CHARACTER TRAITS
The following pages are meant to give readers a quick synopsis of each character and some basic character traits. For almost every character, two quotes are included with a quick analysis to show how the quote relates to the character.
Chanticleer- Happy, Convincing, proud, arrogant, quick-thinking, popular, good looking.
Ex.1- “His bill was black and shone as bright as jet, / Like azure were his legs and they were set/ On azure toes with nails of lily white,/ Like burnished gold feathers, flaming bright.” (Chaucer 215) Describing Chanticleer’s good looks, and one of the many passages displaying how good he is at what he does or how well suited he is to his environment.
Ex.2-“This gentlecock was a master in some measure/ of seven hens, all there to do his pleasure.” (Chaucer 215) He has seven lovers that exist only to do him pleasure. Another passage that exists to show how Chanticleer is dominant in his environment.
Lady Pertelote-Companiable, loving, Judgemental, smart, friendly, courteous.
Ex.1- “Courteous she was, discreet and debonair,/ Companionable too, and took such care/ In her deportment, since she was seven days old/ She held the heart of Chanticleer controlled/ Locked up securely in her every limb;/ O what a happiness his love to him!” (Chaucer 216) Talks about how Pertelote is companionable and loves chanticleer.
Ex.2-“’For Shame,’ she said, ‘you timorous poltroon! / Alas, what cowardice! By god above/ You’ve forfeited my heart and lost my love.” (Chaucer 217) Lady Pertelote says she has lost love for Chanticleer when he has a bad dream, showing that he is a coward.
Sir Russel-Sly, sneaky, gullible, smart, quick.
Ex.1- “A coal-tipped fox of sly iniquity/ That had been lurking round the grove for three/ Long years, that very night burst through and passed/ Stockade and hedge, as Providence forecast,/ Into the yard where Chanticleer the Fair/ Was wont, with all his ladies, to repair.” (Chaucer 225) This black tailed (coal-tipped) fox has been lurking around the farm for three years, waiting to leap out and attack Chanticleer.
Ex.2-“This Chanticleer was shaken to the core/ And would have fled. The fox was quick to say/ However, ‘Sir! Whither so fast away? / Are you afraid of me, that am your friend? / A fiend, or worse, I should be, to intend/ You harm, or practice villainy upon you; / Dear sir, I was not even spying on you! / Truly I came to do no other thing/ Than just to lie and listen to you sing.” (Chaucer 227) The fox is sly and quick to lie to Chanticleer, telling him that he came there only to listen to Chanticleer sing.
The Old Widow-Dedicated, hardworking, adjusted.
Ex.1- “This widow-woman of whom I tell my tale/ Since the sad day when last she was a wife/ Had led a very patient, simple life. / Little she had in capital or rent, / But still, by making do with what god sent, / She kept herself and her two daughters going. (Chancer 214) This quote describes the old widow working hard and leading a simple life to support her and her two daughters.
The Nun’s Priest-Talkative, smart, wise, informative.
Ex.1-”He (Chanticleer) crew triumphantly and said ‘Rejoice, / Behold the sun! The sun is up, my seven. Look, it has climbed forty degrees in heaven, Dear Madam Peterlote, my earthly bliss, / Hark to those blissful birds and how they sing! / Look at those pretty flowers, how they spring! / Solace and revel fill my heart!’ He laughed. / But in that moment Fate let fly her shaft; Ever the latter end of joy is woe, / God knows that worldly joy is swift to go. / A rhetorician with flair for style / Could chronicle this maxim in his file / Of Notable Remarks with safe conviction. (Chaucer 224) This is an example of the Nun’s Priest interrupting her own tale to tell the reader that he thinks what he just said about happiness leaving quickly is clever enough for a poet to write a poem about it.
Ex.2-“Lo, such it is not to be on your guard/ Against the flatterers of the world, or yard, / And if you think my story is absurd/ A foolish trifle of a beast and a bird, / A fable of a fox, a cock, a hen, / Take hold upon the moral, gentlemen. / St Paul himself, a saint of great discerning, / Says that all things are written for our learning; / So take the grain and let the chaff be still. / And, gracious father, if it be thy will / As saith my Savior, make us all good men, / And bring us to his heavenly bliss. / Amen. (Chaucer 231) The Nun’s Priest shares a word of wisdom, telling people to be wary of flattery. He also says a good hearted prayer for the entire company.
