1. The Canterbury Tales notes
Author: Geoffrey Chaucer (c )

2. Leading Up To Date Written: Mid 1380s to 1400 Author: Geoffrey
Chaucer (c )
Language: These tales are written in Middle English, the everyday language of England from 12th through the 15th centuries.
Knight

3. A collection of stories “framed” within the unity of a journey.
Type of Work
Pilgrim Tapestry
A collection of stories “framed” within the unity of a journey.
Thomas a` Becket’s death
Tabard Inn Drawing

4. Point Of View
Chaucer rarely takes a specific position on themes or ideas. He is interested, of course, but doesn’t offer answers. The personality of each pilgrim is shown both through the tale told (its content) and the manner in which it is told
Geoffrey Chaucer

6. Categories
The tales are written in a variety of literary subgenres, but the four main types are
A) Fabliaux: Humorous, usually satiric tales with stereotyped characters and intricate plots. Often contain physical and bawdy humor, verging on slapstick. Examples include tales by the Miller, Friar, Summoner and Merchant.
The Friar

7. Categories cont.
B) Exemplum: Tale that exemplifies or teaches a lesson; for example, the Pardoner’s tale is a sermon against greed
C) Legend: Traditional story about an ideal person; for example, the Second Nun’s tale is a saint’s legend about Saint Cecilia
D) Romance: Another type of traditional story, usually filled with chivalric ideals and adventures
The Second Nun

8. Frame Story
The general prologue, in which a narrator joins 29 other pilgrims at the Tabard Inn as they gather to take a pilgrimage to Canterbury to visit the holy shrine of Thomas a` Becket. This Narrator describes each of the travelers, including Harry Bailly, the host of the inn. Bailly proposes a contest: whoever tells the most entertaining tale, with the best moral, will win a supper at the Tabard Inn. Everyone agrees, and the next morning the group begins the journey.

9. Canterbury Cathedral

10. Thomas a` Becket

11. Thomas a` Becket
Becket was born in 1118, in Normandy the son of an English merchant. His family was well off and he was educated in Paris
Upon his return to England, he became part of the household of the current Archbishop of Canterbury and was made Archdeacon of Canterbury.
Becket became friends with Henry the II, the new king of England, who appointed him as his chancellor. Shortly thereafter, the Archbishop of Canterbury died and Henry appointed Becket as the new Archbishop, assuming it would give him control over the church. It didn’t.

12. Thomas a` Becket
Becket turned on his former friend when Henry II tried to impose his will on the church courts. It was common practice for church courts to try clergy outside of the royal courts, making them part of a separate system of justice.
When Henry II tried to put a church official accused of murder on trial after he was acquitted in the church courts, he expected support from Becket. He didn’t get it.
Henry II summoned Becket before the royal court, implying that he may have embezzled funds while a chancellor. Becket fled to France for six years, realizing that Henry II was trying to remove him from office.

13. Thomas a` Becket
Becket and King Henry II seemed to have reached a peace after six years and Becket returned to his post at Canterbury, but Becket refused to reverse an excommunication of the bishops of London and Salisbury because they supported the king.
This caused the king to become quite upset and he said in court something to the effect of, “"What sluggards, what cowards have I brought up in my court, who care nothing for their allegiance to their lord. Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest."

14. Thomas a` Becket
Overhearing his request and hoping to gain favor with the king, four knights went to England, and during a service, hacked Thomas Becket to death, finally splitting his skull (pretty gristly, huh?). Contrary to their intentions, the knights were disgraced. King Henry II, four years later, donned a sack-cloth walking barefoot through the streets of Canterbury while eighty monks flogged him with branches. Henry capped his atonement by spending the night in the martyr's crypt. St. Thomas continued as a popular cultist figure for the remainder of the Middle Ages. Several miracles were said to occur at the tomb of the martyr and he was soon canonized. Hordes of pilgrims transformed Canterbury Cathedral into a shrine.

15. The Tabard Inn

16. Main Ideas/Major Concepts
Free Will (The freedom to make choices in life): Chaucer ponders whether or not humans have freedom in a world ruled by a God who knows the future, so many tales focus on the extent to which people are responsible for their actions.

17. Continued
Marriage: Tales by the Wife of Bath, the Friar, the Summoner, the Clerk, the Merchant, the Squire, and the Franklin all have marriage as a major component.
Love and S * x: a) love as sex (physical lust only): Merchant, Miller, and Shipman. b) Love that includes sex: Wife of Bath, Knight, Franklin. c) Courtly love, romantic love based on devotion and service to an idealized woman; Knight’s tale and Franklin’s tale.
The Merchant

18. Continued Grace and Salvation: Prioress’ tale
Virtue: Wife of Bath’s tale, Knight’s tale, description of the Knight in the General Prologue.
Appearance v. Reality: Although sometimes Chaucer presents characters who are what they seem, one of his main messages is that we shouldn’t judge people by their appearance.

19. Continued
Faith and Knowledge: “Faith” refers to Christian beliefs; “knowledge” to matters of this world. Chaucer believes religious faith should make the world a better place, but often in his tales they are not related: Miller’s tale, Prioress’ tale, Nun’s Priest’s tale.

20. Continued
Wife of Bath
Deception: Someone is always being tricked or deceived. Chaucer wants to show the scheming, conniving shenanigans and game playing of everyday life. Example: tales by Miller, Wife of Bath, Friar, Summoner, Merchant, Pardoner, Nun’s Priest.

21. A Few Key Pilgrims
Harry Bailly: Host of the Tabard Inn. Good humored; large man; wise. On journey, assigns, comments on, and decides winner of tales.
Knight: Distinguished in battle, chivalrous, devout, non-pretentious.

22. A Few More
Miller: Grinder of grain. Big, loud, obnoxious. Has “thumb of gold.” Leads the way on pilgrimage.
Monk: A churchman who has no time for “churchly” pursuits; he’s too busy hunting and enjoying the finer things of life. Enjoys a sybaritic lifestyle.
Prologue

23. And A Few More
Friar: A most unholy of holy men. He has a “special license from the Pope.”
Parson: Poor, devout preacher. Chaucer’s favorite church person.
Reeve: Overseer of an estate. Ill-tempered. Natural enemy of the miller. Last in the line of travelers.

24. Yes, There’s More
The Summoner
Summoner: One of Chaucer’s least favorites. His job is to “summon” people to church court; takes bribes.
Pardoner: Sells indulgences (pardons for sins); also sells “holy relics”; effective preacher.

25. Almost Done
Wife of Bath: Large, worldly, experienced, pushy, gap-toothed woman. Makes living as a weaver when she’s not on a pilgrimage. Scouting for husband #6.
Merchant: Represents the rising middle class of the day. Talks the talk of business but is in debt.

26. Last One, I Promise.
Doctor: Has a really good idea of what ails you (and the medicine to fix it) ahead of time (wink, wink). He has a “special love of gold.”