POETRY-1 (ENG403) LECTURE – 3

REVIEW OF LECTURE 2 Introduction to the 14 th century Different Aspects of the 14 th Century o Political o Social o Religious o Literary

REVIEW OF LECTURE 2 Notable Writers of the Age: o Langland, Gower, Wycliffe, Mandeville, Chaucer Chaucer’s Contribution o Representative poet of 14 th century o Realism o Heroic Couplet o Pioneer of writing in vulgar English

REVIEW OF LECTURE 2 Chaucer’s Biography Chaucer’s Literary Career o The French Period o The Italian Period o The English Period Chaucer’s Language

REVIEW OF LECTURE 2 Introduction to the Canterbury Tales o Framework Pilgrimage o Diverse assembly of narrators o Written in Heroic Couplet in Middle English o Collection of stories narrated by 3o pilgrims o The shrine of Thomas à Becket o Each will tell 4 stories o Plan of 120 stories

REVIEW OF LECTURE 2 HEROIC COUPLET A pair of rhyming lines written in Iambic Pentameter ‘Iambic’ refers to the foot used Pentameter Five feet Groups of syllables are called ‘feet’ An unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable Befell ∣ that, in ∣ that sea ∣ son on ∣ a day, ∣ In south ∣ work at ∣ the Ta ∣ bard as ∣ I lay, ∣

THE PROLOGUE TO THE CANTERBURY TALES General plan Gives individualized portraits of characters Social types No particular order The Knight Begins Higher social rank

THE GENERAL PROLOGUE Lay out of the prologue is simple o Lines 1-34: Elaborate Introduction o Lines : Series of Portraits o Lines : Host’s suggestion of a story telling competition & its acceptance o Lines : The next morning the pilgrims assemble & it is decided, the knight shall tell the first tale

Whan that aprill with his shoures soote L.1 The droghte of march hath perced to the roote, And bathed every veyne in swich licour Of which vertu engendred is the flour; Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth L.5 Whan – when aprill – April Shoures – showers Soote – sweet Drought – dryness Perced – pierced Roote – root Swich – such Licour – moisture Vertu – vital energy Engendered – created Flour – flower Zephirus – west wind Eek – also

Inspired hath in every holt and heeth L.6 Tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne Hath in the ram his halve cours yronne, And smale foweles maken melodye, That slepen al the nyght with open ye L.10 Heeth – heath croppes – tree-tops Yonge sonne–young sun Ram – 1 st Zodaic sign Halve – half Yronne – run, complete Foweles – birds Maken melodye – make melody Slepen – sleep ye – eye

: (so priketh hem nature in hir corages); L.11 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 L.15 Priketh – stirs, arouses Hem – them Hir – their Corages – hearts Thanne – then Longen – desire To goon – to go Pilgrimages – journey to the holy place To seken – to seek Straunge strondes – foreign places Ferne halwes – distant holy places Kowthe – known sondry londes – various lands

Of engelond to caunterbury they wende, L.16 The hooly blisful martir for to seke, That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke. Bifil that in that seson on a day, In southwerk at the tabard as I lay L.20 Wende – go Hooly – holy Blisful – blessed by God Martir – martyr Holpen – helped Bifil – happened Southwerk - southwark Tabard – Inn Lay - Live

Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage L. 21 To caunterbury with ful devout corage, At nyght was come into that hostelrye Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye, Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle L.25 Redy – ready Wenden – go Nyght – night Hostelrye – inn Nyne – nine Compaignye – company Sondry – different classes Aventure - chance

In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle, L.26 That toward caunterbury wolden ryde. The chambres and the stables weren wyde, And wel we weren esed atte beste. And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste, L.30 Felaweshipe – fellowship Alle – all wolden ryde – would ride Chambres – rooms Wyde - wide Esed – given comforts Atte beste – at best

So hadde I spoken with hem everichon L.31 That I was of hir felaweshipe anon, And made forward erly for to ryse, To take oure wey ther as I yow devyse. L.34 Everichon – each one Forward – agreed Devyse - mention

LINES 1-34 Introduction Description of Spring Source of excitement

But nathelees, whil I have tyme and space, L.35 Er that I ferther in this tale pace, Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun To telle yow al the condicioun L.38 Nathelees – none the less acordaunt to resoun - reasonable

Of ech of hem, so as it semed me, L. 39 And whiche they weren, and of what degree, And eek in what array that they were inne; And at a knyght than wol I first bigynne. L.42 Whiche – what type of men Array- dress Wol – will

