canterbury tales (reeve character analysis)

A detailed Summary of canterbury tales (reeve character analysis)

In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer's descriptive technique used to present the

Reeve emphasized his physical characteristics as well as the success he

attained in his occupation. It is evident that Chaucer gives two different

perceptions of the Reeve, one perception is of his physical makeup and the

other is of his success achieved in his occupation.

In Chaucer's introduction of the Reeve, he immediately begins with the

Reeve's physical makeup, as shown in this excerpt from The Canterbury

"His beerd was shave as neigh as evere he can;

His heer was by his eres ful round yshorn;

His top was dokked lik a preest biforn;

Ful longe were his legges and ful lene,

Ylik a staf, ther was no calf yseene (590-594)."

This excerpt shows the attention to detail Chaucer selected to introduce the

Reeve. Chaucer also gives the Reeve a name, which is not commonly done

for most pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer announces the Reeve's

name in The Miller's Tale, as shown in this excerpt:

"The Reeve looked up and shouted, 'Shut

As Chaucer presents these pilgrims in a social order from the highest in

official or superintendent on an estate, generally an intermediary between a

then describes the Reeve's occupation. A reeve by definition is a minor

shower his master with gifts to gain even more favor with him:

To yive and lene him of his owene good

the Reeve was given a name suggests that the Reeve tends to be more of a

The Reeve was excellent at managing his master's estate and he

'My dear old brother Oswald, such is life...'

Approximate Word count = 728
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels

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