Geoffrey Chaucer The Canterbury Tales

Chaucer Born between Son of a prosperous wine merchant Had a workable knowledge of French, Latin, and Italian He fought in The Hundred Years War, married, had a few children, had connections with some important people, and lived a normal life. He was also fairly affluent.

Chaucer- continued Chaucer began writing The Canterbury Tales when he was near forty years old, and he died before finishing the work. As we discussed in our study of the history of the English language, most of the court (and the scholars) were using Anglo-Norman French and Latin at this time, and Chaucer saw a need for the common man to have a voice– a need for the English peoples to have their literature in the language of the country.

The Language What language was being spoken in Britain at the time of Chaucer? How might it be frustrating for the common man? Why choose to write in English? What are the characteristics of Middle English?

The Premise of Canterbury Tales Written in Middle English, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales follow the story of a group of twenty-nine pilgrims who are travelling the long journey from London to Canterbury Cathedral. Setting off from a London inn, the innkeeper suggests that during the journey each pilgrim should tell two tales (on the way there and two on the way back) to help pass the time on the road. The best storyteller, he says, will be rewarded with a free supper on his return.

Why visit St. Thomas Becket? St. Thomas Becket Animation Video

Frame Narrative The piece is written as a frame narrative. What does that mean? Define the term. How might the Frame Narrative work in the context (knowing as much as you do right now)?

Here is a picture of a 1476 printing of C.T.

First Look at Chaucer’s Middle English Whan that Aprille, with hise 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; 5 Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth Inspired hath in every holt and heeth The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne Hath in the Ram his halfe cours yronne, And smale foweles maken melodye, 10 That slepen al the nyght with open eye- 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 Caunturbury they wende, The hooly blisful martir for the seke That hem hath holpen, whan that they were seeke.

Modern Translation When April with his showers sweet with fruit The drought of March has pierced unto the root And bathed each vein with liquor that has power To generate therein and sire the flower; 5 When Zephyr also has, with his sweet breath, Quickened again, in every holt and heath, The tender shoots and buds, and the young sun Into the Ram one half his course has run, And many little birds make melody 10 That sleep through all the night with open eye (So Nature pricks them on to ramp and rage)- Then do folk long to go on pilgrimage, And palmers to go seeking out strange strands, To distant shrines well known in sundry lands. 15 And specially from every shire's end Of England they to Canterbury wend, The holy blessed martyr there to seek

The Sound of Chaucer’s English Remember that Chaucer is writing in a London Dialect of Middle English. Youtube Reading of the first 18 lines First 18 Lines-- Rap Prologue Line

The Estates Medieval society was divided into estates (like social classes); these states are obviously gender specific– men only! – First estate– the clergy (men who prayed) – Second estate- the nobility (men who fought) – Third estate- the peasantry (everyone else) – Bu the time of Chaucer, both a mercantile estate and an intellectual estate were beginning to form.

Estates-- continued Women were divided into separate estates; determined not by her profession, but by her relationship with a man. – Virgin – Wife – Widow

Satire What is satire? – a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn; or trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly How might Chaucer’s General Prologue, in which he describes the pilgrims, act as a satire? If it is a satire of the estates, what could be Chaucer’s purpose? Can satire bring about change?

Look for this: What is the usefulness of this situation to Chaucer? (What sort of people went on pilgrimages?) From what walks of life do the pilgrims come? Note that Chaucer takes care to include representatives of all three traditional "male"and "female" estates (the Wife of Bath represents both "wife" and "widow," while the Prioress, a nun, is presumably a virgin). Look for an idealized portrait of each of the traditional (male) "estates." Which portraits are satirical? Note also the portraits representing two new groups that were gaining prominence in the fourteenth century: the middle class and intellectuals (people trained as "clerks" -- i.e."clerics" -- but who are not destined to a career within the church). Which pilgrims represent these new classes?Pay attention to the pilgrim portraits. As you read the various portraits, pick out a key word or phrase to describe each pilgrim. Note that physical details frequently provide insight into character (in medieval times, physiognomy was believed to be revealing of character. What do the descriptions reveal about the pilgrims' characters? Which figures are painted in a positive or in a negative light?