Main Characters InvolvedArveragus (Knight) Dorigen (Knight’s Wife)Aurelius (Squire)Aurelius’ BrotherScholar /Illusionist

THE FRANKLIN’S TALESaurav Pandey and

Aiman Habib

TYPE OF TALENobi l i ty /Mora l i ty

Generos i tyRomance

Prologue

- He also apologizes that he will have to express the tale in a simple and plain manner.

- Before beginning his story, Franklin shares that this tale is originally a Breton tale.

- Franklin warns others about his poor story telling skill as he has “never studied rhetoric.”

THE FRANKLIN’S TALE

Arveragus and Dorigen

• The story begins with a Breton knight, Arveragus who loves a beautiful lady by the name of Dorigen.

• She is from “high birth” and Arveragus tries to serve her well.

• Dorigen notices this and willingly marries Arveragus.

• This marriage is one of equality as:o Dorigen takes

Arveragus as her “lord and servant.”

o Arveragus takes Dorigen as his “lady and love.”

THE FRANKLINS TALE However, Arveragus needs to depart to fulfill his duties in Britain for two years.

Dorigen loves Arveragus and can’t stand being alone

as his absence makes her weep.

Her friends try to make her feel better by taking her to walks by the coast.

This backfires as the black rocks remind Dorigen of her

husband’s death.

Dorigen, who is faithful to husband, is shocked and denies Aurelius stating, “I will always be his to whom I’m knit.”

Seeking the opportunity, Aurelius attempts to

confess love to Dorigen.

THE FRAKLIN’S TALE The Franklin introduces the reader to Aurelius.

However, Dorigen does promises that she will love

Aurelius if he were to completely remove the rocks from the coast.

—Aurelius’ brother suggests visiting a

friend in Orleans who can make all the black

rocks disappear.

—During that time, Arveragus

has returned home and the

couple is reunited again.

—Aurelius is heartbroken

because he knows this task is

impossible, which leads to his depression.

—Aurelius and his brother

make a trip to Orleans,

where a scholar

spots them.

—He promises

he can make the

rock’s disappear but he requires a fee of 1000 £.

THE FRANKLIN’S

TALE

The Franklin’s Tale

The Scholar works night and day perfecting his illusion. Aurelius is very unsettled at the time; anxious to see if the rocks really do disappear. The Scholar successfully is able to make the rocks disappear of the coast.

Aurelius goes immediately to Dorigen to tell her of the news.

Dorigen is dumbstruck by

the news and goes home

crying. She ponders about committing suicide as

she faces a difficult decision.

Arveragus returns home to find his wife distraught as Dorigen recounts what has occurred.

He sadly explains to Dorigen that she must fulfill her vows because it is the noble thing to do.

He sends Dorigen to the garden to meet Aurelius.

Aurelius sees Dorigen and asks her what is wrong. Dorigen replies that she is there to keep her vow.

Aurelius realizes Arveragus’ noble deed and feels bad for intruding into their relationship.

He kindly explains that he has freed Dorigen of her vows and tells

her to go back home. Dorigen thanks him as she returns

home to tell her husband what occurred at the garden.

Arveragus is delighted as the couple spend the rest of their lives

eternally with love and peace.

THE FRANKLIN’S TALE

He tells his story to the illusionist

and he states that it is going to take time for Aurelius to repay the scholar

for his aid. The scholar is so moved that he decides to free Aurelius from the

1000 pounds. The tale ends with the Franklin

addressing his crowd with one question: “Which one of them

showed the greatest nobleness?”

THE FRANKLIN’S

TALE Aurelius is dejected as he

ponders how he is going to repay the scholar.

Example I: Arveragus giving Dorigen away so that she could complete her vows is ironic. IRON

Y

Chaucer uses several examples of situational irony in his tale.

Arveragus to Dorigen (from line 1472-1475): “Ah, wife, leave sleeping what is still.Perhaps things soon will all be well. But now,Upon my faith, you’ll be true to your vow!…A vow’s the highest thing that one may keep.”

Aurelius to Dorigen (from line 1330-133):“I’d rather suffer woe my whole life throughThan to divide the love between you two.So, madam, I release you here and now, Returning to your hand each oath and vow…”

Example II: However, this ironic situation is furthered by Aurelius freeing

Dorigen right back.

Characterization

Chaucer also spends an extensive amount of time describing his characters.

Example II: Chaucer’s

description of Aurelius is another

strong form of characterization.

The Franklin narrates (from line 816-819):“[Dorigen] Who loved him in her heart as much as life……She mourned and wailed, she fasted, lost her rest”

Example I: Examples of characterization is seen through Dorigen’s feelings being alone, as well as her general dislike of the black rocks.

The Franklin admiringly narrates Aurelius to be

(from line 926-934): “One livelier and

brighter in array, than is the month of May...

…He better sang and danced than any man

Who is or was since this whole world began… Among the fairest men

alive; a strongYoung man, right virtuous,

one rich and wise,One loved and well

esteemed in others' eyes.

And from line 859-861, it is described: “She'd see the black and grisly rocks below,Her heart for fear then quaking in her so She couldn't stand up on her feet.”

0This was an interesting tale since it tries to discover the idea of

generosity and staying true to one’ s word. 0However, I fail to accept that Aurelius would so easily give up on his love just by

seeing Arveragus’ actions.

0I also didn’t like the magical aspect of the

tale. 0Having said that, I did enjoy the tale and the

message it tried to convey.

0I thought this tale was intriguing because it displays a sense of

humanity. Humanity is an important quality

held by very few people. Having this quality shows your natural human nature and

caring for other people rather than yourself.

Arveragus tells his wife Dorigen that she must

keep her word to Aurelius and go and be

his lover because he had done as she told him to

do.

Saurav’s Reflection Aiman’s Reflection