Rache Writes

For this section, I chose the beginning of The Priest who Learned to be a Philosopher, found in The Chaucer Story Book by Eva March Tappan . The story begins with a priest who had no church, but instead would spend his time in singing masses for the dead. He stayed with a dame and was so helpful that she bought his food and clothes for him. Because of this, he always had a decent amount of money. One day, a man asked him for a loan for three days. The man thanked him and brought the priest his money back in a timely manner. The man then wanted to be generous back to the priest since he was generous to him. He said he would teach the priest how he works in philosophy. He begins to show the priest how he will turn quicksilver into malleable pure silver, and demands everyone else be sent away so as to not learn the secrets. ( Illustration of the Canterbury Tales Pilgrims )

I'm taking notes on the beginning of The Unknown Bride in the Canterbury Tales, found in the Chaucer Story Book by Eva March Tappan . It begins by describing a land of fairies and fairy rings long ago where the story takes place. A knight in King Arthur's court had disrespected a woman, and according to the law, should be put to death. However, the court ladies all liked him and begged that he may live. King Arthur finally said the matter would be left to the Queen. The Queen said he could live, but on one condition. In a year, he must tell her what women wish for most. The knight travelled and asked many women what they wished for most, but no two answers were the same. He had run out of time, so he decided to ask a group of women he saw at a distance. By the time he got there, only one elderly woman remained. She agreed to tell him the answer if he would do the first thing she asked of him, and he agreed. ( King Arthur )

I didn't get a chance to finish last week's reading, so I figured I'd do it now. This time I want to focus on The Arrival of the Dragon from Beowulf, written by Strafford Riggs . This part of the story comes after a gap in Beowulf's timeline, where we don't know much of what happens to him. He lives safely in Geatsland and his uncle, Hygelac, welcomed him in the court. However, Hygelac soon died in battle and his son became king. His son did not live long, and then Beowulf became king. Geatsland was prosperous in this time, and Beowulf aged well. He was famous among his people and feared by his rivals. One night, a dirty visitor entered the dining hall. They almost threw him out on appearance alone, but one man thought he should stay. He took the visitor to Beowulf. The visitor explained that he was an escaped slave who came across a dragon, and the dragon was surrounded by gold and jewels. When Beowulf angrily questioned him, the slave showed a golden je...