1. The Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer

2. The Canterbury Tales  Written between 1387 and 1400  Before printing presses - first copies were handwritten.  Written in Middle English, which was spoken by mostly lower classes between 1100 and 1500.  Chaucer first to use Middle English as literary language!

3. What is Middle English? Go to page 95

4. What does Middle English sound like? Go to page104, line 389

5. Pilgrimmage What is a pilgrimage? What are some sacred sites people travel today, or throughout history?

6. Pilgrimmage  Long journey to an important site or location.  Usually religious in nature.  In Canterbury, they are going to the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket.

7. Frame Story  A framework for connecting many, unrelated short stories or tales  stories within a story Examples:  1001 Arabian Nights Can you think of others?

8. Chaucer's Frame Story  29 pilgrims traveling to shrine meet at an inn to start.  the “host” (owner of inn) declares a contest  Each traveler will tell two stories on the way to the shrine and two on the way back.  The traveler with the best stories will win a free feast back at the inn, at the expense of all the others. The host also agrees to go with them and judge the contest.  The narrator also goes to Canterbury = 31 travelers in all. Frame story Unconnected stories within the story

9. Canterbury Tales  “The Prologue” is the narrator’s (Chaucer) introduction of each character as he/she arrives at the inn to depart. He also explains the host’s suggested contest.  The “Tales” are the stories told by each pilgrim on their way to or from the shrine.

10. Saint Thomas a Becket  Pilgrims begin in London and travel to the Shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury Cathedral. 68 miles

11. Why, you ask are they going to visit a shrine for St. Thomas a Becket?

12. Saint Thomas a Becket  Born well-to-do in London, approx. 1118  At age 25 gained employment in house of Theobald of Bec, archbishop of Canterbury  Studied law in Italy and France

13. Saint Thomas a Becket  Appointed archdeacon of Canterbury, under Theobald, his mentor  Gained favor with King Henry II  Replaced Theobald as archbishop of Canterbury after Theobald’s death in 1162.  K. Henry thought he had ally in office to help gain some power over Church, but….

14. Becket took the side of the church!  After rejecting a decree of King Henry’s that limited the power of church Becket fled and took refuge in France in 1170.

15. Saint Thomas a Becket  While away, Becket excommunicated clergy who participated in Henry son’s coronation as co-ruler.  was called a hero by the people of England.  As a result of popularity and actions, four knights of King Henry’s murdered Becket inside the Canterbury Cathedral in December 1170.

16. Saint Thomas a Becket  Entombed in Canterbury Cathedral  Canonized as a saint in 1173 after reports of miracles occurring at his burial site.  Common site for pilgrims seeking healing and other miracles.