1. A Study of The Canterbury Tales
Exploring Canterbury
A Study of The Canterbury Tales

2. Table of Contents The Journey Begins . . . England in the Middle Ages
Focus question
Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales
Travelers to Canterbury
Chaucer’s Middle Ages Population
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
The Green Knight
Sir Gawain
Works Cited

3. The Journey Begins . . .
In October 1066, a daylong battle near Hastings, England, changed the course of history.

4. England in the Middle Ages
Feudalism replaced the Nordic social system.
The primary duty of males above the serf class was to serve in the military—Knighthood.
Women had no political rights.
Chivalry and courtly love served as the system of social codes

5. England in the Middle Ages
Lower, middle, and upper-middle classes developed in the cities.

6. England in the Middle Ages
The Crusades extended from
They brought contact with Eastern mathematics, astronomy, architecture, and crafts.

7. England in the Middle Ages
The Magna-Carta defeated papal central power.

8. England in the Middle Ages
The Hundred Years’ War ( ) was the first national war waged by England.

9. England in the Middle Ages
The Black Death ( ) brought the end of the Middle Ages.
Fleas on rats carried the bubonic plague which killed thousands of people. in Europe.

10. Geoffrey Chaucer c. 1343-1400 Considered the father of English poetry
Wrote in the vernacular
Served as a soldier, government servant, and member of Parliament
Introduced iambic pentameter
First writer buried in Westminster Abbey

11. Brief Bio
Considered by many as the most important writer of MIDDLE ENGLISH
Son of a middle class wine merchant
Enjoyed the favor of the nobility
1357 – Entered the service of countess of Ulster, Elizabeth. John of Gaunt became one of his chief patrons
1367 – Granted a life pension by the king

12. Bio Cont’d. In addition to being a writer he was also:
Controller of Customs
A justice of the peace
A member of Parliament
A Clerk of the King’s Works
His duties as a public servant afforded him travel opportunities that would later serve him in his own writings

13. Lit Terms Frame Story & Sarcasm
Frame Story: A story that is the vehicle for the telling of other stories
The Neverending Story
The Princess Bride
Bedtime Stories
Sarcasm: The use of irony to mock or convey contempt
It literally means to “tear flesh”
Can this be a good or viable form of literature?

14. The Canterbury Tales: Snapshot of an Age
Frame Story - It frames a story of characters on a religious pilgrimage to Canterbury
- External story: Pilgrims traveling to Canterbury who must tell a moral tale
- Internal story: Various moral tales told by the pilgrims
The characters are a concise portrait of an entire nation.
The pilgrimage is a quest narrative that moves from images of spring and awakening to penance, death, and eternal life.
The characters tell stories that reflect “everyman” in the universal pilgrimage of life.

15. Chaucer’s Snapshot of the Middle Ages Population

16. Works Cited Home
Brown, Ian. “The Green Knight.” May 16, 2003 <
“Geoffrey Chaucer.” Elements of Literature Sixth Course. Ed. Robert R. Hoyt. Austin, T99.
Pyle, Howard. “Sir Gawain the Son of Lot, King of Orkney.” May 16, 2003 <
“The Canterbury Tales: A Snapshot of an Age.” Elements of Literature Sixth Course. Ed. Robert R. Hoyt. Austin, T101-T104.