Summary OCR English Literature AS Level 'The Merchant's Tale' Quotebank
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Course
Drama and poetry pre-1900 (H072)
Institution
OCR
Book
The Merchant\'s Prologue and Tale
Over 30 quotes from 'The Merchant's Tale' by Geoffrey Chaucer.
Included are: quotes, key themes, grade A level analysis and translation from Middle English to modern English where required.
Written by a student who achieved grade A (the highest attainable grade) in the 2022 AS Level exam seri...
The Merchant's Prologue and Tale: A Star Quotes and Analysis
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OCR
English Literature
Drama and poetry pre-1900 (H072)
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Quote Analysis + Theme
Nas no thing eschu Double negative - when Januarie is talking
about taking pills to cure his erectile disfunc-
tion, shows that despite Januarie’s high opin-
ion of his own virility he is actually quite un-
virile.
Pluto and his queene Prosepina Misplaced examples - the merchant writes
about the lovers in the garden and says that
Pluto and Prosepina are watching over them
but in Greek mythology he kidnaps Pros-
epina, gives a bad signal/sense of forebod-
ing.
Mirthe Double entendre - used at Januarie’s wed-
ding, it can mean both joy or joy to the point
of stupidity/amusement for others.
Dooth him disport Proleptic irony as Januarie sends May to
Damyan to look after him whilst he sleeps,
thus starting their affair and Januarie’s cuck-
olding in the Fabliau.
Maked as a kynges Hyperbole used to describe Januarie’s gar-
den, in doing this a similarity is drawn be-
tween his garden and the garden from the
romance of the rose.
On brotil grounde they builde and brotel- Aliteration used to describe the lives of bach-
nesse they fynde elors, ironic as he has been a bachelor for 60
years before this.
An extra element of irony is added later in
the poem as brotil is a word used when he
loses his sight.
I will down descende Phallic symbol and gross image - the ‘old
and hoor’ Januarie is about to almost hurt
the young and pure May.
Clyket and Wyket Another phallic symbol as the key entering
the lock is like the reproductive organs inter-
acting, they are also cleverly used s a phallic
symbols here because Januarie built the gar-
den for sexual activities.
Bodily Delit The idea of finding sexual pleasure, Januarie
says he wants to follow this at the start of
the play and this sets the basis of his physi-
cal marriage with May.
Espien The idea of watching or spying, the entire
affair between May and Damyan is con-
ducted stealthily and Januarie puts up his
metaphorical mirror in the marketplace to
find a wife.
Chidestere The nagging woman who often scolds the
man, the merchant and Justinus clearly have
wives who are chidesteres and May becomes
more of a chidestere once she is given the
ability to lie.
Parfait Felictiee The idea of gaining heaven on Earth, this is
the reason Januarie is skeptical about marry-
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