1. Background information on the Middle Ages
The Canterbury Tales
Background information on the Middle Ages

2. Geoffrey Chaucer 1340-1400 “Father of the English Language”
Most influential writer in the history of the English language
First person to write in the Vernacular middle English
Insight into all walks of life during the middle Ages

3. Geoffrey Chaucer
Social Poet- Chaucer wrote about social relationships. His focus was on the way people interacted with one another and with their God.
The Canterbury Tales is unique in range of character and variety of story

4. Geoffrey Chaucer Public Servant -Soldier -Ambassador
-Member of Parliament
-Served nobility
There is evidence that Chaucer had an income of $40 a year, most likely from the king.

5. Geoffrey Chaucer
Chaucer was fluent in French and knew both Italian and Latin.
Traveled all over Europe and made contact with other European writers (Dante, Patarch, and Boccaccio).

6. Language Development England becomes trilingual: Clergy: Latin
Aristocracy: French
Commoners: English (Middle English)

7. Middle English

8. Why did Chucer Write the Canterbury Tales?
Wanted to educate the masses on the corruption in the Church and the roles of the three estates
The Canterbury Tales provides the best contemporary picture we have of 14th century England.

9. Some Background on the Canterbury Tales
The story is about a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Thomas A’Becket (Martyr) in Canterbury
There are 29 pilgrims that represent all aspects of Medieval society.
Originally planned to write 124 tales
Only 24 tales were completed
Each character tells a tale on the pilgrimage to the cathedral at Canterbury

10. Some Background on The Canterbury Tales
Story begins in the Spring at Tabard Inn
Each pilgrim tells 2 tales on the way and two tales back
Host will judge stories
Chaucer is the narrator of the story

11. Pilgrims The narrator The Host Knight Squire Yeoman Prioress Monk
Friar
Merchant
Clerk
Sergeant at Law
Franklin
Guildsmen
Cook
Shipman
Doctor
Wife of Bath
Parson
Plowman
Miller
Manciple
Reeve
Summoner
Pardoner

12. Chaucer’s England Social Structure
Society was divided into 3 estates: clergy, aristocracy, and the commons
Clergy-responsible for people’s spiritual well-being
Aristocracy- responsible for defending the nation through military might.
Commons- laborers and producers

13. Themes and Central Ideas
Happiness and misfortune found in love
Relationship between people and their God
Corruption of the church
Competition
Society and class

14. Literary Terms Satire Irony Characterization Frame narrative/story
Hyperbole

15. Satire
Literary technique in which behaviors or institutions are ridiculed for the purpose of improving society.
What sets satire apart from other forms of social and political protest is HUMOR.
Satirists use irony and exaggeration to poke fun at human faults and foolishness in order to correct human behavior
Because Chaucer specifically includes characters that represent every facet of society except for the monarchy, The Canterbury Tales is an example of estate satire
Can you guess at what might be some satirical targets

16. Common Satirical Targets
Wealthy Greed
Politics Vanity
Writers Stupidity
Vanity Hypocrisy
Corruption
Pursuits of idle wealthy
Urban Congestion
Arrogance

17. Irony
Verbal and situational irony are often used for emphasis in the assertion of a truth.
Situational- character/reader expects one thing, but something else happens
Verbal- when a writer/character says one thing, but means another
TECHNIQUES: hyperbole, understatement, sarcasm

18. 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.

19. Frame Narrative
The result of inserting one or more small stories within the body of a larger story that encompasses the smaller ones.
In The Canterbury Tales, 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.

