1340(CA)-1400 The Age of Geoffrey Chaucer

Religious Influences Church Power in the Middle Ages  Primary landowners in Britain  Had the ability to levy taxes and influence the creation of secular laws and impose Church laws. Saint Thomas à Becket Controversy  Henry II ( )Named his friend Becket the Archbishop of Canterbury, despite qualifications and concerns of his advisors  After instatement, Becket changed his allegiance and lifestyle, which led to conflict with Henry II and Becket’s martyrdom.

Pilgrimages Pilgrimages (trips to holy places) were important at this time, and many people made pilgrimages to the shrine of St. Thomas à Becket (the place where he was killed). That’s where the travelers in Canterbury Tales are going.

Feudal System

Cultural Influences The “Black Death”  Outbreak of the Bubonic Plague in Europe in 1347, which resulted in a great loss of life across the continent.  It hit Britain in 1349 and resulted in the death of about one third of the population.  Everyone was susceptible, but the lower classes suffered the greatest losses in terms of numbers. This is probably due to the poorer living conditions and greater exposure to rats and fleas.

Effects of the Black Death The Decline of the Feudal System  Growth of the Middle Class and increased social mobility due to large loss of life.  Serfs (agricultural laborers bound to work their lords’ estates) move to estates and towns. Increase of violence and interest in violence  Because of the large numbers of lives lost, people became desensitized.  Art and literature frequently mirror society, so it reflects this coarse outlook, both in humor and content.

Chaucer’s Career Poet patronized by royalty  Prince John of Gaunt  Son of Edward III  Uncle of Richard II  Father of Henry IV  His wife’s sister became John of Gaunt’s third wife.  Family was intertwined with the royal family. Primary careers  Soldier  British Ambassador, traveled extensively in France and Italy.  Justice of the Peace in Kent  Member of the Parliament of Kent  Wrote in addition to other work.

Literary Significance “The Father of English Literature”  The Canterbury Tales feature almost every type of Medieval narrative Development of Language  Wrote in Middle English  Extensive writing led to standard language, which developed into Modern English

The Canterbury Tales Cross-section of Medieval British society. Tales told by members of clergy, nobility, working class, knights, men and women.

The Frame Story Story that allows for telling of other stories or tales within the plot.  Chaucer originally planned to write 120 tales for his Canterbury Tales, but died after writing only 24.

Chivalric Code (followed by knights) To fear God and maintain His Church To serve the liege lord in valor and faith To protect the weak and defenseless To give succor to widows and orphans To refrain from the wanton giving of offense To live by honor and for glory To despise pecuniary reward To fight for the welfare of all To obey those placed in authority

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