Monday, November 21 / QW #4 – social class / Canterbury Tales Notes / Satire with The Simpsons / HW = read pgs in packet & finish notes for Mon.; vocab packet 2 & quiz Tues. / QW #4 – social class / Canterbury Tales Notes / Satire with The Simpsons / HW = read pgs in packet & finish notes for Mon.; vocab packet 2 & quiz Tues.

Today’s Goals / Discuss characterization/social class / Learn helpful historical background information for The Canterbury Tales / Review the literary devices Chaucer uses (satire, frame story) / Discuss characterization/social class / Learn helpful historical background information for The Canterbury Tales / Review the literary devices Chaucer uses (satire, frame story)

QW #4 – Social Class / How is RHS divided into social groups? How can you tell who is in which groups? Do people pick their groups or are they assigned in some way? Can you move from one group to another with ease or is it difficult? How do the members of each group relate to members of other groups?

Introduction to The Canterbury Tales / Characterization / Classicism / Medieval social structure / Changing times / Social satire / Characterization / Classicism / Medieval social structure / Changing times / Social satire

Characterization / The process by which a writer reveals the personality of a character / Can be direct or indirect / Narrator can tell us / Describe how looks/dresses / Character’s words/actions / Reveal character’s thoughts/feelings / Showing how others respond to, think about, or speak about the character / The process by which a writer reveals the personality of a character / Can be direct or indirect / Narrator can tell us / Describe how looks/dresses / Character’s words/actions / Reveal character’s thoughts/feelings / Showing how others respond to, think about, or speak about the character

Classicism / Clergy / Nobility / Ruling class / Aristocracy / Fighting class / Peasants / Middle class (not recognized) / Trade class (not recognized) / Peasantry class / Women (sorry, ladies) / Clergy / Nobility / Ruling class / Aristocracy / Fighting class / Peasants / Middle class (not recognized) / Trade class (not recognized) / Peasantry class / Women (sorry, ladies)

Rigid structure / Attempts to move from one group to another was considered against the laws of nature and of God.

The Three Estates / Men were classed according to what they did / Those who pray / Those who fight / Those who work

Men and Women / Women were classed according to their relationship to men / Virgin / Wife / Widow

Changing Times / Renaissance approaching / Science progressing / Greek literature rediscovered / Democracy / Capitalism encouraged social change / Chaucer wrote “Tales” as satire / Renaissance approaching / Science progressing / Greek literature rediscovered / Democracy / Capitalism encouraged social change / Chaucer wrote “Tales” as satire

Satire / Noun. A literary manner which blends humor with criticism for the purpose of instruction; often serves as an exaggerated reflection of society

The necessary ingredients / Humor / Criticism: either general criticism of humanity or human nature or specific criticism of an individual or group. / Some kind of moral voice: simply mocking or criticism is not “satire.” / Humor / Criticism: either general criticism of humanity or human nature or specific criticism of an individual or group. / Some kind of moral voice: simply mocking or criticism is not “satire.”

The Satiric Manner / Ironic / Either good natured criticism or bitterly cynical denunciation. / More than a little bit prone to references to things society finds taboo or disgusting (bodily functions, sexuality, etc.) / Ironic / Either good natured criticism or bitterly cynical denunciation. / More than a little bit prone to references to things society finds taboo or disgusting (bodily functions, sexuality, etc.)

Types of Satire / Parody / a work of literature that mimics another work of literature. / Caricature / An exaggerated portrayal of the weaknesses, frailties, or humorous aspects of an individual or group. / Exaggeration / The portrayal of something trivial or unimportant as very important, usually to emphasize its triviality. / Diminutization / The portrayal of something generally perceived as very important as trivial or unimportant. / Parody / a work of literature that mimics another work of literature. / Caricature / An exaggerated portrayal of the weaknesses, frailties, or humorous aspects of an individual or group. / Exaggeration / The portrayal of something trivial or unimportant as very important, usually to emphasize its triviality. / Diminutization / The portrayal of something generally perceived as very important as trivial or unimportant.

The Canterbury Tales / Written as “estates satire” / Shows each of the three estates and portrays the ideal members of each, as well as the problems with the social structure / Publicly exposed corruption / Written in Middle English / Written as “estates satire” / Shows each of the three estates and portrays the ideal members of each, as well as the problems with the social structure / Publicly exposed corruption / Written in Middle English

Geoffrey Chaucer / Father of English poetry / Before Chaucer, serious poets would not write in English – felt that English could not convey the nuances & complexities of serious literature / Well-known gov’t official under Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV / Father of English poetry / Before Chaucer, serious poets would not write in English – felt that English could not convey the nuances & complexities of serious literature / Well-known gov’t official under Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV

Why else is Chaucer important? / CT, similar to Italy’s Decameron, uses a frame device / Strength of spirit & personality – “In a dark, troubled age, he was a comfortable optimist, serene, full of faith.” (John Gardner) / CT, similar to Italy’s Decameron, uses a frame device / Strength of spirit & personality – “In a dark, troubled age, he was a comfortable optimist, serene, full of faith.” (John Gardner)

As we read… / Keep in mind that it has been said that Chaucer defends one true virtue…charity – the good man’s willingness to give the benefit of the doubt, to find some nobility in even the most wretched & deplorable of people. Do you believe this is true?

Pilgrimage / Religious journey made to a shrine or a holy place / Pilgrims = many stations & many stages in life / CT begins pilgrimage in spring = why symbolic? / Religious journey made to a shrine or a holy place / Pilgrims = many stations & many stages in life / CT begins pilgrimage in spring = why symbolic?

Murder of Beckett / Friend of King Henry / Named Archbishop as means to control the Church / Murdered by King’s men when he defied King’s authority / Friend of King Henry / Named Archbishop as means to control the Church / Murdered by King’s men when he defied King’s authority

Pilgrimage to Canterbury / Beckett was very popular / Quickly made a saint / Homage at his tomb

“Frame” Tale / Over twenty characters traveling together to Canterbury / Inn’s Host challenges them to each tell a story on the way to Canterbury / The best story wins a free dinner / Premise provides a “frame” within which to hear the stories. / Over twenty characters traveling together to Canterbury / Inn’s Host challenges them to each tell a story on the way to Canterbury / The best story wins a free dinner / Premise provides a “frame” within which to hear the stories.

“Frame” Story / Includes # of different narratives / Outer story (pilgrimage) unites traveler’s individual tales (inner stories) / Tales themselves have thematic unity / Includes # of different narratives / Outer story (pilgrimage) unites traveler’s individual tales (inner stories) / Tales themselves have thematic unity