The Abbot Of Canturbury 716c4v

SUMMARY OF THE ABBOT OF CANTURBURY INTRODUCTION: The Abbot of Canterbury, included in our book, is a ballad. Ballad s have crude language because fine writing would not be suitable for the telling of this straightforward and amusing folk story. King John ruled England from 11 99 to 1219, was a very unpleasant man and a thoroughly bad kind. INTRODUTION OF POEM: The Abbot of Canterbury is a ballad of unknown poet telling an ancient story consisting of 100 lines of regular rhythm. SUMMARY: There was a king of England whose name was King John. He ruled England very cruelly and he always did the wrong thing. Once he came to know that there was an Abbot of Canterbury who was leading life better than the king. He had one hundred servants and each one there wore fifty gold chains and velvet coat. The y where always ready to serve the Abbot. For very minor things they used to go t o the city of London. This way of leading life angered the king and his sent for the Abbot to explain his position before the king. The Abbot said to him that he was spending the mon ey so luxuriously because he had inherited a lot of money from his fore fathers. The king disbelieved him and charged him to be a traitor. The king said to Abbot that his life and properties would be confiscated by the government if he could not answer his three questions. There was given three wee ks time to answer those questions. The first question was what his worth and value was when he was having such a pr ecious crown on his head. The second question was how soon he could make the journey of the whole world. The third question was that he was thinking at that time when he was talking to the Abbot of Canterbury. After listening three questions the Abbot was very much confuse. He confessed th at he had no mind to answer those difficult questions. He went to many universit ies but no one was able to answer him. Then the shepherd of the Abbot offered him that he would imposter the Abbot prod ded he was given the relevant dress of the Abbot. In reply to the first question he said that his value was twenty-nine pence. In response to the second question he said if he rose with the sun and rode with th e same he would complete the journey of the world in 24 hours. In response to th e third question he said that he thinking that he was talking to the Abbot by he was not the Abbot but the shepherd. The king was very happy, he rewarded him an d pardoned the Abbot. Lines An ancient story

.maintained little right

REFERENCE: These lines have been taken from the poem, poet of this poem is unknown.

The Abbot of Canterbury . The

CONTEXT: This poem is a typical ballad of the south of England. The authorship o f the poem is unknown. Through the dictum of the poem is old, yet it attracts th e modern readers. In this poem, the poet tells us a story of a king of England, Kind John, who was envious of the Abbot of Canterbury and wanted to find an excuse to put him to d eath. He sent for him to his court and asked him three questions which were too hard for Abbot s shallow wit. The king told the Abbot that if he failed to answer

those questions his head would be cut off from his body and his property would b e confiscated. The king gave him the time of three weeks to find the answers of those three questions. The Abbot rode for and wide in search of the answers of t hose questions, but on one was able to answer him. At last, on his return the up set Abbot told shepherd the whole story. Then the shepherd of the Abbot offered him that he would imposter the Abbot provided that he was given the relevant dre ss of the Abbot. He went to the court of King in disguise as the Abbot and answe red the questions. The king got happy, spared the life of the Abbot and awarded the shepherd. EXPLANATION: In these lines the poet says that he is going to tell us a story of a famous king. His name was King John. He ruled England with main and might. He was wicked and cruel king. He cared little for right and justice and practiced many wrongs. Lines And I ll tell

..London town

EXPLANATION: In these lines the poet tells us an amusing story about the Abbot o f Canterbury. He was famous for his grand and glorious housekeeping. The King ha d also heard of it. He (the king) summoned him from the big London town. Lines An hundred man

..my crown

EXPLANATION: In these lines we are told that some conspirators poisoned king s ear s against the Abbot of Canterbury. They informed his that the Abbot had grown ri ch and entertained hundreds of men in his house everyday. He had fifty attendant s with gold chains and in velvet coats who waited for him. Owing to his deluxe a nd opulent style of living, the kind got alarmed and sent for him to his court. The poet further says that when the Abbot was brought before the king he demande d him an explanation for what he had heard. He (the king) blamed him that he as gaining fame among the people and collecting wealth. His maintenance of house wa s better than that of king. The king feared that the Abbot was hatching a plot again his crown. Lines My liege

..thy body

EXPLANATION: In these lines the poet says that the Abbot of Canterbury humbly ad dressed the king and said that he had spent nothing but whatever was his own. He believed that the king would do him no harm for spending his honestly earned mo ney. We are further told that the king was not satisfied with the explanation of the Abbot and said that his crime was high for which he should be put to death. However, he could escape death if he answered his three questions. But, if he f ailed to answer those three questions, his head would be cut off from his body. Lines And first

