2. CONSIDER THE PERSONALITY OF THIS FEMALE FIGURE.
a) What do the following facts suggest about her?
- She keeps two dogs against the church rules: she was full of charity and pity
- She wears a golden brooch with a motto about love: she was all sensitivity and tender heart
b) Describe other aspects of the Prioress’ personality. You can use words from the text but you will also have to make inferences from what the poet says about her.
She was cultured, religious, sensitive and tender heart.

3. FOCUS ON THE LANGUAGE.
a) Look at the choice of words and details used in the portrait and decide if it is a realistic or idealised description. Support your answer with quotations.
I think that it could be a realistic description, because when the poet speaks about her sensibility, he provides readers with the example of the mouse caught in a trap and I think that it is not difficult to find people that would do the same thing (she would weep).
b) The poet’s tone of voice in the description is gently ironic. Which of the following devices does Chaucer use to convey his irony? Give examples from the text.
- He says something about the object of irony while he means quite a different thing.
- He uses hyperbole, that is, he points out exaggerated attributes or details of the object of irony.
- He points out some aspects which are different from what one would expect in reality.

4. HERE IS A LIST OF FREQUENT THEMES IN THE CANTERBURY TALES. WHICH OF THEM CAN YOU RECOGNIZE IN THIS PORTRAIT?
- Religion: Yes
- Class pride: Yes
- Platonic love: No
- Feminism and marriage: No
- Sensual love: Yes
- Anti-Feminism: No
- Avarice: No
- Hypocrisy: Yes