The Canterbury Talesby Geoffrey Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer(c. 1340-1400)

LIFE

• He was born in London between 1340 and 1344, the son of John Chaucer, a vintner.

• Chaucer was likely fluent in several languages, including French, Italian, and Latin.

• The official date of Chaucer's death is Oct. 25, 1400. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Geoffrey ChaucerWORKS

• Chaucer is noted for writing in the common vernacular.

• Chaucer’s greatest known work is The Canterbury Tales.

• Chaucer originally wanted to write 124 tales.

• He only finished 24 tales.

The Canterbury Tales• This unfinished poem, about 17,000 lines, is one

of the most brilliant works in all literature. • The poem introduces a group of pilgrims

journeying from London to the shrine of St. Thomas à Becket at Canterbury.

• Thomas à Becket was murdered in the cathedral in Canterbury, making it a holy shrine and a place of pilgrimage for medieval Christians.

The Canterbury Tales cont…

• Chaucer depicts a 14th Century social hierarchy through the description of the pilgrims.

• All walks of life are represented in Chaucer’s writing.

• Chaucer was a master storyteller and craftsman

Geoffrey ChaucerCONTRIBUTIONS

• Why SHOULD we read Chaucer?1) He depicts a 14th Century social

hierarchy.2) He uses the language of the common

people.3) He is a Literary and Creative

genius.4) He ushers in English Literature.

The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales

Read pages 111-1361. For each Pilgrim

introduced, write the following:

• List the Pilgrim’s Title.• Physical Description.• Moral Description.• Narrator’s Personal

Description.

2. Also decide who is your favorite and least favorite Pilgrim and tell me why.

3. Rank them as to what you think their moral standing is.

4. What does the Prologue contribute as a whole?

The Canterbury TalesThe Knight’s Tale

1) Why does the Knight get to go first?

2) How does the story reflect the story-teller?

3) What does this story reveal about the Knight’s idea of love?

4) How does this story seem fitting for a story-telling contest?

The Canterbury TalesThe Wife of Bath’s

Tale1) Why is the prologue

longer than the tale?

2) How does the story reflect the story-teller?

3) What does this story reveal about the Wife’s idea of love?

4) How does the Wife attack the Knight through her tale?

The Canterbury TalesThe Pardoner’s Tale

1) What is unique about the prologue to his tale?

2) How does the story reflect the story-teller?

3) What does this story reveal about the Pardoner’s character?

4) What purpose does the Pardoner have for telling his tale?