Question

His tippet was stuck always full of knives

And pins, to give to young and pleasing wives.
And certainly he kept a merry note:
Well could he sing and play upon the rote.
At balladry he bore the prize away.
His throat was white as lily of the May;
Yet strong he was as ever champion.
In towns he knew the taverns, every one,
And every good host and each barmaid too-
Better than begging lepers, these he knew.

Which best identifies what makes this passage ironic?

A. As a member of clergy, The friar is expected to beg on behalf of the poor.

B.As a member of clergy, The Friar is an example of Christian values.

C.The Friar’s friendliness with members of general society causes him to lose his objectivity when people confess to him.

D.It is expected that The Friar would be taken care of as a member of clergy.

Answer 1

B. As a member of clergy, The Friar is an example of Christian values.

Step-by-step explanation:

Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" is a collection of tales told by the pilgrims to pass the time during their journey. The collection of tales include tales told by different people from different walks of life, from a knight to a monk to a priest.

In the given excerpt from the Prologue, the narrator sarcastically mentions how the friar would be 'clothed' in jewels and material things, while also frequenting "taverns". This passage is ironic because as a member of the clergy, the Friar is supposed to be an example of Christian values. But instead of exhibiting a good example, he does the opposite. He gets involved more in taverns and barmaids while he's supposed to help lepers and poor people.

Thus, the correct answer is option B.