Canterbury Tales The General Prologue

Canterbury Tales Written around 1387-1400 Written by Geoffrey Chaucer Soldier Courtier Royal emissary to Europe Controller of customs Justice of the peace Member of Parliament artist Chaucer’s background enables him to give us a rich and varied portraits of contemporaries from every walk of life Born around 1340

Prologue Chaucer has the idea to bring together 29 “sondry folk” in a pilgrimage (“by aventure [chance]”) Represent a wide range of 14th century English society Makes comprehensive study of humans Perfect way to present his irony By adventure (chance) Most of these people on the journey would never have anything to do with each other socially. Differing social classes, orders, etc. The best way for Chaucer to bring together Makes comprehensive study of humans (his favorite subject) Perfect way to present his special brand of irony

Prologue Represent a wide range of 14th century English society 3 Groups Represent: Agricultural feudalism Landownership and service Knight’s yeoman Franklin Urbanization Change in feudal structure Doctor Guildsmen The Church One of the most powerful elements in medieval soceity 9 of pilgrims belong to clergy

Prologue Each pilgrim is supposed to tell: two stories on the way to Canterbury two stories on the way back Plan proposed by Harry Bailey, host of the Tabard Inn Teller of best tale is rewarded at the end A dinner provided by his fellow pilgrims at the Tabard Harry Bailey is judge Each pilgrim is supposed to tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and two stories on the way back. Plan is proposed by Harry Bailey, the host of the Tabard Inn Teller of best tale is rewarded at the end with a dinner provided by his fellow pilgrims at the Tabard. Harry Bailey will be the judge

Prologue Prologue sets the scene and introduces reader to the characters Between many of the tales Chaucer expounds upon the personalities of the pilgrims. Number of arguments that prepare for subsequent tales Some pilgrims introduce a tale with a commentary on his/her own personal life Prologue sets the scene and introduces reader to the characters Between many of the tales Chaucer provides links that expound upon the personalities of the pilgrims (adds more dramatic interest). Number of arguments that prepare for subsequent tales Some pilgrims introduce a tale with a commentary on his own personal life

Prologue Chaucer’s project was never finished Only 24 tales exist Tales were probably composed at various times in Chaucer’s life

Prologue Begins with a long, rhetorical sentence in “high style” describing spring. Gradually descends into a more “realistic” style of expository narrative. Begins with a long, rhetorical sentence in “high style” describing spring. Gradually descends into a more “realistic” style of expository narrative. Very “easy to read” conversational

Prologue Group is on its way to the holy shrine of St. Thomas ă Becket Archbishop of Canterbury opposed Henry II over the balance between royal and religious power was murdered in the cathedral Considered a martyr and later made a saint His blood was held to contain great curative qualities, restoring health to the sick Group is on its way to the holy shrine of St. Thomas à Becket Archbishop of Canterbury who opposed Henry II over the balance between royal and religious power; was murdered in the cathedral Considered a martyr and later made a saint His blood was held to contain great curative qualities, restoring health to the sick Some are going to the shrine to have their sicknesses healed. (Small quantities of Becket’s blood was given to pilgrims for centuries after his death

Characters The Knight: The Squire: The Yeoman: The Prioress: Honorable warrior The Squire: Knight’s son; “lusty” youth The Yeoman: servant to the Squire The Prioress: Superior of nunnery; accompanied by another nun and 3 priests

Characters The Monk: The Friar: The Merchant: fat, bald, lover of hunting who rejects work or study The Friar: Merry monk who is an accomplished beggar for his own gain The Merchant: Businessman who talks honestly while practicing illegal money-lending

Characters The Clerk: The Sergeant: The Franklin: The threadbare scholar who prefers philosophy to riches The Sergeant: One of a select group of lawyers; equal to the knight in social status The Franklin: Wealthy landholder and civic leader; fond of excellent food

Characters The Haberdasher, Carpenter, Weaver, Dyer, Tapestry Maker: Wealthy tradesmen Members of the same parish guild The Cook Private cook for the Parish Guild members The Shipman Accomplished sailor and drinker

