Life and Times of Geoffrey Chaucer

Learning Objective Introduce biographical details about Geoffrey Chaucer Provide historical context that may have influenced the Canterbury Tales Preview the general structure of the Canterbury Tales

Basic Facts Born 1340-1344 Died October 25,1400 His father, John Chaucer rose up the ranks as a part of the merchant class. Young Geoffrey was afforded an excellent education. As a page (later a squire) of Prince Lionel Earl of Ulster, Geoffery learned how to write verse along with French and Latin.

Basic Facts Was not interested in military career, but was captured fighting in France and ransomed. He became a civil servant after 1360. Married Phillippa Roet, whose sister, Katherine Swynford, Became the third wife of the Duke of Lancaster. Major fan of Bocaccio and Dante 1374 – became controller of customs 1385 – justice of the peace

Historical Context: Middle Ages Medieval Literary time period: 5th century - 15th century 100 years war: 1337 – 1453 Black death/plague: 1340 Papal Schism: 1378 – 1417 Peasants revolt of 1381 – Richard the II. Archbishop of Canterbury killed.

Rebel Religion Rise of lollardy/wycliffism: considered heritics/unorthodox John Wycliffe Bible should be in English 1409 – heretics burned at the stake Did not believe in transubstantiation (body and blood of Christ) Sacraments not that important

The Canterbury Tales Shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury is a major Catholic site. Many Catholics would make a pilgrimage to the church and ask for forgiveness (pay for sins) Twenty-nine pilgrims meet at the Tabard Inn in Soutwark, south of the Thames River.

The Canterbury Tales Framed Narrative: The general prologue creates a structure for all the tales. Each pilgrim tells two tales going to Canterbury and two on the way back. Types of tales: Romance, fables, Saints’ Lives, beasts epics, and fabuleux Only twenty-four, or twenty-three and a half tales actually told Chaucer's main influence was Boccaccio's Decameron

Romance Stories of adventure about knights and chivalry Courtly love: Celebrates the love of a knight, usually for a married woman. Thus, it is often adulterous and secretive. Knights are so madly in love with these women that it consumes their thoughts. Knights try to do many great deeds in hopes of winning their love.

Fabliaux Audience: middle class men Risqué tales that usually satirize women and clergy Lots of obscenity; people act like animals as opposed to chivalric romance jealous husband who loses sexual possession of his wife wife who outsmarts her husband corrupt members of the church

Frame tale: Literary Devices Narrative technique whereby a main story is composed, at least in part, for the purpose of organizing a set of shorter stories, each of which is a story within a story.

Other Important Points Vernacular theology: Stories written and recited in the language of the people. These stories told moral tales that explained the rules of Catholicism outside of the church.

Some of the characters The host of the tavern or innkeeper is the man who suggests that the pilgrims each tell a story on the way to entertain the group. Chaucer intended for each to tell 2 stories, but he only got to write one apiece.

Meet the Pilgrims Upper class (Knight, Squire, church people); Pilgrims span the whole range of the unofficial middle class. Groups represented are: Upper class (Knight, Squire, church people); Learned professions (Physician, Man of Law); Landed gentry (Franklin); Medieval manor people (Miller, Reeve); Mercantile class (Shipman, Merchant); Guildsmen (Haberdasher, Dyer, etc.); Laborer (Plowman).

Themes Christianity Quitting Sex and Adultery Justice and Judgement The Prevalence of Courtly Love Companionship Corruption of the Church

Symbols Springtime : Beginnings, sexuality (causing a new life) Physiognomy : The Wife of Bath's gap teeth are a symbol of sexuality The Pardoner's beady eyes and long, limp hair are symbols of duplicity or deceitfulness. Broad, earthy features like the Miller's symbolize lower-class status.  Clothing&hairstyles : Possession & lack of money Pilgrimage : The journal from life to heaven