Chaucer’s Canterbury tales Honors English 12

chaucer B. 1342 in London, D 1400 Became a page for a Countess and then went on to a number of government positions Strong education through these placements Widely read; understood Latin, French, Anglo-Norman, and Italian Traveled to France and Italy Studied sciences including astronomy, medicine, psychology, physics, and alchemy Idea for Canterbury Tales around 1386

The Canterbury Tales-The Manuscript Chaucer left 24 tales, not all complete (intended many more) Arranged by editors in what appears to be the right sequence judging by reference to dates and places, and the dialogues between tales Only the first four are actually consecutive Incomplete and unedited (inconsistencies)

The Canterbury Tales Pilgrims were to tell two tales on the way to Canterbury and back Pilgrimage takes up five days Irony and satire throughout Range of subject matter Written in Middle English Inconsistent spelling, as per the time period Chaucer spelled phonetically Original was in iambic pentameter

Content and sources Prologue: A portrait of all walks of life Tales This and the frame narrative for the tales are Chaucer’s. Tales Actual tales come from all over Europe Some come from oral tradition and some are more classical End in some bit of wisdom Storyteller’s job was telling, not actually writing, the story. Chaucer created the pilgrims and their trip and modified each individual tale to fit the teller.

TO set the scene April 1380s—Chaucer spends the night in the Tabard Inn in Southwark on the Thames in London From there, planned to make a pilgrimage to Canterbury to visit tomb of Thomas Becket 29 other pilgrims show up with plans for a similar trip Innkeeper (later named Harry Bailey) decides to join them, also lays out the rules: Each pilgrim will tell tales there and back. He will order and judge tales.

Thomas Becket B. 1118 in London Hired by Henry II as chancellor H named him Archbishop of Canterbury, making him the head of the Christian Church in England (Henry wanted control via a friend) Ended up clashing over policy issues Becket went into exile in France Eventually came back with support of the pope Frustrated, King Henry made a comment in front of some knights, who in turn traveled to Canterbury and murdered Becket as he prayed.

Becket, the saint Stories about curings Henry does pilgrimage to do penance Canterbury was thereafter a popular pilgrimage destination and Becket named a saint No name given in prologue—implied and inferred with “holy, blissful martyr” associated with Canterbury Likely that Becket stood out to Chaucer who had his own issues with the British royalty (named to and dismissed from positions according to friendships)

14th Century Christianity in England Protestant Reformation hadn’t happened yet Still Catholic Pope leads through network of archbishops, bishops, and priests Great Schism—French cardinals don’t like a new pope, so they elect their own. 1375-1400 (when Chaucer was writing) two popes One of many issues with Church

The prologue 1. Introductory description-Spring 2. Gathering of the pilgrims 3. Descriptions of (most) pilgrims (by narrator, referred to as Chaucer) 4. Chaucer’s disclaimer: says he can’t be held responsible for content of tales and for correctly identifying the rank of the teller 5. Introduction of the host (innkeeper) 6. The next day—journey begins, along with first tale…

Pilgrims Knight Merchant Parson Squire (son of knight) Clerk Plowman Yeoman (servant) Sergeant of Law Franklin Miller Prioress Five Guildsmen (not described) Manciple Nun (not described) Reeve Cook Nun’s Priest (not described) Shipman Summoner Monk Doctor Pardoner Friar Wife of Bath MIDDLE CLASS CLERGY RASCALS OF THE BUNCH *Each teller’s tale is meant to fit his class, education, marital status, personal interests, and relationships with other pilgrims.

Before we get started… The four humors The seven deadly sins

Works Cited Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. Ed. Peter G. Beidler. New York: Bantam Books, 1964. Print.