Question

Identify the character portrayed in these lines from "the general prologue": ful wel she soong the service divine, entuned in hir nose ful semely; and frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly, after the scole of stratford at the bowe, for frenssh of paris was to hire unknowe. at mete wel ytaught was she withalle: she leet no morsel from hir lippes falle, ne wette hir fingres in hir sauce deepe; wel coude she carye a morsel, and wel keepe that no drope ne fille upon hir brest. in curteisye was set ful muchel hir lest. (lines 123–132)

Answer 1

The character portrayed in these lines is the prioress from the Canterbury Tales. In the Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, the prioress is the picture of contradictions.  Not being what she seems, she is another example of the religious figure. Madame Eglantine is her real name, a main character in the Canterbury Tales. She has one of the long description and the fourth in the list of description. Chaucer describes her to be dainty and had funny habits. Chaucer provides her physical description and that being a religious figure instead of carrying rosary beads with a crucifix, she is very well dressed with a string of coral beads that reads "Amor Vincit Omnia". Her refinement is described as superficial.