1. GEOFFREY CHAUCER’S THE CANTERBURY TALES

2. Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343-1400) Considered the father of English poetry Son of a wine merchant in a middle class household He became the page in a royal house, then a soldier, and eventually a diplomat and royal clerk Married a lady-in-waiting to the queen

3. More on Chaucer Began writing in his twenties LOVED to travel He was considered the greatest English poet during his life Wrote in the vernacular – common language of the people (English) Introduced iambic pentameter Died October 25, 1400 and was the first writer to be buried in Westminster Abbey

4. What’s Happening in Britain?! Feudalism! The dominant social system in medieval Europe. 4 Dominant Classes: Monarch: Top class, ruled their kingdom, divided the land and governed their people. Lords: Had castles and manors, governed their area and set laws, and raised army. Knights: Fought wars for their lord and king and competed in many tournaments. Peasants: Grew food for the people, lowest class, provided many services.

5. What’s Happening in Britain?! Famine Black Death Life expectancy below 30 Monks and nuns run hospitals – leeches! No dental hygiene = no teeth & smelly breath! The Catholic CHURCH could save you – more important than the King

6. Journal In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer wrote about the people he had met along the way. If you were doing the same thing today, think about the variety of types of people you know and have encountered. Describe them by: Their job The type and color of their clothing Their “accessories” (jewelry, pets, other portables) The way they act Their income Their “secrets” Their status in society as a whole The way they speak / their slang or accent Their mode of transportation

7. Life Reflects Art Each character in The Canterbury Tales represents a different segment of society in Chaucer’s time. By noting the virtues and faults of each, Chaucer provides social commentary, writing that offers insight into society, its values, and its customs. While reading, we will be drawing conclusions from the characters about Chaucer’s views on English society. During this time period, the top jobs that you want are to be in the clergy or work as a knight for the king.

8. The Journey Begins…Style of Writing He wrote in Middle English using the heroic couplet, a pair of rhyming lines with five stressed syllables (iambic pentameter) The Canterbury Tales is actually a story about stories, twenty- four different tales set within the overarching tale of the pilgrimage. Definition: Frame Story – a story within a story The Outer Frame Story is about the pilgrims meeting at the Tabard Inn preparing for a journey to Canterbury. The Inner Frame Story would be all the stories told by the assembled pilgrims along their journey to and from Canterbury.

9. More on His Style of Writing In the Prologue, Chaucer introduces each pilgrim, creating a sense of medieval life. Legend has it that Chaucer wrote about people he met in his travels! The description may literally describe an article of clothing, but figuratively imply something about that character. He wrote primarily in the style of Satire, a literary composition, in verse or prose, in which human folly and vice are held up to scorn, derision, or ridicule. Like sarcasm... He says one thing, but means another. Our job is to read and comprehend the literal description of each pilgrim, and then, we must figuratively interpret what Chaucer is trying to imply about that pilgrim’s character.

10. Snapshots of an Era... Two Types of Satire: 1. Juvenalian – After the Roman satirist Juvenal: Formal satire in which the speaker attacks vice and error with contempt and indignation. Juvenalian satire in its realism and its harshness is in strong contrast to Horatian satire. {Serious – Critical} 2. Horatian – After the Roman satirist Horace: Satire in which the voice is indulgent, tolerant, amused, and witty. The speaker holds up to gentle ridicule the absurdities and follies of human beings, aiming at producing in the reader not the anger of a Juvenal, but a wry smile. {Light – Funny}

11. Snapshots of an Era... Satire (continued...): Also, so that we might better understand his satirical characterization, Chaucer creates SATIRIC NORMS. A SATIRIC NORM is a character that represents the perfect ideal. We can then see how BAD everyone else is by comparing them to this Satiric Norm.

12. Snapshots of an Era... In the Prologue, Chaucer examines three segments of Medieval England: 1. The Old Feudal order – these are all of the pilgrims associated with the feudal class system. Knight, Squire, Yeoman, Plowman... 2. The Merchant Class – this was the rising middle class of the time; towns and cities were emerging and therefore necessitated the need for skilled services: Merchant, Man of Law, Guildsmen, Cook... 3. The Ecclesiastical (Church) Class – these were all of the members of the church. Chaucer is most critical of this segment of his society. Prioress, Monk, Friar, Pardoner...

