These are my learning objectives for the analyzing the Summoner's Tale

1. The satire of religion is important in this tale. The summoner gives a good satire of religion that points out many flaws with the friar

2. The irony within this tale plays a major role in progressing its point.

3. This tale fits in well with the irony of the pardoner's tale. They both have different types of irony and use that to get their message across

4. This tale is a revenge tale for the Friar. Is it successful in embarrassing the friar?

5. One of the paramount details within the Canterbury tales is the portraits of the characters. How people are visually described gives insight into their thoughts, personalities, and tales. We want to use this visual rhetoric within the Canterbury Tales to help us analyze the story

The Summoner uses his tale to basically hate on the Friar's views of religion, (The real Friar). The Summoner tells the Friar that his views are completely wrong with his tale. The Friar (in the Tale) is supposed to be a pious man who prays for all, but instead he only seeks personal gain and material goods. The Summoner relates his views on the Friar to all of the Friars and how their views on religion are not the proper way to get into heaven. Chaucer uses the Summoner's Tale as a way to satirize the organized religions of the time.

The Summoner tells this tale because he wants revenge on the Friar. The summoner was offended by the Friar's tale about a terrible and stupid summoner, so he decided to make the Friar look bad by telling his own tale. We can see how good he is at this in different lines throughout the tale.

"Show forth thine arse, and let the friar see
Where is the nest of friars in this place." ll 1690-91

The Summoner has a prologue to his tale where he describes a scene from hell. this particular excerpt is where Satan lifts up his tail and shows the nest of the friars as being underneath his "arse". Basically since all dogs go to heaven, all friars go to hell.

"In hopè for to finden there a gift. And when this sickè man felt this frere About his towel gropen there and here Amid his hand he let the friar a fart" ll. 2146-49

This is when the Thomas gets his revenge on the Friar for being a huge jerk and lecturing Thomas for an eternity. This is the revenge in the actual tale.

Irony in this tale is very prominent. There are not many things that happen as they would be expected to. The fart, the personality of the friar, and the teachings of the friar are all great ironies. They are all examples of situational irony. Irony is what drives the humor of this tale. Irony is important to this tale because it helps to aid with the other themes that are in play, Revenge and Satire.

How does the irony in the Pardoner's Tale compare with the irony in the Summoner's Tale?

Both:
Situational Irony
Character's Irony

Summoner:
Irony about religion

Pardoner:
Irony about Death