Summoner facts for kids
The Summoner is a character from The Canterbury Tales, a famous collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 1300s. Chaucer's tales give us a peek into what life was like in medieval England. The Summoner's job was to call people to the church court, especially if they were accused of certain offenses.
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Who Was the Summoner?
The Summoner was an important figure in his community, even though he wasn't always popular. His main role was to deliver summons, which are official notices telling people they need to appear in court. This court was run by the church and dealt with matters like marriage, wills, and moral behavior.
The Summoner's Appearance
Chaucer describes the Summoner with a striking appearance. He had a face covered in pimples, which might have made him look a bit intimidating. Despite this, he was a very distinctive character on the pilgrimage.
His Personality and Skills
Even though his looks might have been unusual, the Summoner was quite intelligent. He knew a lot about the law and how the church court worked. He was also known for speaking some Latin phrases, which was a sign of education at the time. Children in the tales were sometimes described as being afraid of him, perhaps because of his job or his appearance.
The Canterbury Tales and Medieval Life
Chaucer's work, The Canterbury Tales, is a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims traveling to Canterbury. Each character, like the Summoner, represents a different part of medieval society. Through these characters, Chaucer shows us the jobs, beliefs, and daily lives of people from that era.
Anachronism in Chaucer's Work
Sometimes, when reading old texts like Chaucer's, you might find something called an anachronism. This means something is described that doesn't quite fit the time period it's supposed to be in. For example, a writer might mention a modern invention in a story set hundreds of years ago. While Chaucer mostly kept things true to his time, scholars sometimes find small details that seem a little out of place, which can be interesting to discover.
