Lesson 34
Complaint to His Purse
1. Describe the form called rime royal: meter, rhyme scheme, stanza form.
Meter- decameter (iambic-pentameter)
Rhyme scheme- ababbcc
Stanza form- three sestets followed by one quintet
2. What is the structure of the poem? How do imagery and argument of each stanza develop and intensify the appeal?
The poem is created as to develop the theme over time more and more. In the first stanza Chaucer begs for money from the Lady or Queen. In the second stanza Chaucer speaks of the golden yellow shimmer of the golden coins in the purse and how it is his supply of life, “Or see youre colour, lik the sonne bright” In the third stanza Chaucer speaks of how if he cannot get money if he can at least escape “Out of this towne helpe me thurgh your might.” In the final stanza Chaucer wraps up the poem by begging the Queen for help to escape his debt (supplication). “And ye, that mowen alle aoure harmes amende, / Have minde upon my supplicacioun.” Chaucer is pleading to the all powerful monarch to help him, the people.
3. In exploring the extended metaphor of the poem, consider how diction accounts for the humor of Chaucer’s parody.
Chaucer sees the Queen as a purse, full of money that needs spending. “To you, my purs, complaine I…” He says “Beeth heavy again” This statement refers to not only the weight of the gold in the purse but also the physical condition of the royal. While the people are struggling to get by, the kings and queens are profiting huge sums from the peasants and plebian. Even though the Queen is all powerful through the poem Chaucer looks down upon the nobility. He pokes fun at them by exaggerating his condition and creating a joke out of his monetary appearance, “For I am shave as neigh as any frère. “Ye purs, that been to me my lives light / and saviour, s in this world down here…” The Queen is a god on earth because of her wealth and power. This is poking fun at the Queen because god is all powerful without money or gold.
4. How does the envoy of a poem continue the tone of the poem even as it addresses a specific person?
It states that King Henry IV is powerful and victorious. It is a plea from Chaucer to the King to reclaim his control over his conquered land and fix the problems of his people quite specifically Chaucer’s. “Have mind upon my supplicacion.”
