Alexandra Ratyniak

The Friar’s Tale

The Friar’s tale begins with his brief prologue. Here the Friar says that he wonders if substantial academic problems concerning authority and the scriptures shouldn't be left to the proper authorities and offers to tell a tale about a summoner. The Host wants the Friar to tell a tale about something else but the summoner says that if he wants to tell an uncomplimentary tale about a summoner he will do one as well about a Friar. So The Friar begins his tale about a summoner.

Summary- The Prologue

The tale begins with the telling of an archdeacon who uses spies to get information from others in the parish. Employed by the archdeacon there was a summoner who would go around blackmailing the rich and the poor. On his rounds, he meets a young yeoman. After realizing they were both baliffs they swore allegiance to each other to be brothers until their dying day. They agree to work together as they both use underhanded ways to extort money from others.

Summary- Tale

After talking, the summoner asks the yeoman’s name. The yeoman says that he is "a fiend, my dwelling is in hell.”

The summoner says that he made a deal to join forces with the yeoman, and even if the yeoman is really a fiend, he will honor his word. The two seal the bargain and begin their journey.

Summary

The summoner and the demon come upon a farmer whose cart is stuck in the mud. In frustration, the farmer shouts for the devil to take all his things, his cart, horse, hay, everything. The summoner urges the fiend to do his part, but the fiend explains that, because the curse was not uttered from the heart and in sincerity, he has no power to take the items.

Summary

Later, the pair come upon the home of a rich woman who refuses to pay the summoner’s bribes. When the summoner threatens to steal her new frying pan the woman yells, “The devil take you and the frying pan.” The fiend asks the woman if she means her words to which she says she does unless the summoner apologizes. He refuses to do so and the fiend drags the summoner off to hell. The Friar ends his tale with saying how he hopes one day all summoners can repent and be good men.

Summary

Archdeacon- Uses spies and whores to seek information from others in the parish so he can punish them and get money from them

The summoner- collects bribes from men and women and many times ends up do it underhandedly.

The yeoman/fiend- “From hell” he does the same acts as the summoner but also grants “devil wishes.”

Characters

The corruption of the church. Pg: 293 The archdeacon uses his power to extort

money and bribes from others using spies and whores.

Deceptiveness/ Blackmail pg: 301 The entire tale is about deception and sneaky

actions. That is how the summoner makes his living and how he bonds with the fiend.

Themes

“high estate in hell” Meaning the top position in the hell , the devil.

“ an angel riding into bliss” meaing one going to heaven

Metaphors

The bible- “We make a pair, by God and by Saint James” (pg. 297)

“And just as Judas kept a little bag” (pg. 295)

“Lamb and Flag” religious symbol for Lamb of God

Virgil and Dante “Better than Virgil when he was alive, Or Dante either.” (pg. 299)

Allusions

Be careful who you trust.

Respect others and what they do. Not necessarily about the tale itself, but pointing toward the Friar and the Summoner themselves telling the story, attacking each others profession and who they are.

Moral

I liked the tale even though it was not as scandalous as some of the others. I like the little twist of the yeoman turning out to be the devil and punishing the summoner for his bad actions.

I also found it interesting how the friar's tale is more general than the others. Meaning that when the Reeve tells his tale, he give him a name and is just talking about one person, here the Friar does not even give the summoner a name, like he is not even worth one and it also allows for the Friar to be speaking about all summoners in general rather than a specific one.

Personal Evaluation

Do you think the summoner deserved to be sent to hell?

Class Discussion