GChaucer-TheCanterburyTales

8/7/2019 GChaucer-TheCanterburyTales

1/23

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Talesby Geoffrey Chaucerby Geoffrey Chaucer


2/23

England: island of peoples,England: island of peoples,languages and divisionslanguages and divisions

The 3 estates in the MiddleThe 3 estates in the MiddleAges:Ages:

ClergyClergy

Those who pray to saveThose who pray to save

everyones soul (Latin)everyones soul (Latin) NoblesNobles

Those who fight toThose who fight toprotect, provide peaceprotect, provide peace

and justice (French)and justice (French) CommonersCommoners

Those who work to feedThose who work to feedand clothe all aboveand clothe all above

them (English)them (English)


3/23

feudalismfeudalism TheThe economic system of mucheconomic system of much

of the Middle Agesof the Middle Ages (800(800--1100)1100)

Commoners (peasants) lived on aCommoners (peasants) lived on afeudal manor. The lord of thefeudal manor. The lord of themanor gave them land to farm.manor gave them land to farm.

In return, the vassals receivedIn return, the vassals receivedprotection from roving bandits. Yetprotection from roving bandits. Yetthey were taxed and had tothey were taxed and had tosurrender a portion of their cropssurrender a portion of their crops

to the lordto the lord..

F

eudalism is important as itF

eudalism is important as itcreated ties of obedience andcreated ties of obedience andfostered a sense of loyaltyfostered a sense of loyaltybetween the vassals and their lord.between the vassals and their lord.

A tenant (vassal) renews his oath of loyaltyto his lord


4/23

A notable amount of medieval literatureA notable amount of medieval literatureis anonymous.is anonymous.

Medieval authors often tended to reMedieval authors often tended to re--telltell

and embellish stories they heard or readand embellish stories they heard or readrather than invent new stories.rather than invent new stories.

Characteristics:Characteristics:

Heroism: Beowulf / SG and TGKHeroism: Beowulf / SG and TGK

Presentations of Idealized behaviour:Presentations of Idealized behaviour:loyalty, chivalry, moralizationloyalty, chivalry, moralization

Use of Kennings: storm of swrods (battle)Use of Kennings: storm of swrods (battle)

Medieval LiteratureMedieval Literature


5/23

Characteristics (continuation)Characteristics (continuation)

Romance: Courtly LoveRomance: Courtly Love

Christian message: salvationChristian message: salvation

The Quest: Heros journey towards a goal.The Quest: Heros journey towards a goal.Deeds of a knight following a code ofDeeds of a knight following a code ofbahaviour (Arthur)bahaviour (Arthur)

Use of allegoryUse of allegory

Figurative mode of representation. It conveys aFigurative mode of representation. It conveys ameaning other than the literal, usually abstractmeaning other than the literal, usually abstractqualities, events and institutions.qualities, events and institutions.

It was used to convey the morals that the authorIt was used to convey the morals that the authorhad in mind when writing.had in mind when writing.

Medieval Literature IIMedieval Literature II


6/23

They begin with the First CrusadeThey begin with the First Crusade(1095)(1095) reclaim Jerusalem from infidelsreclaim Jerusalem from infidels

Trade routes are openedTrade routes are opened

Vassals are liberated to fight in theVassals are liberated to fight in theHoly LandsHoly Lands Feudalism dies out.Feudalism dies out.

The Church becomes incrediblyThe Church becomes incredibly

corruptcorrupt Transition to the RENAISSANCETransition to the RENAISSANCE

beginsbegins

THE HIGHMIDDLE AGESTHE HIGHMIDDLE AGES


7/23

With the Crusades comesWith the Crusades comesThe Black DeathThe Black Death

spreads along trade routesspreads along trade routes

kills 1/3 Europeankills 1/3 Europeanpopulationpopulation

the plague outbreaks occurthe plague outbreaks occur

through the Middle Agesthrough the Middle Agesand into the Renaissanceand into the Renaissance

yy First seen in Britain 1348First seen in Britain 1348yy Brought over byBrought over by

rats/fleas on cargo shipsrats/fleas on cargo shipsyy Made worse by horribleMade worse by horrible

living conditions inliving conditions inBritish citiesBritish cities


8/23

Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343--1400)1400)

