1. Friday, March 4
QW #6 – social class
Canterbury Tales Notes

2. Today’s Goals Discuss characterization/social class
Learn helpful historical background information for The Canterbury Tales
Review the literary devices Chaucer uses (satire, frame story)

3. QW #6– Social Class
How is RHS divided into social groups? How can you tell who is in which groups? Do people pick their groups or are they assigned in some way? Can you move from one group to another with ease or is it difficult? How do the members of each group relate to members of other groups?

4. Introduction to The Canterbury Tales
Characterization
Classicism
Medieval social structure
Changing times
Social satire

5. Characterization
The process by which a writer reveals the personality of a character
Can be direct or indirect
Narrator can tell us
Describe how looks/dresses
Character’s words/actions
Reveal character’s thoughts/feelings
Showing how others respond to, think about, or speak about the character

6. Classicism Clergy Nobility Peasants Women (sorry, ladies) Ruling class
Aristocracy
Fighting class
Peasants
Middle class (not recognized)
Trade class (not recognized)
Peasantry class
Women (sorry, ladies)

7. Rigid structure
Attempts to move from one group to another was considered against the laws of nature and of God.

8. The Three Estates Men were classed according to what they did
Those who pray
Those who fight
Those who work

9. Men and Women
Women were classed according to their relationship to men
Virgin
Wife
Widow

10. Changing Times Renaissance approaching Science progressing
Greek literature rediscovered
Democracy
Capitalism encouraged social change
Chaucer wrote “Tales” as satire

11. The Canterbury Tales Written as “estates satire”
Shows each of the three estates and portrays the ideal members of each, as well as the problems with the social structure
Publicly exposed corruption
Written in Middle English

12. Geoffrey Chaucer Father of English poetry
Before Chaucer, serious poets would not write in English – felt that English could not convey the nuances & complexities of serious literature
Well-known gov’t official under Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV

13. Why else is Chaucer important?
CT, similar to Italy’s Decameron, uses a frame device
Strength of spirit & personality – “In a dark, troubled age, he was a comfortable optimist, serene, full of faith.” (John Gardner)

14. As we read…
Keep in mind that it has been said that Chaucer defends one true virtue…charity – the good man’s willingness to give the benefit of the doubt, to find some nobility in even the most wretched & deplorable of people . Do you believe this is true?

15. Pilgrimage Religious journey made to a shrine or a holy place
Pilgrims = many stations & many stages in life
CT begins pilgrimage in spring = why symbolic?

16. Murder of Beckett Friend of King Henry
Named Archbishop as means to control the Church
Murdered by King’s men when he defied King’s authority

17. Pilgrimage to Canterbury
Beckett was very popular
Quickly made a saint
Homage at his tomb

18. “Frame” Tale Over twenty characters traveling together to Canterbury
Inn’s Host challenges them to each tell a story on the way to Canterbury
The best story wins a free dinner
Premise provides a “frame” within which to hear the stories.

19. “Frame” Story Includes # of different narratives
Outer story (pilgrimage) unites traveler’s individual tales (inner stories)
Tales themselves have thematic unity