1. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales

2. Off to Canterbury We Go… Chaucer’s pilgrims are on a journey to the cathedral at Canterbury to see the shrine to Thomas à Becket.

3. Thomas à Becket Was the Archbishop of Canterbury Was appointed by Henry II Had “issues” with Henry over the issue of royal control of the church Became famous for his struggle to keep the English church free from royal control

4. However… This did not sit well with Henry II Within earshot of his knights, Henry asked if there might be anyone who would be able to get rid of Becket Four of his knights did exactly that. Killed Becket in his church at evening prayers.

5. Becket Was a hero of sorts. His tomb became a popular place for people to visit. He was declared a saint in 1173. Later Henry VIII destroyed the shrine to Becket

6. Chaucer’s Pilgrims Are going to the shrine to Becket at Canterbury.

7. Chaucer vs. Chaucer There are TWO Chaucers ONE – the real Chaucer the author of The Canterbury Tales TWO – Chaucer the Pilgrim – the implied narrator of The Canterbury Tales They are two different people/personas.

8. The Three Estates During this time period there were three main ESTATES. The estates were modes of living that fit together to complete a culture. The three estates were:  The Nobility  The Clergy  The Peasantry

9. The Three Estates The Clergy = those who pray The Nobility = those who protect The Peasantry = those who feed

10. The Middle Class A new middle class comes from the peasantry. There were some peasants who mastered crafts or new technologies. These were peasant craftsmen and guildsmen. The become a new level of peasant.

11. Estates Satire The Canterbury Tales is an estates satire. This type of story captures the traditional behavior and attitudes attributed to the estates. Sometimes the author will point out allegations of criminal behavior in a certain class or just general human weakness.

12. Modern-Day Estates Satire The modern-day version of estates satire is a lawyer joke. A golfer hooked his tee shot over a hill and onto the next fairway. Walking toward his ball, he saw a man lying on the ground, groaning with pain. "I'm an attorney," the wincing man said, "and this is going to cost you $5000." "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry," the concerned golfer replied. "But I did yell 'fore'." "I'll take it," the attorney said.

13. Frame Narrative The Canterbury Tales is a frame narrative, meaning that there are layers/frames of story telling going on. Chaucer the pilgrim telling us about the people he sees. The stories the individual pilgrims tell us.

14. Poetry The Canterbury Tales is written in RHYMING COUPLETS. (heroic couplets)

15. Your Turn On your paper, put the pilgrims into their estates. Create three estates from today’s world and list five “pilgrims” (or individuals) each into each estate.