Background forThe Canterbury Tales

Semester 1 Review

Why is CT so great? Variety of people (character sketch).

Normal Universality of experience Emotions Behavior Etc.

Wrote in the VERNACULAR Language of a group of people/common people.

Poetic Rhyme Scheme Told in couplets

2 lines that end in a rhyme Heroic couplets

2 lines that end in rhyme & the meter is iambic pentameter

IAMB – 2 syllables /unstressed, stressed u u/u/u/u/u = 2x5 = 10 syllables 2 syllables – one metrical foot

Type of Story FRAME Story Format (a

story within a story within a story within a story).

CT = Big Story about pilgrims on trip Pilgrim = telling a story

Character inside the Pilgrim = tells a story

“The Prologue to the CT”

Character Sketch – literary technique. Painting a picture of a

character through direct and indirect characterization.

Direct Characterization When the author/narrator TELLS the character

traits (i.e. He is mean.)

Indirect Characterization When the author/narrator HINTS/suggests

through actions, thoughts, or words of the character

Through how others react to the character.

Through how the character dresses, etc.

The READER infers the character traits.

SATIRE Writing that ridicules in order to reform

(change) something.

CT Setting When?

Spring (April) Weather is warmer and a time for rebirth

(especially with Easter, resurrection).

Where? To the Shrine of Thomas a Beckett in

Canterbury, England. The journey begins at the Tabard Inn,

Southwark (near London). Canterbury is 60 miles from Southwark Takes three (3) days to travel.

Characters 29 Original Pilgrims

1 Narrator

Total of 30 Pilgrims + the Host who is NOT a pilgrim.

The Host Owns the Tabard Inn

Proposed the game of telling stories along the trip.

The Game The Rules:

Each pilgrim tells two stories on the way there and two stories on the way (2+2=4)

All the pilgrims agreed. IF a pilgrim goes back on his word, he must pay for the entire trip.

The winner gets a banquet/feast at the Tabard Inn at the expense of all the losers.

The Reason Why would the Host come up with such a

contest?

He says it is the pass the time … BUT the REAL REASONS is …..

MONEY!