Dominant literary figure in the 14Dominant literary figure in the 14thth

centurycentury

Life experiencesLife experiences----child of wealthy wine merchantchild of wealthy wine merchant

----page in a royal householdpage in a royal household

----spoke French, Latin, & Italianspoke French, Latin, & Italian----Soldier & diplomatSoldier & diplomat

----member of Parliamentmember of Parliament


9/23

Father ofEnglish LiteratureFather ofEnglish Literature

He went against traditionHe went against traditionshould haveshould havewritten in French BUT he wrote them inwritten in French BUT he wrote them inMiddle EnglishMiddle English

Father of the English Language becauseFather of the English Language because

hehe defieddefied rules/law and wrote in therules/law and wrote in thepeoples languagepeoples language

Geoffrey Chaucer andGeoffrey Chaucer and

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales


10/23

Geoffrey Chaucer andGeoffrey Chaucer and

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales wrote about all classes inwrote about all classes in The CanterburyThe Canterbury TalesTalesgiving the best picture ofEnglish society at thegiving the best picture ofEnglish society at thetimetime

Each character tells a tale on the pilgrimage toEach character tells a tale on the pilgrimage tothe cathedral at Canterburythe cathedral at Canterbury

Originally planned 120 tales, but only 24 wereOriginally planned 120 tales, but only 24 werecompleted before his deathcompleted before his death

First piece of literature printed in BritainFirst piece of literature printed in BritainTheThe

Canterbury Tales in Middle English (W. CaxtonCanterbury Tales in Middle English (W. Caxton1476 build 1st print in England vs Gutemburg1476 build 1st print in England vs Gutemburg1436 in Germany: The Bible)1436 in Germany: The Bible)


11/23

Chaucer ImagesChaucer Images


12/23

The Middle AgesThe Middle AgesBackgroundBackground

Hierarchy Class StructureDuring ChaucersTime

Nobility/Ruling Class -Knight and Squire

Clergy - Monk, Friar,Prioress, Parson,Summoner, Pardoner

Middle Class Merchant,Doctor, Student, Wife of Bath

Peasants Miller,Plowman, Skipper


13/23

Knights Code of ChivalryKnights Code of Chivalry

A knight must be:A knight must be:

1. true to his God1. true to his Godand a defender of theand a defender of the

faith.faith.2. true and loyal to2. true and loyal tohis lord and king.his lord and king.

3. true to his lady.3. true to his lady.

4. humble and4. humble andmodest in dailymodest in dailyactions.actions.

5. brave and fierce in5. brave and fierce in

war and adversity.war and adversity.


14/23

Code of the ClergyCode of the Clergy

A member of the clergyA member of the clergy

must:must:

1. be chaste and pure.1. be chaste and pure.2. be devoted to God.2. be devoted to God.

3. obey God / Biblical law.3. obey God / Biblical law.

4. take vows of poverty.4. take vows of poverty.5. reach heaven through5. reach heaven through

earthly denial.earthly denial.


15/23

Seven Deadly SinsSeven Deadly Sins

GluttonyGluttony

Avarice / GreedAvarice / Greed

SlothSloth

LustLust

VanityVanity

PridePride

AngerAnger


16/23

Moral Virtues (opposite of sins)Moral Virtues (opposite of sins)

ModerationModeration

GenerosityGenerosity

DiligenceDiligence

LoveLove

ModestyModesty

HumilityHumility

ForgivenessForgiveness


17/23

ChaucersChaucers Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales

Each pilgrim has speech and tale that matches aEach pilgrim has speech and tale that matches areal person during his (Chaucers) timereal person during his (Chaucers) time (Different(Differentgenres,genres, different views of the world, different vocabularies, and different imagesdifferent views of the world, different vocabularies, and different images

for truth)for truth)

RomanceRomance-- deals with human emotions anddeals with human emotions andrelationshipsrelationships

FabliauFabliau-- deals with the basic human needs of food,deals with the basic human needs of food,sex, or moneysex, or money

Saints LifeSaints Life-- deals with the operations of Goddeals with the operations of God Sermons and Ethical TreatisesSermons and Ethical Treatises-- deals with spiritualdeals with spiritual

mattersmatters


18/23

ChaucersChaucers Canterbury Tales (cont.)Canterbury Tales (cont.)

