An Introduction to the Middle Ages and Geoffrey

Chaucer

English 12 & English 12 Advanced

Woodland Hills High SchoolMr. Brown

By Dr. Moschetta

Warm Up 2.12.14 If you lived around the year 1350,

what job do you think you would have?

Why?2-4 sentences

Warm Up Grab a “guided notes” Introduction

to the Middle Ages and Geoffrey Chaucer worksheet from the back of the projector cart.

Try and fill in the first section

Literature from This Unit The Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer

“Father of English Poetry” First author to write in English (Middle

English) [previously Latin] Educated Government official – work took precedence

over writing Worked on Canterbury Tales for 22 years;

never finished

The Middle Ages – Norman Invasion

1066 – Duke William of Normandy One-day long battle Defeated and killed King Harold of

England William felt entitled to the English

throne (Edward, previous king, left no heirs)

Combined Norman emphasis on law and order with Anglo Saxon democracy and culture

Feudalism Caste system (social class) Military system Property system System of social behavior

Top of the Ladder: William the Conqueror Barons, vassals, lower vassals, landless

knights, serfs

City Classes Eventually many people left the

country and moved to the cities City classes not defined by the

feudal system Upper, middle, lower Middle class = merchant class who

could afford what they wanted

Knighthood and Chivalry Chivalry was a system of ideals

that governed knights Loyalty to overlord Rules of warfare Adoration of a lady

Crusades & Hundred Years’ War

Crusades: Series of religious wars to spread Christianity

throughout Europe Struggle against Muslims Ultimately a failure Europe benefited from contact with higher civilization

of Middle East

Hundred Years’ War Battles between England and France Lasted over 100 years (1337-1453) Feud stemming from Norman Invasion Militarily unsuccessful for Britain; did

increase sense of nationalism

Black Death Highly contagious plague Spread through cities from fleas of

infested rats Killed 1/3 of people in England Gave more power to people in lower

classes Caused labor shortage Lower class workers willing to work could

negotiate wages and working conditions

Martyrdom of Sir Thomas a Becket

Thomas was a Norman who had great power in England as well as Catholic church (prime minister and Archbishop)

Sided with the Pope rather than the King

King Henry II (half joking) said he wanted Thomas put to death

Henry’s knights killed Thomas in the cathedral at Canterbury

Martyrdom of Sir Thomas a Becket

Saint Thomas the Martyr Made a saint and martyred by a cult

following who opposed the king People made pilgrimages to Canterbury

to honor Saint Thomas’s memory The Canterbury Tales are a fictional

collection of stories from a group of people making this pilgrimage to Canterbury

Homework Read and outline:“Development of English” p90-91“From Canterbury Tales” p92-93

Worst Jobs in History Middle Ages jobshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZrE1mVcB2k

(part 1)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPgkfxuyBgM&NR=1

(part 2)