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

21. Feudal System Included aristocrats and commoners
King owned all the land in the country
King granted land holdings to aristocratic tenants in exchange for military support
Aristocrats would grant land holdings to commoners in exchange for labor services that would allow the lord to cultivate and maintain the land

22. Clergy (1.5 %) No one was born into the clergy
Regular clergy: (monks and friars) the regular clergy were male and were sworn to a life of celibacy and poverty
Secular clergy- parish priests (parsons) and clerics.
Nuns didn’t have the same rights as the male clergy

23. Aristocracy (1%)
Warrior class or those descended from the warrior class.
Titled nobility: dukes, counts, barons
Knights- lacked hereditary titles. Less than 1,000 in Chaucer’s England.
Squires: the backbone of the English and French armies. Moderate landowners and men of gentle birth who were not knighted.

24. Clergy The Regular clergy were expected to take vows of: Poverty
Chastity
Obedience

25. The Commons (97%)
Most of England’s Population lived in the country side
People in the commons were loosely ranked according to how much land they had
1) Franklins/Yeoman ( freemen who had more then 50 acres)
2) Husbandmen/Cotters (free or servile men who held 10 to 40 acres)
At the bottom of rural society were those who held no land and were dependent upon their earnings as laborers (plowmen, herdsmen, etc)

26. Religion
Being apart of society in the middle ages meant being apart of the church
Catholic Church- official church
All Christians in that part of the World were under the authority of the pope

27. The Black Plague
1348 – Black Plague reached England and wiped out 1/3 of the population (3.75 million to 2.25 million)
The sudden collapse of the population sent prices skyrocketing (increased the price of labor while decreasing the price of land)
The overall effect of the Plague was to hasten the collapse of feudalism by creating intense competition for labor and tenants

28. Thomas Beckett Appointed archbishop of Canterbury by King Henry 2
King Henry hoped that Thomas would side with him over the pope
The King’s plan backfired and Thomas ended up taking the side of the Church/pope over the King

29. Thomas A’Beckett
Murdered in 1170 (Assassinated by followers of the King Henry in Canterbury Cathedral)
Was canonized as both Saint and martyr following his murder
The Shrine of Saint Thomas of Beckett became a popular destination for religious pilgrimages during the Middle Ages

30. Chivalry
Chivalry- system of ideals and behavior that governed both knight and gentleman
Included things such as:
- oath of loyalty to overlord
- rules of of warfare
-adoration of a particular lady (not necessarily one’s wife)

31. Courtly Love
Courtly Love- Belief that acting in the name of a lady would help a knight be more brave and successful

32. Role of Women Peasant Women- clean, bear children, field work
Higher Station- supervise housework
A woman was always expected to be subservient to a male - regardless of relation
No political rights

33. REVIEW – Middle Ages and Canterbury Tales
Why did Chaucer write the Canterbury Tales in English? (Middle English)
- What was Chaucer’s purpose for writing the Canterbury Tales?

34. Review
Which LITERARY device does Chaucer primarily use to get his point across?

35. Review
What makes satire different from other forms of political or social protest?

36. Review
Who was more powerful, the king or the pope?

37. Review
Where are the pilgrims going?

38. Review
Why was St. Thomas of Beckett murdered?

39. Review
Which important historical events took place during the Middle Ages?

40. Review Bubonic Plague – What were the effects? Effects of Crusades:
Political: helped undermine feudalism
Social: allowed for romantic adventure (Chivalry)
Commerce/trade: opened up trade throughout Europe and created a constants demand for the transportation of both men and supplies
Catholic Church: increased the wealth of the Catholic church and the power of the Papacy.

41. Canterbury Tales Prologue
Prologue –STANDS ALONE
Does not include the stories that the pilgrims tell.
Describes all the pilgrims and gives the reader a picture into all walks of life during the middle ages.

42. Assignment Chaucer likes and dislikes certain characters.
REMEMBER that he uses satire, so it may seem as if he likes some pilgrims, but he really does not.
Each of you will be assigned a pilgrim.
Read and take notes
You will present your notes on your pilgrim to the class
Everyone should take notes on EACH character.

43. Notes to take on your pilgrim:
What does your pilgrim look like?
Dress?
Profession? (How well or inadequate) Are they wealthy?
Mode of transportation?
Does Chaucer like or dislike the character and why?