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Published byBertram Briggs Modified over 9 years ago
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The Canterbury Tales Pilgrims in the Walk of Life
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Historical Setting 1337-1435—100 Years War 1381—Peasant’s Revolt Growth of London Rise of middle classes 1348-1349—Black Death Fall of John of Gaunt Richard II’s deposition
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Geoffrey Chaucer Born 1343 Page at 14, squire at 16, captured in France Married in 1366 to Phillipa John of Gaunt’s patronage More battles, squiring, travels in Italy (Petrarch/Dante?) 1374—controller of customs 1385—JP in Kent 1389—Richard II appoints Clerk of Kings Works/Deputy Forester 1400—dies pretty poor
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Works 1369—Book of the Duchess—John of Gaunt’s wife dies 1380—Parliament of Fowls 1383—Boece 1383-1386—Troilus and Criseyde/Legend of Good Women 1387-1392—General Prologue and some Tales 1393-1400—Later Tales
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Literary Influences Dante Petrarch Boccaccio—Decameron/Teseida/Filostrato Jean de Meung—Roman de la Rose William Langland—Piers Plowman
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Structure Framework Tale Southwark—Tabard Inn—Harry Bailey’s prize Twenty-nine pilgrims (all but 2 in Prologue) Twenty-two tell tales, plus Chaucer’s two, and Canon’s Yeoman for total of 25 Seven don’t—Plowman, Yeoman, and 5 guildsmen
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Binding Elements Stages Places Times Progress Interaction in and out of tales These links—interesting, late, dominated by Harry Bailey
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The Six Groups Upper to lower society Knight/Squire/Yeoman—upper secular Prioress/Monk/Friar—upper ecclesiastical Professionals and Moneyed class—from the Merchant to the Wife of Bath Clerk, Sergeant of Law, Franklin, Shipman, Doctor, Five guildsmen and Cook Humble Christians—Parson and Plowman The Rogues—Miller, Manciple, Reeve, Summoner, Pardoner, Chaucer
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Groups Good Worldly striving Depraved Horses and instruments
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Three Levels Historical window Entertaining short stories Interplay of characters leads to overall themes
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Themes Love and marriage Ten of twenty-four stories Six more figure prominently Religion and Philosophy Science, Medicine, and Pseudo-Science
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Group One Knight’s Tale —Teseida Amazons/Theseus in Legend of Good Women Three Temples Courtly love—pity vs dedication to honor and virtue Venus vs Mars
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Group One Miller and Reeve Comic sex told against each other Cuckoldry Cook—nasty lowest character, boil, tale cut short Man of Law —saint’s tale, correction of previous tales Heroine’s absolute refusal of help to save herself—God must do all (comment on Augustinianism and Lollards )
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Group Two Shipman’s through Nun’s Priests Tales Best dialogue between the pilgrims Lollardism (John of Gaunt) Fabliaux—comic short stories Bawdy Middle class Cynical Monk’s Tale--randy outrider—no theology— wheel of fortune Debt to wife, failure to pay, husband to blame
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Group Two Prioress Tale Miracle story Anti-semitism Reflection of her character Amor vincit omnia—Eros vs Agape One priest not three as in Prologue Story from Hugh of Lincoln—pogroms Usury
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Group Two Tale of Sir Thopas Satire on metrical romance Heavy rhyme scheme Ridiculous elements—Flemish knight/goshawk/oaths/oafish knight Tale of Melibee —French story, confiding and trusting wife Daughter Sophia receives five wounds
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Group Two Nun’s Priest Tale Beast fable Boethius’ philosophy Widow story Rooster—symbol of sensual indulgence Free will vs predestination
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Group Three Physician’s Tale —Roman de la Rose Pardoner’s Tale Perfect short story At the pub? Exemplum in homily Questionable sexual practices of Pardoner Moral self-exposure in tale
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Group Four Wife of Bath to Franklin’s Tale Marriage Group Wife of Bath’s Tale Theology of Wife’s Prologue Psychology of sex Jankyn and anti-feminism Arthurian story of loathly hag Wooing vs taking
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Group Four Friar and Summoner tell stories contra one another Clerk’s Tale —Petrarch Postscript opposite of tale Merchant’s Tale —best of four fabliaux— January/May/Damian Squire’s Tale —Cambuscan, Canace— true love and faithfulness
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Group Four Franklin’s Tale Wealth of Franklin Breton Lay Marriage of absolute trust and equality Catastrophic consequences Who was most righteous?
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Group Five Second Nun’s Tale Cecilia and Valerian, saint’s tale Canon’s Yeoman —interesting autobiographical possibilities Disillusion with alchemy Manciple’s Tale —tell-tale bird from Ovid and Roman de la Rose Parson’s Sermon —summation of tale, real themes
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General Themes Use of classical literary references Use of classical gods Virgil Ovid Venus
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Courtly Matters Fight bravely and often Win woman’s love through obedience OK for nobles, not for church or middle class Chivalric code Swore to avoid false judgment Commit no treason Honor and help all women Attend Mass and fast on Fridays
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Chivalry Chastity Humility Loyalty Courtesy Prowess Largess God—Lord, Man—vassal Liege—Lord, Man--vassal Woman—Lord, Man—vassal
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Breakdown of the System Extramarital affairs Woman grants two kinds of grace Permission to serve Sexual favors Mercy and pity lead to desire Songs of complaint to Serenade to Aubade Very allegorical—flowers and furry animals
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Religion Church=Society—Law—Arts—Integrated Whole Boethius—Problem of unjust suffering Boethius—Nature of Free Will and God’s Sovereignty Occam—Razor—No Universals— Nominalism Wycliffe—Pro-Occam—Importance of Personal Behavior
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Science and Pseudo-Science Astronomy and Astrology Astronomy—Observational and Judicial Gods—Planets—Hours Zodiac—Governs parts of the body Intersection of psychology, medicine, and astronomy
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Pseudo-Science Alchemy—Transmutation—Philosopher’s stone—hints of transubstantiation Numerology—Pythagoras to Plato Physiognomy tells psychology Optics Lapidary lore Five categories of dreams
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Medicine Four Properties—Hot/Cold vs Dry/Moist Fire—Hot and Dry—Choleric—bile—bad tempered--quarrelsome Earth—Cold and Dry—Melancholy—black bile--gloomy Air—Hot and Moist—Sanguine—blood— sensual--happy Water—Cold and Moist—Phlegmatic— phlegm—lethargic--dull
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Conclusion Dante’s balance The use of the grotesque and immoral Cyril of Jerusalem: “The dragon sits by the side of the road, watching those who pass. Beware lest he devour you. We go to the Father of Souls, but it is necessary to pass by the dragon.”
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