And so we come to the last tale of our discussion, and, if memory serves, the only tale told by a pilgrim in prose (the other prose tales I recall were both told by Chaucer himself). The Parson declines Harry Bailey's invitation to tell a fable, or false tale, but will tell a "myrie" tale instead to end this stage of their journey.
But instead of a merry tale, what we get is more in the nature of a sermon, or a treatise on penitence and the need for confession. It is, according to what I read, derived in large part from three ecclesiastical treatises (in Latin) on penitence. (Chaucer's presentation of these principles in the vernacular in some ways is a minor parallel of the translation of the Bible into the vernacular. It makes ecclesiastical wisdom available to those who do not read Latin or Greek.)
For modern readers, this is one of the least favorite tales, and in fact is omitted from some modern translations. (I wonder how many of this group made it through the whole tale? I might not have myself if I hadn't felt obligated to as the group moderator.)
But the "tale" does in fact tie together many of the threads that have run through the tales. I will mention just one to whet your appetite, and will see who else can identify others for us. (If that's a test, it won't be graded!) I found strong echoes of Boethius and the fickleness of fortune which we have mentioned before as running through many of the tales. What other tales, or what other aspects of characters on the pilgrimage, have you recognized in this tale?
But instead of a merry tale, what we get is more in the nature of a sermon, or a treatise on penitence and the need for confession. It is, according to what I read, derived in large part from three ecclesiastical treatises (in Latin) on penitence. (Chaucer's presentation of these principles in the vernacular in some ways is a minor parallel of the translation of the Bible into the vernacular. It makes ecclesiastical wisdom available to those who do not read Latin or Greek.)
For modern readers, this is one of the least favorite tales, and in fact is omitted from some modern translations. (I wonder how many of this group made it through the whole tale? I might not have myself if I hadn't felt obligated to as the group moderator.)
But the "tale" does in fact tie together many of the threads that have run through the tales. I will mention just one to whet your appetite, and will see who else can identify others for us. (If that's a test, it won't be graded!) I found strong echoes of Boethius and the fickleness of fortune which we have mentioned before as running through many of the tales. What other tales, or what other aspects of characters on the pilgrimage, have you recognized in this tale?