The Friar as False Apostle: Antifraternal Exegesis and the 'Summoner's Tale'

Author / Editor
Szittya, Penn R.

Title
The Friar as False Apostle: Antifraternal Exegesis and the 'Summoner's Tale'

Published
Studies in Philology 71 (1974): 19-46.

Description
Identifies allusions in SumT to biblical passages that were used by fraternal orders and criticized in antifraternal commentary. The allusions, which engage a "theological controversy well known in Chaucer's time," satirize friars' hypocritical claims to apostolic and Pentecostal associations, excoriated by William of St. Amour ("De Periculus") and others; they help to integrate the fart-wheel scene with the rest of the tale and exemplify how Chaucer creates comedy through learned materials.

Chaucer Subjects
Summoner and His Tale
Sources, Analogues, and LIterary Relations
Friar and His Tale