her husband.

    6. By any means, by trick or violence, From year to year I win me my expense. I can no better tell you faithfully.”

      He says he survives from year to year through deception and violence. He really can’t put it more honestly than that.

    7.   “Ah,” cried he, “ben’cite! What do you say? I took you for a yeoman certainly. You have a human shape as well as I; 195 Have you a figure then determinate In hell, where you are in your proper state?”

      The summoner is more amazed than frightened, and he asks the demon questions about how he assumes human form, and what purposes he carries out when he is on Earth.

    1. .

      I love the twists in this story, and the ending. Despite its length and old English, I think this was one of the easiest stories to understand, though my vocabulary has been expanded by it. The descriptions were also incredible. I also loved seeing the ties and constant references to Greek and Roman mythology and culture, though I was a bit confused as to why the two were almost interchangeable in the first few sections.

    2. And may God save all this fair company! Amen.

      My reflection: i love that God was brought up in everything especially at the wedding of Palamon and Emily. I personally, religiously speaking, think that a having a relationship with God in your marriage is the best. I do think it's a typical love story where two people fall for the same girl and then we are all so anxiously waiting to see who she ends up with. I think the author did really good with the details.

    3. humble prayer within thy heart. Alas! I have no words in which to tell 1370 The effect of all the torments of my hell; My heavy heart its evils can’t bewray;

      Has a humble prayer, but can't betray the evil she carries in her heart?

    4. And will not suffer them, nor give consent, To buried be, or burned, nor will relent, But sets his dogs to eat them, out of spite

      Doesn't want her dead husbands to "suffer" while they get burned or buried, but being eaten by dogs is okay? gross.Was this actually a thing? Did stuff like this ever happen?

    5. Let each man tell his tale, until we learn Which of us all the most deserves to win; So where I stopped, again I’ll now begin

      Basically everyone has their own side of the story and each one should say their part and just wait to see who wins.

    6. .

      So many twists and turns in this tale, this love triangle is so intense. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time while reading it. The themes of this reading are so highlighted through the tales especially courtly love, chivalry and church corruption.

    7. After so long a time to turn traitor To me, who am your cousin and your brother, Sworn as we are, and each unto the other, 275 That never, though for death in any pain, Never, indeed, till death shall part us twain, Either of us in love shall hinder other, No, nor in any thing, O my dear brother; But that, instead, you shall so further me 280 As I shall you, all this we did agree

      Oh wow. So not only is the rules of chivalry being broken, rules of actual brotherhood are being broken for this love. Is it really that worth it? They barely know the girl

    8.     To ransake in the taas of bodyes dede, Hem for to strepe of harneys and of wede, The pilours diden bisynesse and cure, 150 After the bataille and disconfiture; And so bifel, that in the taas they founde Thurgh-girt with many a grevous blody wounde,

      Sort of a cruel, gruesome type of imagery

    9. And swoor his ooth, as he was trewe knyght, He wolde doon so ferforthly his myght Upon the tiraunt Creon hem to wreke, That all the peple of Grece sholde speke 105 How Creon was of Theseus yserved, As he that hadde his deeth ful wel deserved

      I got that it was against the rules to not perform the burial ritual. But wow did not think it would cause the death of Creon. More intense of a situation than I thought.

    10. Wostow nat wel the olde clerkes sawe That `who shal yeve a lovere any lawe?’ Love is a gretter lawe, by my pan, Than may be yeve of any erthely man. And therfore positif lawe and swich decree

      Going against the rules of chivalry for courtly love? interesting , I wonder how this will turn out

    11. He, for despit and for his tirannye, To do the dede bodyes vileynye, 85 Of alle oure lordes, whiche that been slawe, Hath alle the bodyes on an heep ydrawe, And wol nat suffrenhem, by noon assent, Neither to been yburyed nor ybrent, But maketh houndes etehem in despit.”

      An important rule has been broken. The rule of giving the dead a proper burial, old greek rituals that play an important part in the culture.

    12.  Whilom, as olde stories tellen us, Ther was a duc that highte Theseus; Of Atthenes he was lord and governour, And in his tyme swich a conquerour, 5 That gretter was ther noon under the sonne. Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne, What with his wysdom and his chivalrie;

      Seems to be a very powerful person. Rule maker as the lord and governor but he doesn't seem horrible as its mentioned he has wisdom and chivalry

    13. Of his lineage am I, and his offspring, By true descent, and of the stock royal: And now I’m such a wretched serving thrall, 695 That he who is my mortal enemy, I serve him as his squire, and all humbly. And even more does Juno give me shame, For I dare not acknowledge my own name; But whereas I was Arcita by right, 700 Now I’m Philostrates, not worth a mite.

      Not only was his freedom taken from him, but now his identity and dignity are also being taken away.

    14. rondel

      A fixed form of verse based on two rhyme sounds and consisting usually of 14 lines in three stanzas in which the first two lines of the first stanza are repeated as the refrain of the second and third stanzas. A poem in this case

    1. “Do well and have well · and God shall have thy soul; But do evil and have evil · and after thy death-day The Devil have thy soul ·

      those who do good shall ascend to Heaven, and those who do bad shall reside alongside the Devil

    2. And all manner of man · that thou mayest espy That be needy and have naught · help them with thy goods; Love them and loathe them not · let God take the vengeance; If they’ve done thee evil · let thou God alone;

      teaches him to love them and help them. He tells him to leave it to God to take up punishment for their sins

  2. earlybritishlit.pressbooks.com earlybritishlit.pressbooks.com