1. Geoffrey Chaucer
(c – 1400)

2. Life Not a great deal is known of Chaucer’s life. 
Geoffrey is called the “father of English poetry” (made English language respectable)
Middle English  Spoken
French/Latin  used for literature, science, religion, etc.
Except by Geoffrey Chaucer (who made it popular to write in English!)
Chaucer was somewhat educated and had some legal training
Chaucer was captured in France while serving in the Hundred Years War (apparently important enough to have the King contribute to his ransom)
Married a woman named Philippa and had at least 2 children
In 1367 he was awarded the first of SEVERAL pensions, or a regular payment, for his service to the crown
Life
Not a great deal is known of Chaucer’s life. 

3. Chaucer began writing The Canterbury Tales in 1387 while unemployed
Chaucer began writing The Canterbury Tales in 1387 while unemployed. However, he never completed all of the stories. In spite of some unfinished stories, the collection is considered one of the greatest works in the English language.
The dominant metrical form of The Canterbury Tales is Iambic Pentameter. It is a rhythm that most closely matched the way English was spoken. This was truly abandoning the old alliterative world of the Anglo-Saxons and entering the modern world of Shakespeare, and Robert Frost.

4. About The Canterbury Tales
A series of stories told by individuals, representing a cross-section of medieval English society who undergo a Christian pilgrimage from London to Canterbury.
Tales were told as a game to make the journey seem less tiresome, and as a contest to see who tells the best story.
Many different storytellers, therefore many different stories.

5. The Canterbury tales is a….Frame Story.
A story within a story. (the binding together of several different narratives)
This is because Chaucer chose to have each pilgrim tell a story on their way to Canterbury.
Chaucer uses the OUTER story of the pilgrimage to unite his travelers’ individual tales.
More modern example: Titanic

6. Structure and Themes
A prologue precedes the character’s tales, which introduces that character personally. (Reveals much about each character and his or her values.)
Major themes include morality and genuine v. false pilgrimages.

7. The Prologue
An introduction to the characters, each of which represent a different aspect of medieval life.
Reveals both virtues and faults of the characters; therefore it is a social commentary.
The characters are “types;” they have no names and they symbolize all members of their profession.

8. Characterization Indirect and direct
Indirect: the process by which the personality of a fictitious character is revealed through the character's speech, actions, appearance, etc.
Direct: tells the audience what the personality, appearance, etc. of the character is.
Chaucer uses a lot of this as different pilgrims are introduced. You will be responsible for keeping track of this.