1. Journal #21 Should a person challenge their religious leaders if they believe they’ve become corrupt (selfish, greedy, dishonest…etc)? Why or why not? What about if you feel your entire religion is corrupt or wrong about an issue? What should you do to change it, if anything? EXPLAIN IN A HALF-PAGE RESPONSE

2. By Geoffrey Chaucer THE CANTERBURY TALES

3. Geoffrey Chaucer c. 1343-1400 Considered the father of English poetry Served as a soldier, government servant, and member of Parliament Introduced iambic pentameter and uses heroic couplets First writer buried in Westminster Abbey

4. The Canterbury Tales Written in vernacular (informal) Middle English It frames a story of characters on a religious pilgrimage (a religious journey) to Canterbury (a city in Eastern England). The pilgrims tell their tales in a storytelling contest, the prize being a free meal

6. The Canterbury Tales (continued) The characters represent people from all aspects of society The pilgrimage quest narrative moves from images of spring and awakening to penance, death, and eternal life. The characters tell stories that reflect “everyman” (meaning representing everyone) in the universal pilgrimage of life. Mostly satirical The Tales were never completed

7. Sir Thomas Becket The pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales are traveling to visit his shrine. He was the Archbishop of Canterbury St. Thomas was martyred (killed for religious reasons) by King Henry the II’s knights because he sided with the pope instead of the king He is then canonized and becomes Saint Thomas

8. The Purpose Chaucer wrote these tales as a satire in order to criticize their society (especially the Church and feudalism) Their society was broken down into Aristocracy (1%), Clergy (2%), and Commoners (97%) Aristocracy (dukes, counts, barons) – nobles that provided armies in exchange for land Clergy (priests, parsons, nuns, monks, friars) – Church workers, provided for spiritual wellbeing Commoners (various professions) – provided a service to the Aristocracy in exchange for land

9. Satire Literary technique in which behaviors or institutions are ridiculed for the purpose of improving society. What sets satire apart from other forms of social and political protest is HUMOR. Satirists use irony and exaggeration to poke fun at human faults and foolishness in order to correct human behavior Common targets of satire are: religious leaders, political leaders, the wealthy, stupidity, and hypocrisy

11. Historical Influences The transition from the Middle Ages and feudalism to the Renaissance is evident (changes in social mobility, criticism of the church, attitudes towards women, notions of divine right…etc) The Church is corrupt at this time Jews are blamed for the Crucifixion expelled from England Written during the 100 Years’ War with France Effects of Black Death and the Crusades apparent

12. Other Important Terms patron saint – a saint looked to for guidance or protection by a person or institution shrine – a place that is holy because of its relationship with a person or relic hostel – an inn irony – three types verbal irony – saying the opposite of what you mean dramatic irony – when the audience knows something the characters don’t situational irony – when the opposite of what you expect to happen occurs iambic pentameter – poetic verse consisting of 5 metric feet of unstressed and stressed syllables heroic couplet – the use of rhyming pairs of iambic pentameter in poetry

13. Aristocracy The Wife of Bath Franklin CHARACTERS OF THE CANTERBURY TALES

14. Professionals Military Knight, Squire, Yeoman Clergy 2 Nuns, 3 Priests, Friar, Parson, Pardoner, Summoner Secular Cleric, Sergeant at Law, Merchant, Skipper, Doctor

15. Working Class Plowman Haberdasher Cook Dyer Miller Carpenter Reeve Weaver Host Carpetmaker