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Unveil the prioress’ Unveil the prioress’ ornamentornament

揭开修女饰品的神秘面纱揭开修女饰品的神秘面纱

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Introduction Introduction

Portrayal style: quiet irony of behaviorPortrayal style: quiet irony of behaviorss

The image of the prioressThe image of the prioress --- a sanctimonious hypocrite --- a sanctimonious hypocrite （自命清高的（自命清高的

伪君子）伪君子）

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The text The text Of coral small about her arm she’d beaOf coral small about her arm she’d bea

rr A string of beads, gauded all round with A string of beads, gauded all round with

green;green; And from there hung a brooch of golden And from there hung a brooch of golden

sheensheen On which there was first written a crownOn which there was first written a crown

ed “A,”ed “A,” And under, And under, Amor Vincit OmniaAmor Vincit Omnia. .

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QuestionQuestion

Why did Chaucer describe her Why did Chaucer describe her ornament in the end? ornament in the end?

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Interpretation (1)Interpretation (1)

The ornament has implied meaninThe ornament has implied meanings.gs.

Evidence:Evidence: engraving of “Amor Vincit Omniengraving of “Amor Vincit Omni

a”a”

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OriginOrigin Omnia vincit Amor: et nos cedamus AmOmnia vincit Amor: et nos cedamus Am

oriori --- Eclogue ⅹ(line 69, in Latin--- Eclogue ⅹ(line 69, in Latin ，， by Virgby Virg

il)il)

Virgil, (b.c.70-b.c 19)Virgil, (b.c.70-b.c 19)

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Understanding in Understanding in Eclogue Eclogue ⅹⅹ

It is chanted to the deceased lover in a It is chanted to the deceased lover in a funeral procession.funeral procession.

Meaning: Love conquers all, and we yiMeaning: Love conquers all, and we yield to love too.eld to love too.

It is ode to romantic love It is ode to romantic love

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The engraving of her ornament has a The engraving of her ornament has a possible implication of the nun’s possible implication of the nun’s romantic love life and secular romantic love life and secular pursuit.pursuit.

And this could be proved by the And this could be proved by the social settings in the late Medieval social settings in the late Medieval time.time.

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Social Background Social Background

Customs about love and marriageCustoms about love and marriage

Corruption and decline of the churchCorruption and decline of the church

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Customs about loveCustoms about love After the CrusadesAfter the Crusades （十字军东征）（十字军东征） , the num, the num

ber of knights were large. ber of knights were large. Knightly culture was idealized. Knightly culture was idealized. Knightly love romance was very populKnightly love romance was very popul

ar.ar.

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The corruption of the The corruption of the churchchurch

Vows of poverty, chastity and obediencVows of poverty, chastity and obedience were broke:e were broke:

Wealth and landWealth and land e.g. Selling “indulgences”e.g. Selling “indulgences” （赎罪券）（赎罪券）

Marriage or adulteryMarriage or adultery

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Symbolism Symbolism

““AA” in” in Scarlet letter Scarlet letter by by Nathaniel Hawthorne (adultery)Nathaniel Hawthorne (adultery)

““A” (stands for amor) works A” (stands for amor) works as a symbol, (implying adultery)as a symbol, (implying adultery)

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Conclusive Conclusive Interpretation (1) Interpretation (1)

The brooch symbolizes her secular The brooch symbolizes her secular love.love.

So the description of the ornament So the description of the ornament works as the tip of the iceberg of the works as the tip of the iceberg of the nun’s inner world: she is more than nun’s inner world: she is more than a one-dimensional character. a one-dimensional character.

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Interpretation (2)Interpretation (2)

Another function of the ornament as Another function of the ornament as an ending:an ending:

It also hides Chaucer’s voice of It also hides Chaucer’s voice of reflection of religion, of love and of reflection of religion, of love and of life, as well as arouses the readers’ life, as well as arouses the readers’ meditation.meditation.

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Chaucer’s world --- social Chaucer’s world --- social statestate

He lived in the late middle ages: He lived in the late middle ages: Religiously: the decline and Religiously: the decline and

corruption of the church; corruption of the church; Politically: wars with French for 100 Politically: wars with French for 100

years;years; Economically: new class the Economically: new class the

bourgeoisie; bourgeoisie;

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Chaucer’s world--- Chaucer’s world--- personal lifepersonal life

He wrote the book in his late years. He wrote the book in his late years.

Ups and downs :Ups and downs : nobility, travelling, being captured in nobility, travelling, being captured in

war by the French, death of his wife, war by the French, death of his wife, poverty oncepoverty once

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ReflectionsReflections Through his gentle mocking of the prioThrough his gentle mocking of the prio

ress, Chaucer began to ress, Chaucer began to question the ecquestion the ecclesiasticclesiastic （教会的）（教会的） authorityauthority..

Describing her brooch at the end of thDescribing her brooch at the end of the portrait, Chaucer secretly expressed e portrait, Chaucer secretly expressed his subtle sympathetic feeling to the nhis subtle sympathetic feeling to the nun, which showed his interest in the un, which showed his interest in the eemancipation of manmancipation of man （人性解放）（人性解放） from the from the tyranny of the church and religious dotyranny of the church and religious dogmasgmas..

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HumanismHumanism 人文主义人文主义

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Exercise Exercise

Great controversy lies in the implicatiGreat controversy lies in the implication of “Amor vincit omnia”. Some peon of “Amor vincit omnia”. Some people hold that it signifies the nun’s ceople hold that it signifies the nun’s celestial love for God but not her secular lestial love for God but not her secular love. Please debate about it. love. Please debate about it.