Halloween Participation Make-Up Work

The first 19 lines of the Prologue in The Canterbury Tales seems to start of with having a peaceful mood, but draws into a darker turn. Chaucer first talks about the budding flowers, and April showers. However, as I read down the lines, I discovered that Chaucer takes a dark turn. On line 10 Chaucer says "That sleep away the night with an open eye" shows that perhaps a person is being hunted and has to make sure that someone is not coming to kill him or it is just not a safe time. The tone of the book textually also differs from the beginning to the end of the 19 lines. Just like the mood, the tone seems to start off lovely with Chaucer describing beautiful scenery, however he throws bits and pieces of words and phrases that show a darker side. For example, on line 3, Chaucer says that "The veins are bathed in  liquor of such power". Why do veins be bathed in liquor? this might show that someone is extremely drunk but I am not entirely sure. The mood and tone for the tales are quite similar but the tone brings about a darker side.  

The Boast of Fishing

To me and my fishing counterparts, a boast on who caught the biggest fish (without letting it get away) is a status symbol. The bigger the fish, the higher the ranking and the smaller reel and rod you use the bigger the ranking. Describing a fishing “fight” to your fishing buddies and how the fish fought also brings into your status. A boast similar to this would be heard at an opening season day with hundreds of anglers or at a fishing club meet, which is much like Herot itself, where fisherman come to fish and tell old stories. Anyhow, the whole premises on how big the fish is, and how well told the story is, determines your status. Many of these terms may be unfamiliar to some, so I will have notes at the bottom explaining this.  Now for the boast.

(Assuming that a fisherman has just insulted me by saying you have never caught a solid fish, but are a foolish beginner, this is how I would respond)

                

“Ah. You say that I have caught no decent fish in my time, yet you forget about the Great Trout Opener* of ’14. When not only I landed myself a 12 lb. trout on 4 lb. test **, but that I caught three more with just a bare hook of equal size. As I recall that day, you were nothing but a pile of jackets sulking over your rod and reel, praying to God to catch a minnow. A minnow! But God would have none of your wishes, as you only ask from him and never thank God. All these great men know what a repulsive-leech you are. Three more hours passed, as all great men caught their limit, yet you sit there, empty handed, your hook rusting in the water. Finally God answered your pitiful prayer with a tap on the rod head***, but as you reeled in, you caught nothing but a wind “fish”, not even of keeper size. I had always assumed that fish loved the taste of bronze, as they were always chomping at bait, but you have proven me wrong. As I watched upon you that day, nothing but wishes you were catching. So let me ask, what did compel you to speak of such lies. Here the fish swim happily inside me while you salivate at the thought of having but a taste. I have and will always reign supreme above you, remaining to catch more fish than you, as God wants me to. If you ever speak of such filth again scrawny-one, then we shall see if trout like the taste of tongue!”

*Opener refers to the opening day of a fish season

**Test is the strength of the line. 4lb. Test can hold a 4 pound fish without breaking

***Tap on the rod head refers to the tip of the rod bending when a fish takes your bait.