ENGL 2300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Geoffrey Chaucer, Christian Culture, Telling Stories
Document Summary
Only text so far which has a known author. Obvious christian reasons: penance for sin, draw closer to god. People going on pilgrimage to accomplish worldly ends. Some people get the pleasure in travel itself. Line 13: reference to pilgrims who seek strange/new lands. The wife: is identi ed with wandering, works as a symbol for other kinds of wandering. Has moral wandering or sexual wandering (having 5 husbands an many a airs) The tavern host: wants to make a buck. The monk: he loves exploring the world, movement and exploration. Viewed in a lofty way, can become a better person, develop empathy, educational, moral and spiritual components. To go on a pilgrimage is a sort of sacri ce: you give up a lot of money, physical hardship. In the end it is all part of the spiritual dimension: the physical and spiritual meld together.
