She's a mother- perhaps easily angered because of the safety of her children.

The monster kind of reminds me of medusa.

The first challenge was to find the path, but they couldn't succeed.

Interesting word use: Compelled. I'm sure a lot of knights would have happily helped her.

This reminds me of Lanval- they also described his lover like a white lily.

I'm not sure if he's truly sad or if he's just missing his sense of purpose that could give him happiness?

Does the knight not use his armour because he's inexperienced or because he's so good in battle that he's doesn't need to be defensive.

Venus= the God of love and beauty.

The number 12 reoccurs a lot.

Well- Think it's somewhat worth praising that Arthur is seeking advice and listening to others.

Does this mean we will see Arthur face more struggles or make mistakes he might not make as a king.

He's writing this story how he desires, not for what he thinks the popular opinion will like best.

avoiding

People are promoting more books that are for pleasure reading, than religious books to avoid religious conflicts.

the death of King Arthur.

Kind of reminds me of how people believe other people views and opinions rather than follows their own beliefs that they believe to be true.

Mean/ wrong opinions are a type of sins.

Is the language barrier what is causing the mis-perception of the other kind of people?

A lot of simile's are used comparing different animals.

Eschew= purposely avoid using. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eschew

Always encourage students to ask questions.

He would use simple corrections and not degrading corrections.

This definitely promotes individual learning. Also it encourages children to be rewarded/ praised, it never suggests punishing a child.

Touches the idea that learning should be a fun experience for students. Learning shouldn't be forced or frustration.

Most people spoke mainly English at this time, and seemed to have drifted so far away from the Latin language that they no longer desire to use it.

This definitely contradicts with the idea presented in book 1 where everyone faced a death penalty.

Some people feel that they mus have children in order to secure the future.

A omen or sign that will happen in the future. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/auguries

The religion they follow is a Christian belief.

One mighty God/being.

A honorable code to follow.

Here we do see a ranking of men. Everything is initially promoted as equal.

It is shameful to them, to display the kinds of violence that win a war.

Even those who are higher ranking members of society do not want to seem superior.

Death is a very last resort.

Like a indentured servant.

Even though slavery is different from what the American-idea of slavery is and there is room to argue over whether or not those people deserve to be slaves, There still is not equal treatment.

A farmer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Husbandman

The author is beginning to put in his own input into the text.

Simile

This reminds me of Boethius. He said that once people have a lot of wealth and are on top they must continue their whole lives to fight to be on top- leading to a life of pointless misery.

Question why some people are brought happiness knowing that they are higher ranking than others.

How greed begins to be established.

There isn't really freedom in this idea of travelling. You must go to your destined area or face the consequences.

This is the first time that not everything is equal. There are some duties that women are assigned to.

This could raise problems. I assume this means that you cannot marry outside of your city.

I love this idea.

Again we see the garden as community property, just as everything else is.

A tank for storing water. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cistern

Again a number is used to enhance the description of the land.

Even the animals have everything equal.

Everyone has equal distribution of goods, but slavery is still present. Does slavery in this case reflect back to book 1 where slaves are criminals and their punishment is slavery.

A random number it seems? Does 54 hold any kind of significance in these time periods?

A interesting choice of words to describe a island. It also hints at a island of corruption or evil.

I think there is significance that book 1 is much shorter than book 2.

A nation can't have both. This almost suggests that there will be people who are better off and some who will be worse off because of their countries ruling polices.

This is the first time I've ever seen the idea of economics deeply analyzed in a novel.

There is a large division of countries at this time. It somewhat reminds me of Beowulf.

Philosophers hold a kind of guidance power that many people would desire them to rule. This contradicts the idea of being born into wealth or into a royal family.

A person who wanders from place to place with no job.<br> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vagabond

You pay back the person that you stole from, not the prince/king/kingdom.

They serve one king, but had their own freedom almost like a democracy.

The idea of imprisonment.

The idea in America and other countries today, with separating crimes as misdemeanors or felonies.

He's slamming a capitalist idea that people bring money and therefore the hard-working people are therefore "worth more" as human beings.

He listed all of the reasons why people are resulted to steal ( poverty, need to get by etc.), to reinforce his argument that the punishment for theft is too severe.

A pest or people who are annoying. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pestiferous

He's claiming that wars only happen by accident?

An interesting phrase. You can tell his age but it's more referring to him as someone who is in their middle age.

He restates that he doesn't want land or wealth or a reputation for his work,

Different from medieval stories like Beowulf where men are fixated on being the greatest.

