1. Canterbury Tales By: Geoffrey Chaucer 1340-1400

2. Background  Chaucer’s claim to fame – Father of English Literature  Three great writers; Chaucer, Shakespeare, John Milton

3. Background continued…  Chaucer – first to write in Peasant language  3 Dominate Languages:  Latin = Church  French = King and Court  English = Peasant  Chaucer wrote in English, a page (gofer) family rising middle class family – made a difference

4. Structure of Canterbury Tales  Frame Story – a collection of short stories  A pilgrimage to Canterbury

5. Chaucer’s Plan  Selected 32 Random people  Met at London, traveled 50 miles to Canterbury.  Trip of a lifetime, religious reason?  10 horses shared; 4-5 day trip

6. Purpose of trip …..  Storytelling to pass the time  Each told 4 stories; 2 on the way there, 2 on the way back  A contest, winner enjoys lunch at the pub in Bath, once arrived