# The Friar's Tale explained — The Canterbury Tales

> Chapter companion for The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.

## What happens

The Friar tells a tale about a summoner who is corrupt and makes a pact with the devil, only to be dragged to hell. The story criticizes the hypocrisy and corruption within the church, particularly among summoners.

## Themes in this chapter

### Corruption and Hypocrisy in the Church

The tale exposes the corruption of summoners who exploit their authority for profit, contrasting with their supposed role as enforcers of church law.

### Sin and Redemption

The summoner's unrepentant sin leads to his damnation, highlighting the consequences of moral failure.

## Character check-ins

### Friar

The narrator of the tale, who uses the story to criticize summoners.

### The Sompnour

The corrupt summoner in the tale who makes a pact with the devil.

## Key lines

> The Frere well knew that a summoner was a runner up and down, and a bearer of citations, and a bringer of summonses, and a taker of bribes.

The Friar knew that a summoner was someone who ran around delivering citations and summonses, and who took bribes.

_The Friar describes the typical corrupt behavior of summoners._

> And so befell that on a day this summoner rode forth to summon a poor widow, and he met with a yeoman, who was a fiend in disguise.

One day, the summoner went to summon a poor widow and met a yeoman who was actually a devil in disguise.

_The summoner unknowingly makes a pact with the devil._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/chapters/the-friar-s-tale
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/chapters