1. Medieval Times/Middle Ages
A Background for Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales

2. **Medieval Period – 1100-1500 AD
William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy (France), claimed English throne.
1066 – Battle of Hastings
William won against Harold
French invade English and take over

3. Medieval Period – AD
**Domesday Book (1086) – 1st land survey
SERFS – Servants to Norman Lords
Owed… obedience, work, taxes
Three languages
French – ruling class
Latin – Catholic Church and law
Anglo-Saxon (Middle English) – common people and old nobility
Insert something here

4. Medieval Life **Catholic Church was central to life
Bells announced work, meals, rest, mass
Community life and meetings, refuge
Inspired, sponsored artistic achievement and academics
Divine Comedy (1321) by Dante
Universities and manuscripts
Gothic cathedrals were architectural marvels
Like heaven on earth
Notre Dame

5. **Medieval Literature
Oral tradition
Shared songs and stories
Topics included:
Sermons and lives of saints
Ballads and carols
Sir Thomas Malory
The Death of Arthur and Camelot
William Caxton invents movable printing press.

6. **Medieval Corruption
Selling of indulgences
Letter from the Pope
Reduced or canceled time in hell, purgatory
Selling of religious office
Richest bidder got religious office
Uneducated, illiterate, immoral clergy
John Wycliffe – anti-corruption crusader
Kings should rule country and church in state
Translates Bible from Latin to English
Sows seeds of Protestant Reformation in 16th Century

7. **The Four Humors Humors – bodily fluids tied to the four elements.
Excess of one produced physical, mental characteristics.
Example: ruddy complexion and self-confidence suggested an excess of blood.
Sanguine – “of the color of blood” – still used today, describes a cheerfully optimistic person.

8. The Four Humors Humor Element Physical Quality Temper Related Adj.
Yellow bile
Fire
Hot, dry
Angry, stubborn
Choleric
Black bile
Earth
Cold, dry
Thoughtful, gloomy
Melancholic
Blood
Air
Hot, moist
Courageous& hopeful
Sanguine
Phlegm
Water
Cold, moist
Dull, plodding
Phlegmatic

9. **Geoffrey Chaucer ~1343-1400 Son of wealthy merchant
Page to Countess of Ulster at 13 yrs
Well-educated and well-travelled
Versed in English, French, Latin, Italian
1360: Taken prisoner in France
Ransomed by Edward III
Placed in Edward III’s personal service

10. Geoffrey Chaucer 1372: King’s business in Italy
Met, read famous Italian writers and works
1374 & 1382: Works as customs controller
1386: Member of parliament
Various royal appointments by Richard II

11. **The Canterbury Tales
Series of narrative poems about everyday people in Medieval England
A true cross section of the all ranges of society (not royalty) post-Black Plague
Detailed, lifelike portrayal
Written as people talked and lived back then
First major English work
Grounded in history, mythology, science, psychology, theology, and business

12. **Groups of People in 14th Century England
Feudal System – Knight, Squire, Yeoman, Franklin, Plowman, Miller, Reeve
Religious People – Prioress, Monk, Friar, Cleric, Parson, Summoner, Pardoner
Middle Class – Merchant, Sergeant at the Law, Tradesman, Cook, Skipper, Doctor, Wife of Bath, Manciple, Host

13. **Major Changes in Society
Social Changes
Loss of feudal centrality of power
Black Death
Rising middle class
Widening trade opportunities – new jobs
Religious Changes
Loss of influence – Pope Clement V’s move of Papacy to France
Rise in educated populace, loss of intellectual power
Move towards stories reflecting “real” life

14. The Canterbury Tales WHEN? Early spring
WHAT? Pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Thomas à Becket, archbishop and martyr

15. **The Canterbury Tales
WHERE? From Southwark (London) at Tabard Inn to Canterbury, 55 miles on horseback
WHO? 30 pilgrims & host Harry Bailly
WHY? To pass the time, each traveler tells 2 stories on the way there and 2 on the way back. At stake, a free meal for the best story.

16. **Middle English English post-Norman conquest (1066)
Combines Anglo-Saxon words with French and Latin
Lost complicated A-S word endings
No silent “e” – used as its own syllable
Unusual writing choice – most texts in French and Latin, read by intellectual royals – suggests written for “the people”

17. **The Prologue – Lines 1-18
In Middle English
Whan that aprill with his shoures soote
The droghte of march hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
Listen to Middle English
In Modern English
When fair April with his showers sweet,
Has pierced the drought of March to the root's feet
And bathed each vein in liquid of such power,
Its strength creates the newly springing flower;

18. ey Terms Pilgrim – Traveler (for religious purposes)
Prologue – Introduction or preface
Illumination – Decorated letter with pictures or designs (lights up a page)
Physiognomy – Pseudo-science which believes that physical features accurately tell a personality.