1. Canterbury Tales Prologue: Vocabulary Words
1. solicitous- showing care or concern
2. garnered- decorated; trimmed
3. absolution- act of sin or criminal charge
4. commission- authorization; act of giving authority to an individual
5. sanguine- confident; cheerful
6. prevarication- evasion of truth

2. Literary Analysis 2 types of characterization
1. Direct characterization- presents direct statements about a character
2. Indirect characterization- uses actions, thoughts, dialogue, and description to reveal a character’s personality.
Social commentary- writing that offers insight into society, its values and its customs.
Chaucer provides social commentary about English society in Canterbury Tales

3. Literary Analysis
Each of major forms of medieval literature represented
1. romances ( tales of chivalry)
2. fabliaux (short, bawdy, humorous stories)
3. allegories ( narratives in which characters represent abstractions such as Pride or Honor)
Also: stories of saints’ lives and sermons
Heroic couplet- Chaucer’s form- pair of rhyming lines with five stressed syllables each
Big reason why Chaucer known as father of English poetry

4. Geoffrey Chaucer’s background
Very much experience with medieval world
Son of a merchant, soldier, diplomat, royal clerk and page in a royal house
Born into middle class family about 1343
Served- English Army in France captured + held prisoner
King Edward paid a lot for his release
Married Philippa Pan- lady-in-waiting to queen
Eldest child- Thomas- married noblewoman + acquired great wealth

5. History of Chaucer’s Writing
Began writing in his 20s
Practiced skills as he rose through ranks of medieval society
Early poems based on works of European poets
1st major work- The Book of the Duchess- 1369
developed mature style of his own + displayed insight into human character
Canterbury Tales- later years
Inspiration came from participation in his pilgrimage to Canterbury

6. Clothing Important in Medieval Times
14th century- rules based on money
No1 below rank of knight could wear fur
Merchants could wear same knights only if 5 times wealthier
Women forbidden from wearing silk head coverings
Clothes said a lot about who you, where you fit, and what you aspire to be

7. The Father of English Poetry
Considered greatest English poet
Shrewd storyteller
Generations of poets writing in English have studied his work for inspiration + learning

8. Summary of Prologue Narrator- probably Chaucer
Meets 29 other Pilgrims strat Tabard Inn- London suburb
Harry Bailey- host of Inn- presents challenge:
Each pilgrim tell 2 stories on way to and from Canterbury
Person who tells best story treated to feast held by other pilgrims
Chaucer describes each pilgrim