THE STUDENT’S TALE

• By: Alaric stone, and Hashir Faheem

• Character Name: Griselda and the Marquis

• Type of Tale: Moral tale

The Prologue After the Summoner concludes his tale, the

Host notices that the Student has not said a word so far.

He asks the Student to tell them an entertaining story, one which is not to sad, nor one that they, the company, would find uninteresting.

The student complies, saying that he will tell them a tale by Francis Petrarch, who is from Padua and is a well known Italian poet. He begins to tell them the introduction that Petrarch wrote for this tale, but then decides to skip it, because it has no bearing on the story.

Part I Summary The tale begins by describing a land in west

Italy, called Saluzzo, which is ruled by a marquis, named Walter, who was loved by his people.

One day, the people go to him as a group, to ask him to marry and take a wife

The marquis, agreed to find a wife to please his people, so long as they respect his decision.

The people agreed to this, and asked him to set a day for the wedding, because they were still afraid that he would not marry at all. The marquis set the day, and then the people went away, having thanked him. He then called his officers and ordered them to prepare a feast.

Part II Summary There was a woman, named

Griselda, who was very beautiful, mature, and responsible.

The marquis had often seen Griselda, and looked upon her with great respect. He was so impressed by her virtue, that he decided that he would marry her alone.

When the wedding day approached, no one knew yet who the marquis would marry. He proposed to Griselda, she accepted, and she became well loved by the people. Griselda also gave birth to a girl not long after their marriage.

Part III Summary Not long after the child was born the

marquis wanted to test Griselda’s constancy.

He told her he had to kill their child to make the people happy.

Then a sergeant was sent to take the child from her, and she did not resist this, because it was the marquis’ wish.

The marquis was secretly pleased that she remained loyal after this test.

He then gave his sister the child and told to keep her background a secret from everyone.

Part IV Summary Four years later Griselda gave birth to a boy. This made everyone very happy. However, the

marquis wanted to test her again. He did the same thing as before (‘ said he had

to kill his child’). The sergeant came again, took the baby, gave

it to the marquis’ sister, with the same instructions as before.

Years later the marquis prepared to fake his divorce with Griselda. He also ordered his sister to return his children, and to tell his daughter she was to marry the marquis of Saluzzo (him).

Part V Summary The Marquis then went to

Griselda to test her again, and told her that his people were forcing him to take another wife, and that the Pope himself consented to such a course of action.

Therefore, he asked her to vacate her place and to go back to her father’s house. In other words, he divorced her.

Griselda complied, wishing he and his new wife prosperity and happiness.

Part VI Summary Not yet satisfied, the marquis tried

to test Griselda’s faithfulness still further. Before his “bride” came, he sent for Griselda, and asked her to prepare everything for his coming wedding.

The next day, his daughter and son arrived, and Griselda cheerfully received the guests and the woman she thought was the marquis’ new wife.

The marquis, seeing that Griselda has remained steadfast and constant through all these trials and tests, revealed all to her.

Part VI Summary Continued Griselda and the marquis lived for many

prosperous years at peace after this. Their daughter was married regally to a

fine lord in Italy. His son succeeded him after he died,

and he was fortunate in many things, including marriage.

The student ends this tale by talking about how Griselda is a model to all wives, and how all women should be like Griselda in humility. He says all women should show the same steadfastness that Griselda did when faced with adversity.

Literary Devices ContinuedForeshadowing another literary device that appears in

the Students tale. Foreshadowing is when the author alludes to a future event that will occur.

“… on her behavior often he’d reflect” (line 238). This quote demonstrates foreshadowing, because it foreshadows that the marquis will be prone to question and reflect on Griselda’s behavior, which he does. This is what made him test Griselda.

“Would you agree to all by me desired, and that, when I think best, I freely may cause pain or pleasure as may be required and you would not begrudge it night or day?” (lines 351-354). This quote foreshadows that the marquis would cause Griselda to suffer pain and hardship.

LITERARY DEVICESDramatic irony is when the reader or the audience knows something the characters do not know. These are examples.1. “…and ask that she herself might undertake To

raise the child, and nobly, for his sake; And also that whose child it was she hide From everyone, no matter what betide (Chaucer 592-595).” This is an example of dramatic irony, because the audience knows from this what has really become of Griselda’s daughter, while Griselda doesn’t.

2. “He gave her for his answer not a word. He left as if not caring for one limb, but to Bologna gently carried him (Chaucer line 684-686).”This quote is another example of dramatic irony, because it reveals to the audience that Griselda’s son has not been killed or harmed by the sergeant, while Griselda thinks her to be dead, and does not know this.

Reflection I found this tale enjoyable, and liked reading it for

several reasons. One of these was the fact that the entire story was meant to illustrate a moral point, that all women should act like Griselda when faced with adversity. Also, the story was entertaining because it constantly kept the reader in suspense as to what would happen to Griselda, and whether the marquis’ actions would bring about his downfall. (Alaric)

Personally I thought the poem was good. There were many parts of the poem that I did not agree with, but it was not terrible. I believe that the morale of the story was easy to understand. I also liked how the poem met its requirement of not being too sad or too boring. Overall I thought this was an interesting poem. (Hashir)