He is not going to infer or give his own judgement on situations- he's just going to repeat what was told to him.

It's interesting that the needle (sewing) is praised, when you think that perhaps in this time weapons etc. might be glorified.

So far there hasn't been any mention of danger or a person of evil yet in this story.

A traveller/ philosopher is a higher rank than a seaman.

Abundant https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copious

Is this another way of saying that the conversations they had felt like conversations with family members and not colleagues.

It;s kind of controversial of him to write in his book that his friend deserves a greater title, when a king or someone in charge could read the book and be offended.

He's open and honest.

He can't describe his colleague because he thinks his friend is too smart.

He confessed his sins and recognized his wrongs, so he is allowed into heaven.

A reminder that knowledge of what good-deeds are always stays, even when others like beauty strength etc. leave you before death.

Beauty leaves. This makes me think of physical beauty that eventually leaves you more than spiritual beauty.

This is the first time in a novel I've seen angels to be almost discredited.

Once he confesses his sins others join him on his journey.

Everyman's Good- deeds could with him but they can't stand truly. Verily- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verily

Ironic that Everyman is saying that Goods are a traitor to God and has deceived him, when he was the true traitor to God.

Loving material goods is fine, as long as that's not the only thing you love.

All his life he loved riches (material goods) and that doesn't help him now.

Just like how humans promised to be faithful to God and left him.

Again cousin refuses to go with him on the pilgrimage ( Everyman will have to face his actions and their consequences alone).

Fellowship is leaving him before death.

Give rise to (sometimes is used when speaking of reproduction). https://www.dictionary.com/browse/begat

High Judge= God.

If he's done anything wrong then he will be punished now before he dies.

Death will kill him if he tries to get even a small delay.

Your social status in life doesn't matter to death, he eventually takes everyone.

Humanity seems to be in such bad shape that they don't even recognize God's name anymore.

A pilgrimage, just like in Chaucer's Tales.

This is definitely a different aspect of God. In Julian's Devine Love she preaches about how God loves everyone, all throughout their lives. Here God is seen as a figure to obey and even fear.

In the beginning men were nice and happy, but then they wanted more, and this leads them to become greedy with material goods.

Connects to the idea of why God allowed human beings to sin.

A physical simile of motherhood that adds to Christ being a mother figure.

Christ would have suffered more to prove his love. Similar to Julian who wants to receive all of Christ's wounds.

God is both parental figures, not more one than the other.

This is the very first time in any novel I've ever seen Christ have feminine aspects, but it's very fitting. Christ shouldn't be a figure who punishes people who do wrong, it should be someone who is nurturing and allows you to grow.

I think the simile between and humanity and Christ being like a marriage is almost a perfect comparison. In marriages there are compromises, mistakes and forgiveness- which are all the teaching of Christ, he forgives when you sin.

You need to sin in your life because that will teach you to not sin and do better in the future.

This show. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/shewing

Her age is somewhat interesting. She is older and therefore may have not devoted her previous life completely to God.

This is a very vivid description of this image.

All that he made equates to the size of a hazelnut- I think this depicts how fragile life is.

For a second I was confused by the context of "she" here, is this referring to that fact that in this story Christ is depicted as a mother with feminine characteristics.

Is this referencing when Christ dies on the cross and the blood is because of his hands and feet being nailed.

Is she going to suffer all of the wounds that Christ suffered?

She is saved just as she begins to die.

Even though she doesn't want to die, she isn't afraid of death because she knows that God will take care of her.

A child born out of marriage.

Class system divided. The lower and upper class shouldn't really interact.

Asking if you are injured or disabled and cannot give back, will you be punished or forgiven?

Something used to cut grass or crops. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scythe

Connects to the idea that pilgrimages results in story telling o influence others.

The idea that you do good and receive good ( and vice versa), a topic that was widely debated with the idea of fortune and chance.

English is now the dominant language, as noted earlier Latin is referred to as a evil language.

A very vivid description. Also the use of the word "burst" contributes to more painful imagery.

Giving of food, clothes etc. to those in need. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dole

Gray or white with age. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoary

Connects to the idea that once people pass away everyone is equal- class systems don't matter.

A dishonest man or a scroundrel. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knave

A person of lower rank who is impolite or rude. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churl

A year's time is very common in these stories, like Gawain and the Wife of Bath.

Don't take something you don't deserve (also connected to the previous ideas to do good things for the purpose of being good not a reward).

Would not being taught before be connected to limited access people had to the bible at the time?

A traditional common role for women.

People kind of want the easy way out for this...