..I do think

EXPLANATION: In these lines the s worth was when he was sitting econdly, he asked how much time irdly, the king asked the About inking at that moment. Lines O these

king asked the Abbot to tell him firstly what hi on his throne with the gold crown on his head. S it would take him to travel around the world. Th to tell him fearlessly what he (the king) was th

forfeit to me

EXPLANATION: In these lines the Abbot told the king that those were difficult qu

estions for his little intelligence. He also said that he could not answer those questions there and then, but only if he was given the time for three weeks, he would try his best to answer those questions properly. The poet further says t hat the king granted the Abbot of Canterbury his request for three week s time. He also told the Abbot that probably that would be the longest time he had to live . He further warned the Abbot that if he failed to answer his questions, his ent ire land and property would be confiscated and that he would be put to death for his crime. Lines Away rode

King John

EXPLANATION: In these lines we are told that after listening to the decision of the king and his ultimate fate, the Abbot was disappointed. He went to Cambridge and Oxford. He met may wise men there, but, despite their learning, none of the m was intelligent enough to point out the proper answer to the King s questions. D isappointed and confused, the Abbot returned his home. On his way back home, the Abbot met his shepherd who was going to the fold. He (shepherd) greeted the Abb ot and asked him what news he had brought from King John. Lines Sad new

..your quarrel

EXPLANATION: In these lines the poet says that the Abbot told the shepherd that he had brought a sad news that he had only three days more to live in this world . If he failed to answer the three questions of the king, his head would be cut off from his body. After listening to the sad news, shepherd asked the Abbot if had not heard that a fool could teach a wise man wisdom. He told the Abbot to be happy and requested him to lend him his horse, serving men and his clothing. He would go to London to answer his problem. Lines Nay, frown not

..saved shall be

EXPLANATION: In these lines the poets tells us that the About agreed with the sh epherd s suggestion. He gave him his brave and gallant men dressed hi their proper uniform. He gave him his crozer, a stick carried by a bishop, mitre, a tall cap worn by clergymen, rochet, a gown and cope, clock worn over the rochet. The Abb ot gave him all his clothes and articles so that he must look exactly like a rea l Abbot. After getting dressed like the Abbot, shepherd appeared before the king . The king could not recognize him and he addressed the shepherd, Sir Abbot . The k ing appreciated that he had returned on the decided day to keep his promise. But he reminded him once again that his life and property would be saved only if he could answer his three questions. Lines For thirty

than He

EXPLANATION: In these lines the poet says that the shepherd told the king that J esus Christ ws sold among the false Jews only for thirty pence. Therefore, the w orth of king must be twenty-nine pence for he was one penny less that Jesus Chri st. Lines The King laughed

this whole world about

EXPLANATION: On listening to his the king laughed and swearing by the Saint Bitt le said that he had never thought his cost could be so little. The, the asked th e second question how much time it would take him to travel around the world.

Lines You must rise

you will ride it about

EXPLANATION: In these lines the poet says that the shepherd answered the second question and said that if the king rose with the sun and started travelling with it till it rose again the next morning. In this way, he could complete his trav el around the whole world just in twenty-four hours. Lines The King he laughed

..

.

..I do think

EXPLANATION: In these lines the poet the second question the king laughed rd that he had never thought that he he put his third question before the about at that time. Lines Yes that shall

says that after listening to the answer to and swore by Saint John and told the shephe could ride around the world so soon. Then, shepherd and asked him what he was thinking

.nor read

EXPLANATION: In these lines the poet tells us that in reply to the third questio n, the shepherd told the king that he would surely do and would amuse his excell ence. He answered the king that he was thinking him the About of Canterbury whil e he was his poor shepherd who had disguised as the Abbot. The shepherd begged t he king s pardon for the Abbot and for himself. Having listened to the answer to t he third question the king was very pleased and laughed once again. Taking anoth er oath, he told the shepherd that he would, there and then, appoint him as the Abbot in place of his master. But, the shepherd requested hi not to take any suc h decision in haste, for he was uneducated and was not fit to perform the duties of the Abbot. Lines Four nobles

.

.King John

EXPLANATION: In these lines the poet says that after coming to know that the she pherd was uneducated and was not fit to replace the Abbot, the king rewarded him with four nobles a week, he, the king, further told the shepherd to convey this good news to the Abbot when he returned home that the king had pardoned him.