A knyght ther was, and that a worthy man, L.43 That fro the tyme that he first bigan To riden out, he loved chivalrie, Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisie. Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre, And therto hadde he riden, no man ferre, L.48 Fro – from Tyme – time To riden out – to go out Chivalrie – glory in the deeds of bravery and adventure Trouthe – truth Curteisie – refinement Worthy – worthy in his brave exploits lordes were – wars fought by his lords Therto – over and above doing service to his feudal lord

As wel in cristendom as in hethenesse, L.49 And evere honoured for his worthynesse At alisaundre he was whan it was wonne. Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne Aboven alle nacions in pruce; In lettow hadde he reysed and in ruce, No cristen man so ofte of his degree. L.55 Cristendom – land of Christians Hethenesse – land of heathens Worthynesse - His glory as a soldier Alisaundre – Alexandria Cristen – Christian Ful ofte tyme – at many occasions Hadde the bord bigonne - headed the board Pruce - Prussia Ruce - Russia Lettow - Lithuania

In gernade at the seege eek hadde he be L.56 Of algezir, and riden in belmarye. At lyeys was he and at satalye, 59: Whan they were wonne; and in the grete see 60: At many a noble armee hadde he be. L.60 Gernade – Granada Seege – attack Belmarye – Benmarian Lyeys - Layas Satalye – Attalia Grete see - Great sea Armee - army

At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene, L.61 62: And foughten for oure feith at tramyssene 63: In lystes thries, and ay slayn his foo. This ilke worthy knyght hadde been also Somtyme with the lord of palatye Agayn another hethen in turkye. L.66 Feith – faith (christian) Lystes – enclosed place Thries – thrice Ay – ever Ilke – same Somtyme – sometime Palatye – Anatolia Agayn – against

And everemoore he hadde a sovereyn prys; L.67 And though that he were worthy, he was wys, And of his port as meeke as is a mayde. He nevere yet no vileynye ne sayde In al his lyf unto no maner wight. L.71 Port – demeanour Vileynye – not appropriate speech maner wight – kind of person

He was a verray, parfit gentil knyght. L.72 But, for to tellen yow of his array, His hors were goode, but he was nat gay. Of fustian he wered a gypon Al bismotered with his habergeon, For he was late ycome from his viage, And wente for to doon his pilgrymage. L.78 verray – very Parfit – perfect,noble Fustian – rough cloth Wered - wore Gypon – a short waist-coat Bismotered – soiled Habergeon – an iron coat for males Viage – voyage Wente - went Doon - do

LINES Host’s Declaration of Describing the Pilgrims THE KNIGHT’S DESCRIPTION o As a character o His achievements o His dressing o His armaments

With hym ther was his sone, a yong squier, L.79 A lovyere and a lusty bacheler, With lokkes crulle as they were leyd in presse. Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse. Of his stature he was of evene lengthe, And wonderly delyvere, and of greet strengthe. L.84 Sone – son Yong – young Squier - squire Lovyere – lover bacheler – trainee Lokkes – locks crulle – curly Leyd – laid Presse – pressed Gesse – guess Stature – structure Evene – average Delyvere – active

And he hadde been somtyme in chyvachie L.85 In flaundres, in artoys, and pycardie, And born hym weel, as of so litel space, In hope to stonden in his lady grace. Embrouded was he, as it were a meede Al ful of fresshe floures, whyte and reede. L.90 Chyvachie – journey Flaundres – Flanders Artoys and Pycardie – northern provinces of France Born – carried Weel – well Stonden – stand Embrouded – Embroidered Meede - meadow Fresshe – fresh Floures – flowers Whyte – white Reede - red

Syngynge he was, or floytynge, al the day; L.91 He was as fressh as is the month of may. Short was his gowne, with sleves longe and wyde. Wel koude he sitte on hors and faire ryde. He koude songes make and wel endite, L.95 Juste and eek daunce, and weel purtreye and write. Floytynge – fluting Endite – write Juste – take part in a dispute Purtreye – draw

So hoote he lovede that by nyghtertale. L.97 He sleep namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale. Curteis he was, lowely, and servysable, And carf biforn his fader at the table. L.100 Nyghtertale – night time Dooth – does Nyghtyngale – nightingale Lowely – humble Carf – carving

LINES THE SQUIRE’S DESCRIPTION o As a character o His achievements o His dressing o His armaments

A yeman hadde he and servantz namo L.101 At that tyme, for hym liste ride so, And he was clad in cote and hood of grene. A sheef of pecok arwes, bright and kene, Under his belt he bar ful thriftily, (wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly: His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe) And in his hand he baar a myghty bowe. L.108 Yeman – yeoman servantz namo – no other servants Cote- coat hood of grene – a green hood Sheef - bundle Kene – sharp Bar – carried Thriftily – carefully Myghty – huge, strong

