1. What Tale did you choose? Why? What appealed to you?
The Cook's Tale because it was a very interesting story that had that touch of comedy and dynamic demonstration.
2. Describe the main character.
Perkin Reveler is an apprentice who has a "well-built and short" stature and possesses a brown complexion. He is a man who only lives life by partying and having with the ladies. Reveler doesn't take his apprentice role seriously because he just commits himself to gambling and stealing from his own master. He only wants to remember and experience a luxurious life because he was fired from his job and still married a rich, beautiful woman to show off to everyone else and live a stable life.
3. How do Chaucer's choices in diction and syntax create the tone of this Tale?
Chaucer's puns and humorous remarks concerning the horribly-lived life of the shallow-minded Perkin Reveler creates his satirical tone used throughout the tale.
4. How does Chaucer characterize the protagonist (both in content and technique)?
Chaucer uses both indirect (for establishing the Cook as a shallow, arrogant, and ultimately worthless man whose life consists of meaningless events and achieves no authentic fulfillment) and direct characterization (for appearance in regards to wardrobe, facial expression, etc.).
5. What storytelling genre does this Tale represent? Why?
The Cook's tale is a fabliau because it is characterized by having a vast array of characters such as peasants and clergy, which are singled out for criticism. The common themes in a fabliau is often sexual and we are able to observe this in the fact that Perkin Reveler spent his time with joyful women and ends up moving in with a friend and his prostitute wife.
6. How do the characterizations and events in this Tale represent the larger theme/s &/or purpose/s of Canterbury Tales?
The purpose of Canterbury Tales is to criticize and expose society and its many roles through satire. This is what he illustrates in the Cook's Tale, the hypocrisy and irony in the fact that the apprentice devotes himself to his wrongdoings and in a way betrays his master.
7. How would you change/improve the Tale if you could?
The purpose of Canterbury Tales is to criticize and expose society and its many roles through satire. This is what he illustrates in the Cook's Tale, the hypocrisy and irony in the fact that the apprentice devotes himself to his wrongdoings and in a way betrays his master.
8. How would the Tale be different if the career, or SES, or gender of the title character were different?
The tale would not be the same if it were a female because the cook lives somewhat of a reckless lifestyle full of dancing and robbery, and that wasn’t typical for a woman to do during that time period. If it were a woman, she would probably be heckled for her actions.
9. As you analyze the Tale, what ideas or writing techniques make it especially effective in conveying its message?
The tone of this Tale seems merry, representing the Cook's (Perkin Reveler) lifestyle and easy going personality. Chaucer's poetic form of writing creates a less than serious tone, juxtaposing the seriousness that the used satire creates. The satire is used to show this married man's adultery lifestyle.
10. How can you use any of the techniques you read to improve your own writing?
I would like to improve my way of conveying a message through satirical methods, as Chaucer does throughout his tales. Another thing that would be critical for my writing is being able to convey said message completely, without finishing the entire story. Chaucer was unable to complete this specific story, yet the message of the Cook's hypocrisy, his adultery lifestyle, and all his wrong-doing are clearly visible in the small fragment. Something that would be interesting to learn would be the rhyming pattern, and being able to recreate this form of writing with ease.
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