1. British Literature MondaySeptember 14, 2015 Day 30 ACTIVITIES: 1.Discuss grammar / writing activity 2.Review “Sir Gawain” Romance 3.Introduce Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales - begin reading the prologue (pg. 92-) 4.Last 10 Silent Reading (BRING BOOK!) ACTIVITIES: 1.Discuss grammar / writing activity 2.Review “Sir Gawain” Romance 3.Introduce Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales - begin reading the prologue (pg. 92-) 4.Last 10 Silent Reading (BRING BOOK!) SUMMARIZER: - describe the 3 types / categories of people in the tales SUMMARIZER: - describe the 3 types / categories of people in the tales ACTIVATOR: complete the P-I-G handout from front table… ACTIVATOR: complete the P-I-G handout from front table…

3.  Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170 by four knights of Henry II.  The reigning king had put Becket into the current Archbishop role.  However, Becket was taking his position more seriously than the King wanted and refused to do “unchristian” deeds, as the King requested.  According to some accounts, in a fit of passion (and drunkenness), the King said, “By the eyes of God, is there not one who will deliver me from this low born priest?”

4.  Thinking the King wished Becket dead, four knights went to Canterbury Cathedral and killed Becket while he was praying on the alter.  He was canonized in 1174.  Citizens of Great Britain, like those in The Canterbury Tales, took trips to pay homage to the bishop.

5.  Geoffrey Chaucer was born a member of the rising middle class in the 15 th century.  He was trained for a career in the court, serving in the army, holding several government positions, and eventually marrying one of the ladies of the court.  He is buried in Westminster Abbey in the Poet’s Corner.

6.  Chaucer’s greatest work was The Canterbury Tales.  It was one of the first books printed by William Caxton (inventor of the printing press).  120 tales were originally planned, two told by each pilgrim on the way and two on the return trip.  Only 22 tales and two fragments were completed before his death.

7.  Chaucer stole the idea and many stories from Boccaccio’s Decameron  A frame story is a narrative technique whereby a main story is composed, at least in part, for the purpose of organizing a set of shorter stories, each of which is a story within a story.

8.  Chaucer showed his wide knowledge of the literature of the age in his verbal portrait of thirty pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Thomas a’ Becket.  Chaucer planned 120 tales, two told by each pilgrim on the way and two told by each on their return trip.  Before his death, he completed 22 tales and two fragments.  He presented his tales as a companion pilgrim, satirizing and commenting on the people and problems of the age.

9.  1343(?)-1400  Born into middle class family  In 1359 while serving in English army, he is captured and held for ransom  Begins writing in his 20’s  Wrote C.T. in his later years, no one knows exactly when  His ispiration for the stories may have come from his own pilgrimage to Canterbury  Considered the greatest English poet  Buried in Westminster Abbey, in London, in Poet’s Corner

10.  3 categories of characters:  Feudal  Ecclesiastical  Mercantile

11.  Plowman  Host  Doctor  Reeve  Miller  Summoner  Skipper  Monk Franklin Student Lawyer Friar Merchant Guildsmen Parson Squire Pardoner Wife of Bath Manciple Cook Yeoman Knight Prioress

12.  Beast Fable – story in which animals are used as characters to demonstrate a moral.  Exemplum – allegory in which characters and actions represent moral qualities.  Fabliau – folk version of a romance; coarse and crude.  Fairy Tale – story taking place in a fantasy world of incredible characters and events.

13.  Metrical Romance – long narrative poem filled with adventure, love and magic.  Miracle Story – religious story based on stories of the saints or miraculous events.  Mock Epic – satirical use of the epic form to portray insignificant characters and events.