The Franklin attempts to adopt the form of the traditional Breton Lay, telling a story of romance concerned with human relationships and social order. To some extent he succeeds, but in some aspects the Franklin, who I am sure has best interests at heart, fails miserably. The Franklin, in his prologue, tells the rest of the company that he 'lerned nevere rethorik'. He does not know how to use figures of speech and that the …showed first 75 words of 1586 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1586 total…and in which precedents' are set? The Franklin's tale creates a doubt of what boundaries one should create for love, marriage, honour and chivalry. It leaves the ready with an ambiguous feeling of what the Franklin is actually trying to do. Does he create the problems that arise on purpose in order to make his point, or is unconscious of the fact that his tale is counterproductive and doing the opposite of what he intends?