The Canterbury Tales

Metrical Tale

a long narrative poem which tells about the lives of ordinary people;

has element of realism; and

told in first person.

Metrical Romance

embodies the ideals of the medieval times (age of chivalry)

talks about the lives and adventures of the nobility, of chivalry and knighthood

Presentation by Katrin Lutao

The Canterbury

Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer

c. 1343-1400 Wrote in the vernacular Served as a soldier, government servant,

and member of Parliament First writer buried in Westminster Abbey

Family

By 1366 Chaucer had married Philippa Pan, who had been in service with the Countess of

Ulster.He had two sons and two

daughters.

Poet’s Corner

England in the Middle Ages

The Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) was the first national war waged by England.

England in the Middle Ages

The Black Death (1348-1349) brought the end of the Middle Ages.

England in the Middle Ages

Lower, middle, and upper-middle classes developed in the cities.

The Orders of Medieval Society

The Tabard Inn

Canterbury Cathedral became a site for pilgrims to offer prayers to St. Thomas.

Today, a modern cross made from swords marks the site of the martyrdom.

A close-up of the altar.

Wife of Bath

excellent seamstress and weaver;

married 5 times; with aggressive

feminism; in fancy/colorful

clothes: scarlet red stockings;

amorous

Stylistic Elements

Frame NarrativeThe Canterbury Tales is a collection of

stories that all fit within one single narrative Narrative Voice

While the tales themselves are narrated by different characters, a scribe writes them down. Various Literary Genres

Chaucer presents many types of literary work: romance, fabliaux, saint story, parable, dialectical discourse, lays, and sermon.

Historic Elements

The pilgrims in Chaucer’s work are truly a motley group. The Canterbury Tales represents a vast representation of people and occupations from the late Middle Ages in England.

The Catholic Church was suffering from corruption, particularly from offences highlighted in The Canterbury Tales, including selling of indulgences and other individual transgressions.

Historic Elements

Ravages of the Black Plague in the 13th and 14th centuries increase the property – and prosperity of farmers. Perpetual need for workers leads to commuting labor force.

Recall that Thomas à Becket was murdered because he refused to appease Henry II by petitioning Rome to get rid of the ecclesiastic courts – or at least to put Henry in charge of them.

Sources

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Poets_corner.jpg/250px-Poets_corner.jpghttp://www.ponyhide.com/mychaelbarratt/graphics/newwork/18.3.11/The-Canterbury-Tales.htmlhttp://molcat1.bl.uk/treasures/caxton/Recordhttp://www.bestfunfacts.com/literature.html