The+Friar

= __The Friar __ = //Physic﻿al Attributes//
 * He has a white but strong neck
 * As well as a plump, round body

//Personality Traits//
 * He can deal with things from lepers and beggars
 * Most of the time he would do anything for money
 * He has the habits of a or a pope
 * The friar spoke carelessly
 * He is very greedy
 * He is the best at
 * Chaucer probably did not like the friar because he uses irony to describe the friar. Nearly all of the friar’s traits are ones that a friar should not have. He is the complete opposite of the typical friar in every way except title.

//Occupation and Social Standing﻿ // A friar in the Medieval period was almost the complete opposite of a monk. A friar was a religious follower that lived a life of poverty. They did this by living in cities and begging for food or clothing. However, they were not allowed to own property or beg for money. They conducted sermons to the people on the streets in terms that they could understand. Because of this, today the role of a friar would probably be a missionary that travels to third world countries. Like missionaries, friars believed that they did not have to live luxurious lives in order to be close to God. Many respected the word of a friar more during this time because other ministers were less worldly educated. It seems, based on Chaucer’s description, that the friar is well respected by the lower members of society; however, the religious people of the time probably did not respect him. This is probably because he does not take his religious responsibility seriously. He drinks, accepts and expects large amounts money, and settles disputes, even though friars were not allowed to. This occupation tells us that the Medieval period was built around religion. Their was a great number of people at this time who dedicated their lives to studying and spreading the word about their religion.

// Friar's Tale // The tale is about an archdeacon’s summoner, or one who does the devils work. Although he was very immoral, he was very good at his church duties; he could easily get lechers to pay their dues. At this time, the summoner in the group of travelers interrupts the friar with concerns as to where the story is going. The friar and the summoner have a feud throughout the rest of the tales because of the way the friar describes his summoner in his story. The friar goes on to say that the summoner in the tale hires prostitutes to tell him names of men with money that are not paying their dues to the church. He also hires them for his own sexual desires. Meanwhile, in the story, the summoner travels to the country side to collect from a yeoman. The summoner pretends to be a bailiff and so does the yeoman. They walk along together for awhile talking. Finally, the summoner asks where the yeoman lives, planning to steal from his house. The yeoman claims to get all of his money from extortion and so does the summoner. They both go on to reveal who they really are. As it turns out the yeoman is really the devil. They both talk about how they can take on human form and what their jobs are. The devil explains that everyone works for God. He then promises they will meet again and he will prove the existence of hell. The summoner suggests that they continue their journey together and split anything they earn. They run into a carter with his wheels stuck in the mud cursing the devil. The summoner suggests that the devil steal everything in revenge; however, the carter prays to God and the wheels come free. The summoner then goes to the house of an old crone who is to be excommunicated. She is too sick to attend her excommunication, so she is willing to pay the summoner to go in her stead. The summoner says he will but for an outrages price. The crone says she wants to give his body to the devil and so the devil takes him to hell. Works Cited Bellerby, Rachel. "Medieval Friars and Hermits: Life Outside the Monastic Community in the Middle Ages." //Suite101.com.// 9 May 2008. Web. 09 Oct. 2010.

"Medieval Society." //Boise State University//. n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2010.