Introduction to Chaucer and Canterbury Tales

Chaucer’s Life Chaucer Lived: 1343-1400 He was a Middle English poet He was considered to be the greatest literary figure of his age and one of the most important of English poets

Chaucer’s Work Divided into three literary periods 1. The French Period (1355-1370) 2. The Italian Period (1370-1385) 3. The English Period (1385-1400) *Canterbury Tales began around 1386 French Poetry Italian prose/literature Canterbury Tales

Canterbury Tales Chaucer summarized the: Ideas Attitudes Literary themes and forms of the middle ages Gave English literature the mark of a definite personality

Canterbury Tales Chaucer is known for: Humor Realism Psychological insight Accuracy of his observation Grace and technical excellence of his style Poets of the 15th century, notably Spenser, looked upon Chaucer as their master Wrote in the Middle English dialect- London Edmund Spenser- Edmund Spenser (c. 1552–13 January 1599) was an English poet and Poet Laureate. Spenser is a controversial figure due to his zeal for the destruction of the Irish culture yet is one of the premier craftsmen of Modern English verse in its infancy. Poet Laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events. Wikipedia.com

Canterbury Tales Pilgrimage involved: a visit to the shrine of English martyr, Thomas Becket, The Archbishop of Canterbury. Becket was murdered by King Henry II’s men in 1170 in Canterbury Cathedral (in Kent) The Cathedral was the seat of Anglicanism (English Catholicism), about 60 miles from London Anglican v. roman catholic

Canterbury Tales Time: April, 1387 Place of Departure: Tabard Inn at Southwark, located on the South bank of the River Thames opposite London Reasons for visiting the shrine: Forgiveness of sins Healing through power of shrines Spring aroused a wanderlust in their hearts

Canterbury Tales The story-telling plan: Each of the 31 pilgrims (not including the host and Chaucer) will tell two tales to Canterbury and two tales on their return from the shrine; hence, there will be 124 tales Chaucer, however, either lacked time or ambition, because only 24 of the tales were completed