What is ironic in the words used by the narrator to describe the Summoner in “The Prologue” to The Canterbury Tales?You’d meet none better if you went to find one. / Why, he’d allow—just for a quart of wine— / Any good lad to keep a concubine. (ll. 666–668)
The irony in the words used by the narrator to describe the Summoner in "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales is that the narrator suggests that the Summoner is an expert at finding individuals who are morally corrupt or sinful. However, at the same time, the Summoner himself is engaging in immoral behavior by accepting bribes of wine to overlook the wrongdoings of others.
The irony in the words used by the narrator to describe the Summoner in "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales is that the narrator is being sarcastic and critical of the Summoner's character. The narrator states that you wouldn't find a better Summoner if you looked for one, implying that the Summoner is not actually a good person despite the initial compliment. The irony is further highlighted when the narrator mentions that the Summoner would allow any young man to keep a concubine just for a quart of wine, suggesting that the Summoner is corrupt and easily bribed.
In "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales, the narrator uses ironic words to describe the Summoner. The irony lies in the contrast between the narrator's seemingly high praise and the actual behavior of the Summoner.
To identify the irony in these lines, we must first understand the context. The Summoner is a character who serves as an official in the medieval legal system, specifically dealing with ecclesiastical offenses. However, the Summoner in this tale is depicted as corrupt and immoral.
The irony lies in the narrator's statement, "You'd meet none better if you went to find one." On the surface, this phrase appears to be praise for the Summoner, suggesting that he is at the top of his profession. However, the irony becomes evident when we realize that the Summoner's behavior is far from commendable. So, the use of "none better" is ironic because the Summoner is actually morally questionable.
The irony is further emphasized in the following lines, "Why, he'd allow—just for a quart of wine— / Any good lad to keep a concubine." Here, the narrator suggests that the Summoner would be lenient in allowing someone to keep a mistress in exchange for a small quantity of wine. This not only reveals the Summoner's moral corruption but also highlights the hypocrisy of his role as an official in the Church.
In summary, the irony in the words used by the narrator to describe the Summoner lies in the juxtaposition between the seemingly commendatory language and the Summoner's actual immoral behavior.