30 characters representing all social classes30 characters representing all social classes

----Chaucer, as a parody of himself, is one of theChaucer, as a parody of himself, is one of thepilgrimspilgrims

----Although fictional, does have realistic settingsAlthough fictional, does have realistic settingsand occupationsand occupations

*Tabard Inn*Tabard Inn

*Canterbury & Canterbury Cathedral*Canterbury & Canterbury Cathedral

*Shrine of Thomas Becket (martyr with*Shrine of Thomas Becket (martyr withhealing powers killed by Henry II)healing powers killed by Henry II)

Chaucers tone:Chaucers tone: IRONICIRONIC


19/23

The PrologueThe Prologue

Introduction: 30 pilgrims are on their way toIntroduction: 30 pilgrims are on their way toCanterbury to pay homage at BecketsCanterbury to pay homage at Becketstomb.tomb.

Each agrees to tell two tales on the way toEach agrees to tell two tales on the way tothe shrine and two tales back.the shrine and two tales back.

The winner will receive a supper paid for byThe winner will receive a supper paid for byall.all.


20/23

List ofList of30 Pilgrims30 Pilgrims

NarratorNarrator line 20line 20 KnightKnight line 43line 43 SquireSquire line 81line 81 YeomanYeoman line 103line 103 Prioress (+ 3)Prioress (+ 3) line 122line 122 MonkMonk line 169line 169 FriarFriar line 212line 212 MerchantMerchant line 280line 280 Oxford ClericOxford Cleric line 295line 295 Serjeant at LawSerjeant at Law line 319line 319

FranklinFranklin line 341line 341 GuildsmenGuildsmen (Haberdasher,(Haberdasher,

Dyer, Carpenter, Weaver,Dyer, Carpenter, Weaver,CarpetCarpet--Maker)Maker) -- line 371line 371

CookCook line 390line 390SkipperSkipper line 398line 398DoctorDoctor line 421line 421Wife of BathWife of Bath line 455line 455ParsonParson line 488line 488PlowmanPlowman line 539line 539MillerMiller line 561line 561MancipleManciple line 585line 585ReeveReeve line 605line 605SummonerSummoner -- line 641line 641

PardonerPardoner line 689line 689


21/23

Literary TermsLiterary Terms SatireSatire:: literary mode based on criticism of people andliterary mode based on criticism of people and

society through ridicule.society through ridicule.

CharacterizationCharacterization:: method used by a writer tomethod used by a writer todevelop a character such as appearance, actions, thoughts,develop a character such as appearance, actions, thoughts,others reactions)others reactions)

frame narrative/storyframe narrative/story:: one or more small storiesone or more small storiesinserted within the body of a larger story.inserted within the body of a larger story.

ProloguePrologue:: establishes the situation of the characters orestablishes the situation of the characters orpresents information about the setting, period and action.presents information about the setting, period and action.

HyperboleHyperbole:: Exaggeration or overstatement.Exaggeration or overstatement. StereotypeStereotype:: conventional, formulaic, oversimplifiedconventional, formulaic, oversimplified

conception, opinion, or image.conception, opinion, or image.


22/23

Tales linksTales links

The Wife of BathThe Wife of Bath ((PresentationPresentation))

The Wife of BathsThe Wife of Baths TaleTale

The Knights TaleThe Knights Tale The Millers TaleThe Millers Tale

The Clerks TaleThe Clerks Tale


23/23

THEENDTHEEND

GChaucer-TheCanterburyTales

Documents

Transcript of GChaucer-TheCanterburyTales