The Canterbury Tales · Chapter
The Sompnour's Tale explained
The Sompnour tells a tale of a friar who preaches against anger and then becomes enraged himself, exposing the hypocrisy of the church through a story of a corrupt summoner who is tricked by a cunning friar.
What happens
The Sompnour tells a tale of a friar who preaches against anger and then becomes enraged himself, exposing the hypocrisy of the church through a story of a corrupt summoner who is tricked by a cunning friar.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This passage marks the story's dramatic climax because it shifts the focus from the external, ritualistic acts…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Corruption and Hypocrisy in the Church
The tale exposes the hypocrisy of both friars and summoners, showing how religious figures abuse their power.
- Sin and Redemption
The friar's anger and the summoner's greed highlight the failure to achieve true penitence.
Characters to notice
- The Sompnour
Tells a tale that mocks friars, continuing the quarrel with the Friar.
- Friar
The target of the Sompnour's tale, representing clerical hypocrisy.
- Our Host
Intervenes to mediate the quarrel between the Friar and the Sompnour.
Key passages
“The Sompnour’s Tale”
The Summoner tells a story about a friar.
This is the title of the chapter, indicating the tale is told by the Summoner.
