The Franklin's Tale
A knight named Arviragus marries the beautiful Dorigen, who loves him deeply. He promises her that he will never exert mastery over her, valuing her freedom. Their life together is blissful until Arviragus departs for England, leaving Dorigen in despair. She mourns his absence, and her friends attempt to console her, but her sorrow remains. While walking by the sea, Dorigen expresses her frustration with the dangerous rocks that threaten ships, wishing they would disappear. Aurelius, a squire who secretly loves Dorigen, overhears her lament and vows to win her love by magically removing the rocks. He seeks the help of a magician, who agrees to perform the task for a hefty fee. Aurelius successfully creates the illusion that the rocks have vanished, and Dorigen, believing her promise to Aurelius is now valid, is confronted by him. She is horrified to realize the implications of her earlier words and feels trapped between her loyalty to Arviragus and her promise to Aurelius. Dorigen confesses her predicament to Arviragus upon his return. He, displaying remarkable nobility, encourages her to honor her promise to Aurelius, demonstrating his understanding of love and honor. However, Aurelius, upon learning of Dorigen's loyalty to her husband, selflessly releases her from her promise, valuing her fidelity over his desires. In the end, Arviragus and Dorigen reaffirm their love, living happily together, while Aurelius, though heartbroken, is left with a sense of honor for his actions. The tale concludes with a reflection on the nature of true nobility and the complexities of love and loyalty.
By Geoffrey Chaucer · First published 1405 · Genre: Romance, Allegory, Medieval Literature · 13,238 words
First lines
The Prologue [3205]
[3205]: Apply himself. ↩︎
What this Textopian page supports
The Franklin's Tale is listed on Textopian as a novel by Geoffrey Chaucer, dated 1405 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Geoffrey Chaucer
- Date: 1405 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Allegory, Medieval Literature, Narrative Poetry, Comedy
- Length: 13,238 words
- Structure: 1 section, 681 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Franklin's Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Franklin's Tale?
- How does this novel by Geoffrey Chaucer fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Lais by Marie De France
- The Clerks Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer
- The Squires Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer
- The Shipmans Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer
- The Wife Of Baths Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer
- The Knights Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer
Genres
- Romance — The central plot revolves around love, fidelity, and the complexities of romantic relationships.
- Allegory — The tale explores deeper moral and philosophical themes through symbolic characters and situations.
- Medieval Literature — It reflects the social and cultural context of the medieval period, including chivalry and courtly love.
- Narrative Poetry — The story is presented in verse form, characteristic of Chaucer's poetic style.
Tags
Medieval Literature · Chivalric Romance · Courtly Love · Marriage · Fidelity · Loyalty · Honor · Pride · Humility · Morality Tale · Moral Lesson · Social Commentary