There are a lot of mentions of the ten commandment and traditional Christian values still seen today.

Don't steal and don't kill.

Love your neighbors like you would love yourself.

Is he corrupted by the idea of wealth and possibly greed?

When Jesus died on the cross.

People/knights should do good because it's the right thing to do-not because they want the reward they will get from it.

Telling him a definite answer would be too easy and defeat the purpose of doing good for others.

This reminds me of Boethius, where a wise woman is teaching a lost uneducated man.

Religious references.

Justifying that money belongs to God since it needs a religious validation. A lot of times money is seen as a evil creation.

The people who are really in need are the people who need necessities, like clothing, food or drinks but nothing in excess.

A robe/garment or someone who needs to be covered by a garment. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vesture

As the devil wished= as he wrongly wished.

The people seem to care more about money than religious devotion.

Laymen= someone who lacks knowledge/ education ( in this time period it would just be common people).

The friar's don't seem to inhibit true Christian beliefs- more corrupt churches.

Do they lie to make themselves more interesting or credible?

I wonder if we'll hear about the other deadly sins later.

Laughter/joy https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mirth

Even in his dream Langland believes the hermit life style is better.

The didn't really seem to have a happy life.

I think there's significance is using the world "unholy" and then talking about going into the world (the world is unholy), which a hermit wouldn't do comfortably.

I definitely see how this is just a fun meaningless story. The only moral here could be to be faithful in a marriage. This story made me pity the carpenter more than anyone. While he's older than Alison, this is the first story that we see a husband who is completely devoted and genuine to his wife, he doesn't seem to control her either. Everyone else manipulates and betrays him. I'd love to see how Chaucer could've ended this story with Alison, Nicolas and Absalom getting the fate they deserved.

That's a clever plot twist to do with the carpenter.

I see now how this story has no moral.

Did he kiss Nicolas?

Reminds me of Lanval. The insult isn't I have someone else, it's someone else is better.

They do it when the carpenter is very close.

I'm not sure he's foolish- he just cares very deeply for his wife and he'd do anything.

Biblical reference

He's manipulating the carpenter to get the young woman.

He seems to be frozen in shock from something.

Another mention of a cat- the cat seems to symbolize Absalom.

Separation always increases desire.

Alison is also mentioned in the Wife of Bath tale- is it the same one or does Chaucer just really like that name?

She is young and seems to be desired by almost all of the young men.

Was colors like blue only worn by higher ranking/respected wealthy people at this time?

They change course fast.

She remains faithful to her husband.

White can sometimes symbolize innocence or virginity.

Like the Wife of Bath but reversed gender roles.

I feel really bad for the carpenter now. The women clearly isn't into him as much based on her actions.

The psychological factor of being alone- can drive people to have even more romantic desires.

The rich v. the poor, I wonder what the women will desire the most :)

The other tales have morals or hidden messages, this one won't.

I wonder if he's just saying this because of his past actions, if he allows his wife the same rules then he's less guilty in his mind?

Did they just shut him up because he is drunk? The Wife of Bath got a long prologue/ backstory.

I liked the emphasis on this story- experience is everything. I think the character of the Wife of Bath is very complex and interesting. The biblical references she mentions that contradicts social standards are wonderfully woven into the prologue. I think you can find the double standard easily, the way she describes her desires and can be portrayed as a slut, but a man would use many relationships/wives as a prideful aspect. The tales in interesting, because the knight finally learns to obey or be controlled by their wives. I think this is somewhat of a monumental story given the time period and what is being said about Christianity and women.

He finally realizes that appearance isn't everything.

Dante's reference is mentioned in several of these tales.

The wedding has a more funeral like atmosphere.

The knight will keep his promise and marry the old woman- but a part of him wishes for death instead.

Foreshadowing a worse punishment than death or how the knight will really learn his lesson.

He's a very artificial person, who only attracted by appearance.

I think this is common ideas in society- especially with women (like the wife of Bath who mentioned these desires).

It's interesting the queen comes to his defense even when the king wanted him killed, you'd think that would be switched.

A twisted view that claims that a women's actions determines if she should be abused.

This reminds me of the common idea at the time that women are the "monsters" that cause men to sin.

He also physically abuses her- he's the one that made her half deaf.

She doesn't really seem too emotionally attached to her husband.

She's basically shopping for a new husband or a back-up husband like someone buys groceries.

Her 5th husband physically abused her.

Someone who enjoys partying. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/reveller

She's pointing out more flaws in societal standards.

Simlie. Basically mocking the idea that if you give women a little attention than she'll fall in love with you.