1. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

2. Pop Quiz Birth year and death year
How did Philippa Roet help further Chaucer’s career?
What happened to him after her death?
What dangerous position did Richard III appoint Chaucer to?
Where is Chaucer buried?

3. The Middle Ages
Thank God You Missed It

4. The Three Estates Those Who Work (Peasants & Middle Class)
Merchants, Laborers, Farmers, Government officials, etc.
Those Who Pray (Clergy)
Priests, Monks, Abbotts, Friars, Pardoners
Those Who Fight (Nobility)
Knights, Squires, Mercenaries, Princes, Dukes, etc.

5. Pilgrimages
Pilgrimages began as exercises in penance (attempt to earn forgiveness)
Roads were poorly maintained. Thieves hid in wait for lone travelers, so most people traveled as “pilgrims” in a large group.
Later on, travel improved, but getting to far-off spots (e.g. Jerusalem) was never easy or safe.
“Professional” pilgrims returned with relics, badges, pilgrim symbols, tall tales (some of these were falsified).

6. Literary Terms satire characterization frame narrative/story prologue
hyperbole
stereotype

7. satire
A literary mode based on criticism of people and society through ridicule. The satirist aims to reduce the practices attacked by laughing scornfully at them--and being witty enough to allow the reader to laugh, also.  Ridicule, irony, exaggeration, and several other techniques are almost always present.

8. characterization
The method used by a writer to develop a character. The method includes (1) showing the character's appearance, (2) displaying the character's actions, (3) revealing the character's thoughts, (4) letting the character speak, and (5) getting the reactions of others.

9. frame narrative
The result of inserting one or more small stories within the body of a larger story that encompasses the smaller ones. Often this term is used interchangeably with both the literary technique and the larger story itself that contains the smaller ones, which are called "framed narratives" or "embedded narratives." The most famous example is Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, in which the overarching frame narrative is the story of a band of pilgrims traveling to the shrine of Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. The band passes the time in a storytelling contest. The framed narratives are the individual stories told by the pilgrims who participate.  

10. prologue
An introductory section of a literary work. It often contains information establishing the situation of the characters or presents information about the setting, time period, or action. In the "General Prologue" of The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer describes the main characters and establishes the setting and purpose of the work.

11. hyperbole Exaggeration or overstatement.
Example: I'm so hungry I could eat a horse. He's as big as a house.

12. stereotype
1. A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.
2. One that is regarded as embodying or conforming to a set image or type.

13. Geoffrey Chaucer ( )
Son of a merchant, page in a royal house, soldier, diplomat, and royal clerk.
The Canterbury Tales provides the best contemporary picture we have of 14th century England.
Began writing Canterbury Tales in 1386
Known as “The Father of English Poetry”

14. The Canterbury Tales Originally planned to write 124 tales
Only 24 tales were completed
Each character tells a tale on the pilgrimage to the cathedral at Canterbury

15. The Significance of The Canterbury Tales
Accurate depiction of life in the middle ages (class levels, interactions between the classes)
First story about lower classes
Satire & humor for social / political / religious commentary.
“The Canterbury Tales” point out problems within society.

16. How We Learn About the Pilgrims
social rank, moral & spiritual condition
Include many of the following
Physiognomy
Clothes
Job
Hobbies
Food Choice
Humour
Their Words

17. Manuscripts Written in Middle English
Ellesmere Manuscript
240 pages of parchment leaves
The most famous manuscript in the English language

18. General Complexity of The Canterbury Tales
Different genres have different views of the world, different vocabularies, and different images for truth
Romance- deals with human emotions and relationships
Fabliau- deals with the basic human needs of food, sex, or money
Saint’s Life- deals with the operations of God
Sermons and Ethical Treatises- deals with spiritual matters

19. The Prologue Prologue- an introduction
Setting- in spring in the city of Southwark at the Tabard Inn
30 pilgrims in all
3 groups of pilgrims-1)Oratores (those who pray), Bellatores (those who fight), and Laborares (those who work)

20. Theory of the Four Humors
This theory held that the body's state of health--and by extension the state of mind, or character--depended upon a balance among the four elemental fluids: blood, yellow bile, phlegm, and black bile. The four basic human temperaments: phlegmatic, sanguine, melancholic, and choleric, were each caused by a predominance of one of the four humors. The humors and their corresponding temperaments were closely allied with the four elements (air, fire, water, and earth) and the dualities of hot/cold, moist/dry .

21. Phlegmatic
The temperament of the calm and tough phlegmatics was influenced by excess phlegm, and was closely associated with water, cold and moisture. Characteristics: dull, pale, cowardly. 

22. Sanguine
Sanguines, whose cheerful and lively temperament resulted from the dominance of the blood, and was associated with the air, heat and moisture. Characteristics: amorous, happy, generous.