13. A Literary Tour... Chaucer uses the popular genres of his time when he creates the inner stories of the various pilgrims: The Wife of Bath’s Tale Romances (tales of chivalry) The Miller’s Tale Fabliaux (short, bawdy, humorous stories) The stories of saint’s lives, sermons The Parson’s Tale Parables (teach lessons) Allegories (narratives in which characters represent abstractions such as Pride or Honor). The Pardoner’s Tale

14. Literary Analysis Characterization 1. Direct Characterization presents direct statements about a character, such as Chaucer’s statement that the Knight “followed chivalry, / Truth, honor... ” 2. Indirect Characterization uses actions, thoughts, and dialogue to reveal a character’s personality. By saying “he was not gaily dressed,” for instance, Chaucer suggests that the Knight is not vain and perhaps takes the pilgrimage seriously enough to rush to join it straight from battle.

15. Fun Facts! Written by Chaucer in his later years (1386); he never completed writing it; planned 120 tales but only completed 22 This is the best picture we have of 14 th century life in England Chaucer may have been inspired by his own pilgrimage to Canterbury!

16. How It All Goes Down The Canterbury Tales begins with a Prologue, Narrator, presumably Chaucer himself, meets 29 other pilgrims at the Tabard Inn, located in a suburb of London. As the pilgrims prepare for their journey, the host of the Inn, Harry Bailey, sets a challenge: Each pilgrim tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and two stories on the return trip. The person who tells the best tale will be treated to a feast hosted by the other pilgrims.

18. An actual page from The Canterbury Tales

19. WHY GO TO CANTERBURY?

20. One Answer: Religion! The Canterbury Tales is about PILGRIMS travelling from London to the tomb of Thomas à Becket in Canterbury. Canterbury has always been an important pilgrimage site in England. People of all classes went on pilgrimages to holy sites to ask for help with medical, financial or other problems. St. Augustine (seen in stained class from the Canterbury Cathedral) was sent by Pope Gregory the Great to establish the Catholic faith in the country. Obviously, religion played an important part in medieval life.

21. Why was religions important? It’s the Middle Ages Plague Warfare High Infant Mortality Rate Short Life Expectancy …and if you were a peasant, you lived your whole life in harsh conditions. Because life was so terrible, about the best thing people had to look forward to was dying and going to Heaven. Many sought guidance and paid homage to one man….St. Thomas à Becket

22. England was divided among very strict class/economic lines Thus, heaven was often described as a white shining castle in the sky.

23. Thomas à Beckett The King Henry II’s best friend & financial advisor - he was VERY powerful When the Archbishop of Canterbury (leader of the church in England) died, the King persuaded Becket to take over Becket took to it like a duck to water and gave up his luxurious lifestyle – only bread, water and he slept on the floor! But King Henry had an ulterior motive….

24. Keep Your Friends Close….. There were 2 courts in England: Church & Royal The Church court was too soft – he wanted Becket to toughen it up…BUT HE REFUSED. Becket’s outspoken style angered the King. One day, Henry complained, “Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?” The King had such a temper he shouted that he wanted Becket dead.

25. …But Your Enemies Closer! 4 knights took him literally and went to Canterbury Cathedral where they found Becket and stabbed him to death, on the ALTAR! The Pope made him a saint and people visited thinking it would bring them luck

26. Becket murdered at the altar.

27. The death of Becket angered the peasants who felt his Saxon heritage made him one of them.

28. Canterbury Cathedral became a site for pilgrims to offer prayers to St. Thomas.

29. Today, a modern cross made from swords marks the site of the martyrdom.

30. What do all these photos have in common?

31. Pilgrims….Like Thanksgiving?! A Pilgrim is anyone who goes on a pilgrimage, a visit to a place of some significance; often religious and far away. a Muslim visiting Mecca a Jew visiting Jerusalem In the Middle Ages, pilgrimages were thought to clear your sins and earn you brownie points, as travel was dangerous and took ages. Canterbury, England The Vatican, Vatican City (Italy)

32. Yes, They Happen Today! Modern pilgrimages are to visit places of personal importance Elvis Presley fans visiting his home in Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee Musical Hero Ancestors/heritage Sporting Event Place of Interest

33. Closing Thoughts The fact that Chaucer wrote in English (Middle English), rather than French or Latin like many of his fellow writers, meant that ordinary folk could enjoy The Canterbury Tales and their vivid characters. The late 14 th century world was still very much one of the spoken word. Books were copied out by hand and were a rare luxury until the advent of the printing press 70 years later. The educated elite could read, but they preferred to hear texts read out loud for entertainment. The Canterbury Tales, with their earthy humor and vivid dialogue, were a runaway success.

40. So, let’s travel back to London, to the area called Southward, and stop at the Tabard Inn.

41. We’ll meet the characters and hear their stories.

42. The story begins...