Narrative Poetry: Metrical Tales

Presented by: Solon, Lilet U.

Definition oMetrical tale is a narrative poem which is

written in verse that relates to real or imaginary events in simple, straight forward language, from a wide range of subjects, characters, life experiences, and emotional situations.

Features/CharacteristicsoMetrical tale is to poetry what the short story

is to prose.o It deals with any emotion or phase of life and

its story is told in a simple, straightforward, and realistic manner.

o The characters are ordinary people, concerned with ordinary events.

Features/Characteristicso It has simple structure and tells of a single

incident.oA narrative told by a known author with

characters, setting, plot and theme.oMetrical tale is written in number of verses.

Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales

Background of the storyo Frame storyo Literature within literature

Format of the poetry

o The Canterbury Tales are called a frame story, meaning that there are many stories “framed” in the larger story of the pilgrimage to Canterbury.

Chaucer’s pilgrims represent all classes, all professions in medieval England.

• Clerk• Miller• Manciple• Yeoman• Shipman• Physician• Merchant• Pardoner• Franklin• Reeve• Cook• Lawyer “Man

of Law”

• Narrator• Knight• Squire

• Summoner• Friar• Prioress• Two nuns• Summoner• Parson• Monk• Nun’s Priest• 2 Nuns

•Wife of Bath

What genre are the tales?o Fabliaux - a short, usually comic, frankly coarse,

and often cynical tale in verseo Bestiary – a medieval allegorical or moralizing

work on the appearance and habits of real or imaginary animals

o Sermons – a religious discourse delivered in public usually by a clergyman as a part of a worship service

o Courtly love – a late medieval conventionalized code prescribing conduct and emotions of ladies and their lovers

Geoffrey ChauceroWent against tradition when he wrote in

Middle English rather than French

o Considered “Father of the English Language” because he went against the norm and chose to write in the language of the people

The Tale of The Wyf of

Bathe

,k

He seketh every hous and every place,Where as he hopeth for to fynde graceTo lerne what thyng wommen loven moost;But he ne koude arryven in no coostWher as he myghte fynde in this mateereTwo creatures accordynge in feere.Somme seyde, wommen loven best richesse,Somme seyde honour, somme seyde jolynesse,Somme riche array, somme seyden lust abedde,And oftetyme to be wydwe and wedde.

Formo Rhyming couplets – every two lines rhyme

with each othero Rhythm & meter : iambic pentameter

,k

[He se][keth eve][ry hous] [and eve][ry place],[Where as] [he ho][peth for] [to fyn][de grace][To ler][ne what] [thyng wom][men lov][en moost];[But he] [ne koude] [arry][ven in] [no coost]Wher as he myghte fynde in this mateereTwo creatures accordynge in feere.Somme seyde, wommen loven best richesse,Somme seyde honour, somme seyde jolynesse,Somme riche array, somme seyden lust abedde,And oftetyme to be wydwe and wedde.