The Man of Law's Tale
A wealthy merchant group from Syria travels to Rome, where they learn of the beauty and virtue of the emperor's daughter, Constance. The Sultan of Syria becomes enamored with her and decides to marry her, despite the challenges posed by their differing religions. He converts to Christianity to win her hand, and they marry with the blessing of the Pope. However, the Sultan's mother, a pagan, plots against Constance. She orchestrates a massacre at a feast, killing the Christians present, while Constance is spared and cast adrift at sea with her infant son. Miraculously, they survive and are eventually washed ashore in Northumberland, where a kind constable and his wife take them in. Constance's beauty and virtue lead to her being wrongfully accused of murder when a knight attempts to assault her and kills the constable's wife instead. Despite her innocence, she faces execution but is saved by divine intervention. The king, Allá, learns of her plight and, upon discovering her true identity, reconciles with her. Constance and Allá are reunited, and they return to England, where they live in peace. Tragically, Allá dies after a year, leaving Constance to journey back to Rome, where she finds her father and lives a life of virtue and charity. The tale concludes with a prayer for divine grace and protection for all present.
By Geoffrey Chaucer · First published 1400 · Genre: Narrative Poetry, Medieval Literature, Allegory · 17,021 words
First lines
The Prologue Our Hostë saw well that the brightë sun Th' arc of his artificial day had run The fourthë part, and half an hourë more;
And, though he were not deep expert in lore, He wist it was the eight-and-twenty day Of April, that is messenger to May;
What this Textopian page supports
The Man of Law's Tale is listed on Textopian as a novel by Geoffrey Chaucer, dated 1400 CE.
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- Work type: Novel
- Author: Geoffrey Chaucer
- Date: 1400 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Narrative Poetry, Medieval Literature, Allegory, Romance, Legal Fiction
- Length: 17,021 words
- Structure: 1 section, 930 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Man of Law's Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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- The Canterbury Tales Prologue by Geoffrey Chaucer
Genres
- Narrative Poetry — The work is written in verse and tells a story, characteristic of narrative poetry.
- Medieval Literature — It reflects the themes, values, and societal norms of the medieval period.
- Allegory — The tale contains allegorical elements, exploring moral and ethical themes through characters and events.
- Romance — The plot involves elements of love and adventure, typical of the romance genre.
Tags
Medieval Literature · English Poetry · Chaucerian Canon · Pilgrimage Theme · Christian Allegory · Feminist Criticism · Social Commentary · Courtly Love · Marriage and Family · Cultural Exchange · Travel Narrative · Historical Fiction