2. Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?- 1400) The Canterbury Tales

3. Geoffrey Chaucer (1340? - 1400)

4. A. A pilgrimage a religious journey

5. The ultimate destination? Jerusalem (The Holy Land) –many years –lots of money –very risky

6. Closer to Home? Rome –many months –much money –still risky

7. Canterbury Cathedral: the pilgrimage for everyone! Canterbury –Why? a week’s journey from London the capital of the Catholic Church in England the burial site of Saint Thomas a Beckett

9. The KingThe Pope Thomas a Beckett

11. B. Balanced and Circular The Contest –30 pilgrims meet at the Tabard Inn in London

12. 30 pilgrims

13. B. Balanced and Circular The Contest –30 pilgrims meet at the Tabard Inn in London –Each pilgrim is to tell 2 tales on the way to Canterbury and 2 tales on the return trip –How many tales does Chaucer plan to write? 120 !!! –How many does he write? 24

14. Tabard InnCanterbury 2 tales -- winner gets a free supper paid for by the other pilgrims back at the Tabard Inn

15. B. Balanced and Circular Tales are balanced with each other –Knight’s Tale long, chivalrous, full of spiritual love from afar –Miller’s Tale short, lustful, dirty joke about a stupid carpenter –Reeve’s Tale dirty joke about a stupid miller

16. B. Balanced and Circular –Cleric’s Tale about the perfect wife totally subservient to her husband –Wife of Bath’s Tale about the perfect husband totally subservient to his wife

17. C. Levels of Society The lower nobility

19. C. Levels of Society The lower nobility –The Knight, the Squire, and the Franklin The clergy

21. C. Levels of Society The lower nobility –The Knight, the Squire, and the Franklin The clergy –The Pardoner, the Prioress, and the Monk The freemen

23. C. Levels of Society The lower nobility –The Knight, the Squire, and the Franklin The clergy –The Pardoner, the Prioress, and the Monk The freemen –The Wife of Bath, the Skipper, and the Cook

24. D. Comments on the Clergy Lack of chastity –chastity vs. celibacy Misuse of the convents Indulgences Relics

26. D. Comments on the Clergy Lack of chastity –chastity vs. celibacy Misuse of the convents Indulgences Relics Wealth

27. Chaucer was a devout Catholic; he commented satirically on the corruption within the church to bring about change. In Chaucer’s writings, physical ugliness reveals spiritual ugliness. This is a form of characterization he uses.