The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

Targets Development of literature in British historical context Elements of poetry: imagery, figures of speech, diction, structure (frame story, etc.) Stories within a story Tone: varied. 1. Comic, 2. satirical, 3. pious, 4. bawdy Voice: Chaucer himself in the persona of a naïve observer Literary characteristics of the era: 1. poetry, 2. storytelling, etc.

Targets continued Themes: 1)courtly love, 2) corruption in the Catholic church, 3) community, 4) plague, 5) feudalism Sound devices which support subject and mood: rhyme, rhythm, onomatopoeia, repetition, alliteration, assonance, and parallelism Compare to a long narrative character poem from another culture and/or era

Geoffrey Chaucer: “Father of English Poetry”

Chaucer Son of a merchant in a middle class household He became the page in a royal house, then a soldier, and eventually a diplomat and royal clerk Married a lady-in-waiting to the queen Began writing in his 20s He was considered the greatest English poet during his life Chaucer is buried in Westminster Abbey

Chaucer Son of vintner; chaussier is French for maker of footwear Held civil service positions – Served under three kings (Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV Read English, Latin, Italian, and French Died October 25, 1400; buried at Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey

Images of Chaucer

Language of Middle Ages At the time, the language of literature, science, government and religion was Latin and French Poets did not compose in English – it was considered the language of the lower classes Chaucer was the first poet to compose in the vernacular (language of the people)

Language Continued He wrote in Middle English using the heroic couplet, a pair of rhyming lines with five stressed syllables (iambic pentameter)

Religion’s importance The worries of Medieval Times – Plague – Warfare – High Infant Mortality Rate – Short Life Expectancy – …and if you were a peasant, you lived your whole life in harsh conditions About the best thing that you had to look forward to was dying and going to heaven

The beginning of a Pilgrimage A pilgrimage is a journey of spiritual significance to a holy shrine or location of significance to a person’s faith. The pilgrimage began with the brutal murder of St. Thomas Becket.

Becket was a trusted adviser and friend of King Henry II. Henry named Becket Archbishop of Canterbury.

Becket’s outspoken style angered the King. One day, Henry complained, “Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?” Three knights rode to Canterbury where they found Becket at the altar of Canterbury Cathedral.

Becket’s End On December 29, four knights arrived at Canterbury, went into the cathedral where Becket had run, and began hacking at him until they split his skull The knights had done the deed to gain favor with the king, but they fell into disgrace

Becket was murdered at the altar in Canterbury Cathedral.

The death of Becket angered the peasants who felt his Saxon heritage made him one of them.

Miracle Man There were numerous supposed miracles at the site where Becket was slain and he was canonized by the church Pilgrims transformed Canterbury Cathedral into a shrine, and Becket was a cultist figure for the entirety of the middle ages

Canterbury Cathedral became a site for pilgrims to offer prayers to St. Thomas.

Today, a modern cross made from swords marks the site of the martyrdom.

A close-up of the altar.

Canterbury Cathedral

Medieval Stained-Glass

London The Journey

Author of Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer A Prologue followed by a series of stories and linking dialogues and commentaries Each character would tell 2 stories going and 2 stories coming home Chaucer died before completing the work

An actual page from The Canterbury Tales Many of the books from this time are Illuminated Manuscripts

The Canterbury Tales Prologue Middle English 1 Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote 2 The droghte of March hath perced to the roote, 3 And bathed every veyne in swich licour 4 Of which vertu engendred is the flour; 5 Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth 6 Inspired hath in every holt and heeth 7 The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne 8 Hath in the Ram his half cours yronne, 9 And smale foweles maken melodye, 10 That slepen al the nyght with open ye 11 (So priketh hem Nature in hir corages), 12 Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages, 13 And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes, 14 To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes; 15 And specially from every shires ende 16 Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende, 17 The hooly blisful martir for to seke, 18 That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke.

Essential Terms and information Direct Characterization – Direct statements about a character, such as saying the Knight “followed chivalry,/ Truth, honor…” Indirect Characterization – Uses thoughts, actions, and dialogue to reveal a character’s personality. For example, saying “he was not gaily dressed” implies the Knight is not vain (inference you make) Inferences that you need to make are often indirect characterizations by authors. Ex: A boy walks into a store and comes out with a Redskins jacket he did not purchase. Indirect char. – he stole it. Example: A boy steals a Redskins jacket from the sports store. (author tells you that he steals. (direct Characterization.

Characterization by Chaucer job title type and color of clothing “accessories” (jewelry, pets, other portables) persona income “secrets” societal status vernacular (the way a character speaks) mode of transportation

Essential Terms and information Social Commentary – Writing that offers insight into society, its values, and its customs Satire – Writing that ridicules or holds up to contempt the faults of individuals or groups Anecdote – A brief story Frame Story – A story that is framed by another story

Medieval Class Structure The Canterbury Tales includes characters from all levels of society Each character tells a tale that is related to their place in society and/or personalities

The Aristocracy The Knight – chivalrous and honorable The Squire – a lady’s man The Prioress – a delicate, elegant, sentimental nun The Monk – a lover of hunting and fine clothing and jewelry The Friar – a “wealthy beggar” who will do anything for money

The Middle Class The Cook – a chef famous for his white sauce with an oozing sore on his leg The Skipper – a world traveler who is more like a pirate The Physician – a doctor who loved gold The Wife of Bath – a woman who has had five husbands; she is well-dressed and loves to chat

The Virtuous Lower Class The Parson – A poor but virtuous preacher; he is the model clergyman who is humble and devoted to his flock The Plowman – His brother; a hard-working man

The Degraded Lower Class The Miller – a dealer in grain who cheated people The Reeve – an old an irritable estate manager who grew rich at his job The Summoner – an officer of the church who calls people to trial; he was a scary looking drunk who could be bought off The Pardoner – a seller of religious articles who boasts of his cons

The Journey Begins Chaucer uses a religious pilgrimage to display all segments of Medieval Society. The story begins with The Prologue – Narrator, presumably, Chaucer, meets 29 other pilgrims at The Tabard Inn, located in London.

The Journey begins As the pilgrims prepare for the journey, the host of the Inn sets a challenge: – Each pilgrim is to tell 2 stories (two on the way to Canterbury and two on the way home). The person who tells the best tale will be treated to a feast hosted by the other pilgrims.

The Journey

Snapshots of an Era

Two Types of Satire Juvenalian – Formal satire in which the speaker attacks vice and error with contempt and harsh judgment. (Serious – Critical) Modest Proposal Horatian – Satire in which the voice is amazed and witty. The speaker holds up to gentle ridicule the absurdities and follies of human beings, aiming at producing in the reader, not the anger of a Juvenal, but a wry smile. Gullivers Travels (Light – Funny)

A Literary Tour

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