Picture Citation:http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&tbo=d&biw=994&bih=593&tbm=isch&tbnid=UP0oUIIyQrW5KM:&imgrefurl=http://sitemaker.umich.edu/jewelryandgems/nun_s_priest_tale&docid=4ZMKxlYVii42bM&imgurl=http://sitemaker.umich.edu/jewelryandgems/files/chaunticleer_main.jpg&w=300&h=440&ei=0BPSUMbuFuaJ0QGFt4DwCw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=273&sig=116114192565749910088&page=1&tbnh=150&tbnw=115&&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:88&tx=19&ty=62
Ex.1- “His bill was black and shone as bright as jet, / Like azure were his legs and they were set/ On azure toes with nails of lily white,/ Like burnished gold feathers, flaming bright.” (Chaucer 215) Describing Chanticleer’s good looks, and one of the many passages displaying how good he is at what he does or how well suited he is to his environment.
Ex.2-“This gentlecock was a master in some measure/ of seven hens, all there to do his pleasure.” (Chaucer 215) He has seven lovers that exist only to do him pleasure. Another passage that exists to show how Chanticleer is dominant in his environment.
Lady Pertelote-Companiable, loving, Judgemental, smart, friendly, courteous.
Ex.1- “Courteous she was, discreet and debonair,/ Companionable too, and took such care/ In her deportment, since she was seven days old/ She held the heart of Chanticleer controlled/ Locked up securely in her every limb;/ O what a happiness his love to him!” (Chaucer 216) Talks about how Pertelote is companionable and loves chanticleer.
Ex.2-“’For Shame,’ she said, ‘you timorous poltroon! / Alas, what cowardice! By god above/ You’ve forfeited my heart and lost my love.” (Chaucer 217) Lady Pertelote says she has lost love for Chanticleer when he has a bad dream, showing that he is a coward.
Sir Russel-Sly, sneaky, gullible, smart, quick.
Ex.1- “A coal-tipped fox of sly iniquity/ That had been lurking round the grove for three/ Long years, that very night burst through and passed/ Stockade and hedge, as Providence forecast,/ Into the yard where Chanticleer the Fair/ Was wont, with all his ladies, to repair.” (Chaucer 225) This black tailed (coal-tipped) fox has been lurking around the farm for three years, waiting to leap out and attack Chanticleer.
Ex.2-“This Chanticleer was shaken to the core/ And would have fled. The fox was quick to say/ However, ‘Sir! Whither so fast away? / Are you afraid of me, that am your friend? / A fiend, or worse, I should be, to intend/ You harm, or practice villainy upon you; / Dear sir, I was not even spying on you! / Truly I came to do no other thing/ Than just to lie and listen to you sing.” (Chaucer 227) The fox is sly and quick to lie to Chanticleer, telling him that he came there only to listen to Chanticleer sing.
The Old Widow-Dedicated, hardworking, adjusted.
Ex.1- “This widow-woman of whom I tell my tale/ Since the sad day when last she was a wife/ Had led a very patient, simple life. / Little she had in capital or rent, / But still, by making do with what god sent, / She kept herself and her two daughters going. (Chancer 214) This quote describes the old widow working hard and leading a simple life to support her and her two daughters.
The Nun’s Priest-Talkative, smart, wise, informative.
Ex.1-”He (Chanticleer) crew triumphantly and said ‘Rejoice, / Behold the sun! The sun is up, my seven. Look, it has climbed forty degrees in heaven, Dear Madam Peterlote, my earthly bliss, / Hark to those blissful birds and how they sing! / Look at those pretty flowers, how they spring! / Solace and revel fill my heart!’ He laughed. / But in that moment Fate let fly her shaft; Ever the latter end of joy is woe, / God knows that worldly joy is swift to go. / A rhetorician with flair for style / Could chronicle this maxim in his file / Of Notable Remarks with safe conviction. (Chaucer 224) This is an example of the Nun’s Priest interrupting her own tale to tell the reader that he thinks what he just said about happiness leaving quickly is clever enough for a poet to write a poem about it.
Ex.2-“Lo, such it is not to be on your guard/ Against the flatterers of the world, or yard, / And if you think my story is absurd/ A foolish trifle of a beast and a bird, / A fable of a fox, a cock, a hen, / Take hold upon the moral, gentlemen. / St Paul himself, a saint of great discerning, / Says that all things are written for our learning; / So take the grain and let the chaff be still. / And, gracious father, if it be thy will / As saith my Savior, make us all good men, / And bring us to his heavenly bliss. / Amen. (Chaucer 231) The Nun’s Priest shares a word of wisdom, telling people to be wary of flattery. He also says a good hearted prayer for the entire company.
Picture Citation:http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&tbo=d&biw=994&bih=593&tbm=isch&tbnid=UP0oUIIyQrW5KM:&imgrefurl=http://sitemaker.umich.edu/jewelryandgems/nun_s_priest_tale&docid=4ZMKxlYVii42bM&imgurl=http://sitemaker.umich.edu/jewelryandgems/files/chaunticleer_main.jpg&w=300&h=440&ei=0BPSUMbuFuaJ0QGFt4DwCw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=273&sig=116114192565749910088&page=1&tbnh=150&tbnw=115&&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:88&tx=19&ty=62