23. Melancholic
The worry and gloominess of the melancholies were due to a surfeit of melancholy. Associated with earth, cold and dryness. Characteristics: gluttonous, lazy, sentimental

24. Choleric
The energetic cholerics had too much choler (an irritable petulant feeling) in his or her system. Associated with fire, heat and dryness. Characteristics: violent, vengeful.

25. The Seven Deadly Sins
Pride is an excessive belief in one's own abilities.
Envy is wanting what others have, be it status, abilities, or possessions.
Gluttony is the desire to eat or consume more than you require.
Lust is a powerful craving for such as sex, power and money. 
Anger is the loss of rational self-control and the desire to harm others.
Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain. Sloth is laziness and the avoidance of work.

26. Geoffrey Chaucer
His Life & Times

27. Geoffrey Chaucer (1343 – 1400) Poet, author, diplomat
Son of London vintner (winemaker)
Held civil service positions in government
Well-travelled on diplomatic missions for the king
Read English, Latin, Italian, and French

28. The Canterbury Tales
An Overview

29. Overview Some tales are serious, others are comical.
Each is an accurate description of a set of traits, beliefs, and faults.
Chaucer criticized the malpractice of the clergy, and poked fun at those from the 3 estates. (nobility, clergy, commoner)
Many of the tales shared similar themes; some tales are told in response to a previous tale (e.g. a story about the joy of immorality is followed by a story about the punishment for sinners)

30. Some Background Begun: 1386 Planned: 120 tales
Completed: 22 tales and 2 fragments
Pilgrimage was a “framing device” for tales; tales also have “thematic unity”.
The pilgrims shares stories to pass the time; these stories described the very different points-of-view and beliefs and practices of the people of Chaucer’s age.

31. Content Knowledge: Frame Story
Frame Story: a story that holds together several other stories; usually, characters in the frame story tell stories of their own.
e.g. each of the characters in The Canterbury Tales tells their own story, which has a new, unique cast of characters.
The Canterbury Tales is the story of a group of pilgrims who tell stories as they travel to Canterbury; each pilgrim’s story stands alone as its own story, but fits within the overall story of the journey.

32. Content Knowledge: Iambic Pentameter
Iambic Pentameter: a line of poetry that contains five (“penta” means “five”) “iambs” (metrical feet).
Iamb: a metrical foot that contains one unstressed and one stressed syllable.
Example:
Of the deep rivers, and the lonely streams.
From this green earth; of all the mighty world.
Assignment: Find an example from The Prologue.

33. Content Knowledge: Couplets
Couplets are pairs of lines that rhyme.
e.g. "I cannot go to school today." Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
I have the measles and the mumps, a gash, a rash and purple bumps."
Couplets are among the simplest rhyme schemes.

34. Content Knowledge: Characterization
Characterization is the manner in which an author describes a character to the reader. Characterization tells us something about the character.
e.g. The Pardoner is characterized by his immorality and his acceptance of his hypocrisy
Find an example of characterization in The Prologue.
There are two types of characterization: direct and indirect.

35. Content Knowledge: Indirect Characterization (definition)
Indirect Characterization occurs when an author tells what a character does, says, or looks like, or describes how other characters react to him or her.
The reader must use their judgment to decide what the character is like.
What can you infer about this character:
Bill straightened his starched suit and slicked back his hair; he looked at himself in the mirror, then smiled with satisfaction.

36. Content Knowledge: Indirect Characterization (examples)
Chaucer uses these types of indirect characterization (and others):
“This yeoman wore a coat and hood of green, And peacock-feathered arrows, bright and keen” (Appearance)
Her greatest oath was only “By St. Loy!” (Speech)
“And gladly would he learn, and gladly teach.” (Attitude/Behavior/Feelings)

37. Content Knowledge: Direct Characterization
Direct characterization occurs when the author states a character’s traits—virtuous, vain, clever, etc.
e.g. Bill was vain and self-centered.
Chaucer also uses direct characterization, especially on his minor characters:
There was a Friar, a wanton one and merry, A Limiter, a very festive fellow.

38. Content Knowledge: Irony
irony: incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs.
coincidence is not irony, though the two are similar.
verbal irony: The contrast between what is said and what is actually meant.
the surface meaning and the underlying meaning of what is said is not the same.

39. The Canterbury Tales
The Prologue

40. The Narrator
Narrator is Chaucer, but don’t confuse “pilgrim Chaucer” with “author Chaucer”
Narrator is acting as a reporter of what others say, not adding/removing.
Pretends to be unaware of irony or satire.

41. Time to Annotate… Open to p.5 in the Prologue Number lines by 5
Break text into chunks

42. See if you can assign to the chunks…
Let me introduce everyone
We are at Tabard Inn ready to start
30 of us are on the pilgrimage
Pilgrims go to Canturbury
Spring is here!
SHIFT
1st person
1st person plural