Characters The Doctor: The Wife of Bath: The Parson: Learned practitioner with a love for gold The Wife of Bath: Widow who has enjoyed many pilgrimages and 5 marriages The Parson: Poor, diligent cleric who aids parishioners with his own funds

Characters The Miller: The Manciple: The Reeve: The Summoner: Wealthy tradesman; talkative and bawdy The Manciple: Shrewd kitchen supervisor The Reeve: Manager of lord’s property The Summoner: Lecherous cleric who permits parishioners’ licentious behavior – for a price

Characters The Pardoner: The Host (Harry Bailey): The Poet (narrator): The summoner’s companion who sells allegedly holy relics and pardons from Rome The Host (Harry Bailey): The innkeeper who proposes that each pilgrim tell 2 stories on the road to Canterbury and 2 on the returning journey The Poet (narrator): Accompanies the pilgrims and recounts the tales

The Knight Was an honorable warrior who fought for Christianity against the heathens. Appropriate that he is the first pilgrim to be introduced because he stands at the top of the social hierarchy, thus is the most socially prominent person on the journey. Tells the first story; many offer him compliments. All of the battles mentioned that he fought in were religious wars of some kind. The knight is the first of the pilgrims to be introduced. This is appropriate since the Kinght stands at the top of the social hierarchy in this gathering and since is is a virtuous character and embodies a standard of behavior against which some of the subsequent characters will be judged and found wanting.

The Knight Prologue’s description: Worthy man Loved the following: Chivalry Fidelity Honor (good reputation) Generosity Courtesy Honored for his worthiness in war

The Knight Prologue’s description: Fought in many battles/ had “been at many a noble expedition” Alexandria Prussia Lithuania/Latvia Russia Grenada at siege of Algeciras to Belmarye (north Africa) Morocco The Mediterranean Tiemcen Turkey The list of the places in which the knight fought would have a romantic ring to Chaucer’s readers. Christendom in the The list of the places in which the knight fought would have a romantic ring to Chaucer’s readers. Christendom in the 14th century was relatively small, and circumscribed by heatheness – mysterious lands and peoples described by the occasional traveler. Yet the Knight’s campaigns are all real enough. They have been divided by historians into three group0s, chronologially: 1) inlcudes the long struggle to expel the Moorish invaders from Spain. The second group of campaigns occurred in the Great Sea – eastern Mediterranean & Asia Minor Third: borders of eastern and western Europe (

The Knight Prologue’s description: Even though he was brave, he was prudent Deportment: “meek as a maid” Never said any rude word in all his life to any person Horses were good Clothing/dress Not gaudily dressed Tunic of coarse cloth, stained with rust from his chain mail suit Has just returned from an expedition

The Knight’s Tale Probably adapted from Boccaccio’s Teseide Tale of ideal love and chivalry. Would be a popular type of tale in Chaucer’s day.

The Knight’s Tale Premise: Two Thebian knights, Palamon & Arcite, fall in love with the same woman, Emelye, whom they see only from their prison window in Athens. Their life-long friendship is immediately disrupted by their rivalry for Emelye. In time Arcite is released from prison on the condition that he never again set foot in Athens. Palamon eventually escapes years later.

The Knight’s Tale The men meet by chance in a grove near Athens and are about to fight when Theseus and his company interrupt them. After forgiving the knights for their past, Theseus schedules a tournament (50 weeks later) for the hand of Emelye. Arcite wins the tournament, but scarcely has had time to claim his fair prize when the misaligned planet Saturn causes him to fall from his horse and die shortly afterward.

The Knight’s Tale Palamon forgets his ill feelings toward Arcite and retires to Thebes, where he mourns his former friend. Several years later, Theseus summons Palamon, who is still mourning and wearing black, and gives him Emelye in marriage. Makes of two sorrows one “parfit joye, lastynge everemo.”

The Knight’s Tale Not much action in the romance. Two knights are almost the same Both Make speeches declaring their love Curse their destiny Pray to their respective gods

The Knight’s Tale Conflict that a story about medieval knights and their customs would be set in ancient Greece.