A not heed hadde he, with a broun visage. L.109 Of wodecraft wel koude he al the usage. Upon his arm he baar a gay bracer, And by his syde a swerd and a bokeler, L.112 Not heed – head with closely handled hair Broun – brown Visage – features Wodecraft – woodwork Koude – could, knew Usage – do, practice Baar – bore Gay – bright Bracer – a protector for arms Syde – side Swerd – sword Bokeler – small shield

And on that oother syde a gay daggere L. 113 Harneised wel and sharp as point of spere; A cristopher on his brest of silver sheene. An horn he bar, the bawdryk was of grene; A forster was he, soothly, as I gesse.L.117 Daggere – dagger Harneised – decorated Spere – spear Cristopher – An image of St. Christopher Brest – breast Sheene – shown brightly Bawdryk – belt Forster – forester Soothly – truly Gesse - guess

LINES THE YEOMAN’S DESCRIPTION o As a character o His dressing o His armaments

Ther was also a nonne, a prioresse, L.118 That of hir smylyng was ful symple and coy; Hire gretteste ooth was but by seinte loy; And she was cleped madame eglentyne. L.121 Nonne - nun Smylyng – smiling Symple – simple Coy – Quiet Gretteste – great Ooth - oath seinte loy – Saint Loy Cleped – called Eglentyne - Eglantine

Ful weel she soong the service dyvyne, L.122 Entuned in hir nose ful semely, And frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly, After the scole of stratford atte bowe, For frenssh of parys was to hire unknowe. L.126 Entuned – Intoned faire and fetisly – well and prettily Scole – school Unknowe - unknown

At mete wel ytaught was she with alle: L.127 She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle, Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe; Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe That no drope ne fille upon hire brest. L.131 Mete – food Wette – to wet Depe – deeply

In curteisie was set ful muchel hir lest.L.132 Hir over-lippe wyped she so clene That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir draughte. Ful semely after hir mete she raughte. L.136 Curteisie – courtesy Muchel – much hir lest – her pleasure over-lippe – upper lip Wyped – wiped Clene - clean Coppe - cup Ferthyng – farthing, slightest Grese - grease dronken hadde –had drunk Draughte – drink Semely – nicely Raughte – took her food

And sikerly she was of greet desport, L.137 And ful plesaunt, and amyable of port, And peyned hire to countrefete cheere Of court, and to been estatlich of manere, And to ben holden digne of reverence. L.141 Sikerly – certainly Greet desport – full of fun Amyable – cultured & dignified Port – manners peyned hire – pained her Countrefete - imitate Cheere – manners estatlich of manere – stately manners to ben holden – to get respect Digne – dignity Reverence - respect

But, for to speken of hire conscience, L.142 She was so charitable and so pitous She wolde wepe, if that she saugh a mous Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde. Of smale houndes hadde she that she fedde With rosted flessh, or milk and wastel-breed.L. 147 Pitous – full of pity Mous – mouse Kaught – caught Trappe – trap Deed – dead Bleede - bleed Smale - small Fedde – feed Rosted flessh – roasted flesh wastel-breed – cake made of fine flour

But soore wepte she if oon of hem were deed, L.148 Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte; And al was conscience and tendre herte. Ful semyly hir wympul pynched was, Hir nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas, Hir mouth ful smal, and therto softe and reed; L.153 Soore – sure Oon – one Smoot –beat Yerde - yard smerte – smartly Ful semyly – in fine manner hir wympul – her head dress Pynched – formed Tretys – long and well shaped Eyen – eyes softe and reed – soft and red

But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed; L. 154 It was almoost a spanne brood, I trowe; For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe. Ful fetys was hir cloke, as I was war. L.157 Sikerly – certainly, surely fair forheed – broad forehead Hardily - hardly Undergrowe – undergrown

Of smal coral aboute hire arm she bar L.158 A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene, And theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene, On which ther was first write a crowned a, And after amor vincit omnia. L.162 A peire of bedes – a pair of beeds Gauded – larger one Heng – to hang Amor – divine love amor vincit omnia – love conquers all

Another nonne with hire hadde she, L.163 That was hir chapeleyne, and preestes thre. L.164 Nonne - nun Chapeleyne – chapelain, private secretary Thre - three

LINES THE PRIORESS’ DESCRIPTION o As a character o Her name o Her manners o Her nature o Her chaplain o Three priests

RECAP OF LECTURE 3 Introduction The Knight’s Description The Squire’s Description The Yeoman’s Description The Prioress’ description

REFERENCES anterbury-tales/study-help/full-glossary-for.html anterbury-tales/study-help/full-glossary-for.html › No Fear Literature › The Canterbury TalesCached – SimilarNo Fear LiteratureThe Canterbury TalesCachedSimilar TEXT Prologue to the Canterbury Tales