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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 6 page essay that explicates Chaucer's description of the Shipman from the General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales. A close reading of Chaucer's description of the Shipman tells the reader a great deal about this man, such as where he stands in British society, and something of his character and political orientation. In so doing, as with his other character sketches, Chaucer prepares the reader for better understanding both the person and his tale, within the context of the society of this era. No additional sources cited.
Page Count:
6 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khshipm.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
from every walk of life in the English society of his era on a pilgrimage to Canterbury. To entertain themselves en route, they exchanges tales, which not only reflect the
social and political viewpoints of this era, but the basic personalities of the people themselves. In Chaucers "General Prologue," he introduces each person, giving the reader a thumbnail sketch of
each character. Among those introduced is the Shipman. A close reading of Chaucers description of the Shipman tells the reader a great deal about this man, such as where he
stands in British society, and something of his character and political orientation. In so doing, as with his other character sketches, Chaucer prepares the reader for better understanding both the
person and his tale, within the context of the society of this era. First of all, the placement of the Shipman within the overall group is illuminating. On
such a pilgrimage is probably one of the few occasions in medieval life when such a diverse group of people would have been drawn together. The pilgrims include nobility, such
as the Knight; clergy, such as the Prioress; but also ordinary people, such as the Shipman. Chaucer begins by describing those highest in society, i.e., the Knight, then works his
way down the social ladder. The Shipman, i.e., the "sailor," is placed between Chaucers description of the Cook and the "Doctor of Physik." This placement suggests that the sailor is
mid-way on the social ladder of this era, a man who is, more or less, a peer of the physician, the cook, and the parson. Chaucers description of the
Shipman begins "A Shipman was ther, woning fer by weste--/For ought I woot, he was of Dertemouthe" (line 390-391). The footnotes and line notes in the Norton Anthology edition
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