The Canterbury Tales - The General Prologue: Basing your answer on two portraits from The General Prologue, discuss Chaucer's presentation of characters associated with the church.

... Ruth Norris The General Prologue: Basing your answer on two portraits from The General Prologue, discuss Chaucer's presentation of characters associated with the church. In your answer you should: * Explain your own views of the characters you have chosen * Look closely at the effects of language and imagery * Comment on what the portraits suggest about attitudes towards the church in Chaucer's time Throughout The General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, Chaucer portrays religious characters overall in a very negative light. Two such characters are the Friar and the Monk who both use their positions in the church for their own personal gain, neglecting their orders and taking advantage of the laity. Chaucer clearly realises the corruption of the church at this time and his portrayals of the Monk and the Friar demonstrate this. I see the Monk as a hearty man who, though he goes against his religious order, does not commit

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