The Canterbury Tales GEOFFREY CHAUCER

Frame Story The exterior section or “frame” holds the pieces together and provides a purpose for the interior section. The interior consists of selections that do not make sense being grouped together without the exterior “frame” providing stability. The “frame” for The Canterbury Tales consists of the prologue, in which several differing characters are introduced and an outline of the competition is provided. This provides the structure for the interior of the frame. Each character will tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and two stories returning. The reader is led to believe the interior of the frame will include 120 tales when the trip is complete. These tales would not fit together except for the explanation of the pilgrims and the outline of the competition highlighted in the prologue. Similarly, The Decameron introduces several characters in the prologue that will later tell tales to amuse the rest while waiting out the plague. The reader is provided with a reason for the tales and a description of the characters that will tell the tales.

Medieval English Romance  Middle English romance was the principal form of secular literature in later medieval England. More than eighty verse romances (metrical and alliterative), composed between c.1225 and c.1500, survive, often in multiple manuscript versions and, later, in early modern prints.  The single most important literary legacy of the English Middle Ages - the ancestor of the modern novel as well as almost all contemporary popular fiction, in print and on screen - the Middle English romances provide us with a provocative insight into the medieval imagination and they repeatedly challenge our assumptions about medieval English culture and its preoccupations.

Medieval Romance Characteristics  Characterized by:  1. Usually idealizes chivalry 2. Idealizes the hero-knight and his noble deeds 3. An important element is the knight's love for his lady. 4. Settings tend to be imaginary and vague. 5. Derives mystery and suspense from supernatural elements. 6. Uses concealed or disguised identity. 7. Repetition of the mystical number "3." (Repetitions of the number or multiples of 3)  Characteristics of the Hero-Knight  1. Birth of a great hero is shrouded in mystery. 2. He is reared away from his true home in ignorance of his real parents. 3. For a time, his true identity is unknown. 4. After meeting an extraordinary challenge, he claims his right. 5. His triumph benefits his nation or group.

Fabliau  vulgar, funny and oftentimes obscene stories which were popular in France during the Middle Ages.  Chaucer, who is regarded as the father of English literature, and the most important writer of the Middle Ages, wrote fabliaux despite it being a passé genre in France for over 100 years before Chaucer writes his tales.  The Miller’s Tale and The Reeve’s Tale  “The Miller’s Tale,” which we will read next week, is considered a fabliau. The story is rude, abrasive, obscene, and hilariously funny - essentially all the common attributes of a fabliau. The story also explores themes of social class, religion, and of course, lust and love.

Satire  It is defined as the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.  Chaucer uses satire in the descriptions of the pilgrims in the "General Prologue" of The Canterbury Tales to reveal corruption in the Church that was prevalent in society. Many members of the clergy used their positions for personal gain. This can be seen in his cast of characters. Of all the pilgrims associated with the Church, the Parson is the only one who is honorable.

Beast Fable  A prose or verse fable or short story that usually has a moral. In beast fables animal characters are represented as acting with human feelings and motives.  The Nun’s Priest Tale

Unit Figurative/Rhetorical Devices  Humor/Wit/Satire  Metaphor/Simile  Personification  Allusion  Imagery  Hyperbole  Exemplum (Chaucer uses his characters to be or make examples of true society members of his time.) **This list is not exhaustive, it just simply highlights the most prevalent.