Man of Law:
For thinksheet for Wed. Jan 20 please answer question 3
1. How is Custance (or Constance) characterized in this tale? How can we compare her to Emilye of the Knight’s Tale and Alisoun of the Miller’s
Tale? Be specific in your
points of comparison.
2. What type of tale is this? How would characterize it in terms of
tone and content and how does it compare to the other two tales we’ve just
read? Does it respond to
them? What are some of this tale’s
features? What is its verse form
like?
3. How is Islam portrayed in the
tale? What are the relationships
between Christians and Muslims? Who are representative Muslims? representative Christians?
4. In the Introduction, the Man of Law
mentions Chaucer. What does he
have to say about him? What do you
make of this insertion of the author? How does this complicate our view of Chaucer the pilgrim? Chaucer the poet?
5. What do you see as the symbolism of Custance’s rudderless boat?