1. The Canterbury Tales & The Middle Ages 1066-1485

2. Followed the “Estate System”
There were broad divisions of people in society
1st Estate = Clergy: those who prayed
2nd = Nobility: those who fought (knights)
3rd = Peasantry: those who produced
The rigid divisions began to break down because of growing numbers of..
1. Mercantile (traders): the middle class
2. Intellectuals: trained in literature and writing but didn’t want a career in the church

3. Interested in Physiognomy
The assessment of a person’s character/personality based on their outward appearance
Examples…
Gap-teeth = bold, sexual
Thin = bad temper, irritable
Flaring nostrils = passionate
Pus-filled sores = lechery, drunkenness
High forehead = intelligence, good breeding
White neck = loose, immoral

4. Humours
Believed the human body was filled with four basic substances, called humours, which are all in balance when a person is healthy
Note: your physical health and personality would be affected if one of these were out of balance

5. The Four Humours Blood -- too much = optimistic, cheerful
Yellow Bile -- too much = violent, vengeful
Phlegm -- too much = dull, pale, cowardly
Black Bile -- too much = melancholy

6. Medieval Dress Codes
Fashion rules depended on your class (whether rich, middle, or poor)
Ex: No one below the rank of knight could wear fur
Ex: Merchants could wear the same clothes as knights only if they were 5 times richer than a knight
Ex: Women can’t wear silk head coverings
Pilgrims clothing reveals: social status, personalities, attempts at modesty or deception

7. Feudalism (introduced after the Norman Conquest)
The king had plenty of land, but could not control it all.
So the king gave land to lords in exchange for protection, loyalty and $.
Lords then gave their land to knights in exchange for protection, loyalty and $.
Knights let serfs (peasants) work the land and he would protect them and give them food and shelter.
Each person had rights and responsibilities.

8. Chivalry & Courtly Love
It’s a system of ideals and social codes governing the behavior of knights and gentlewomen
Rule of Warfare: Never attack an unarmed opponent
Rule of Courtly Love: Adoring a lady (not necessarily one’s wife) was a means to self-improvement

9. Knights Should Possess…
Honor
Humility
Sacrifice
Fear of God
Faithfulness
Courage
Graciousness and courtesy to ladies
Were trained from a young age
Upon knighthood, were titled “Sir”

10. Ideas of Courtly Love… In its ideal form, it’s non-sexual
A knight adored a lady
Knight might wear his lady’s colors in battle
might glorify her in words / be inspired by her
Still, he couldn’t cross the boundary between courtly love and physical love
Ex. A lord’s wife might be courted by the knights.
Led to an idealized view of women, but did little to improve their actual position

11. Women in the Middle Ages…
No political rights
Considered “chattel,” or the personal property of her father or husband.
Subservient to husband, father, or brother
Husband or father’s social standing determined hers
Peasant women: childbearing, housework, hard field work
Noblewomen: childbearing and household supervision

12. Religion… Religious relics were huge
People would travel from afar to see the skull of John the Baptist or to see nails from Christ’s hands
Might have to pay to see them (problem?)
Indulgences -- people could pay to get their deceased relatives out of Purgatory
This was the work of the pardoner
Note: a lot of corruption in the church

13. The main duty of a Summoner was do deliver a summons, or order, to appear before the ecclesiastical courts.
He was also often charged with collecting fines for "immoral" behavior
The Summoner could inflict pain on people, get their property, or inflict death on someone.
Shows the power the Catholic church had in those days.
Many people were questioning the authority of the church.
Monks were supposed to live a life of chastity, poverty and obedience
Friars were supported by donations

14. Other Events the Characters are Involved In…
The Martyrdom of Thomas à Becket (1170)
Killed because he sided with the pope over the king
THIS is where the Pilgrims are going in The Canterbury Tales

15. Chaucer & The Canterbury Tales
His story gives a full picture of the Middle Ages society
We see…
the estate system
the corruption of the church
their beliefs about physical health and appearance
courtly love
Fin.