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Canterbury Tales Canterbury Tales The General Prologue The General Prologue

Canterbury Tales

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Canterbury Tales. The General Prologue. Canterbury Tales. Written around 1387-1400 Written by Geoffrey Chaucer Soldier Courtier Royal emissary to Europe Controller of customs Justice of the peace Member of Parliament artist. Prologue. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Canterbury Tales

Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales

The General PrologueThe General Prologue

Page 2: Canterbury Tales

Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales

►Written around 1387-1400Written around 1387-1400►Written by Geoffrey ChaucerWritten by Geoffrey Chaucer

SoldierSoldier CourtierCourtier Royal emissary to EuropeRoyal emissary to Europe Controller of customsController of customs Justice of the peaceJustice of the peace Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament artistartist

Page 3: Canterbury Tales

ProloguePrologue

►Chaucer has the idea to bring together Chaucer has the idea to bring together 29 “sondry folk” in a pilgrimage (“by 29 “sondry folk” in a pilgrimage (“by aventure [chance]”)aventure [chance]”) Represent a wide range of 14Represent a wide range of 14thth century century

English societyEnglish society►Makes comprehensive study of humans Makes comprehensive study of humans ►Perfect way to present his ironyPerfect way to present his irony

Page 4: Canterbury Tales

ProloguePrologue

► Represent a wide range of 14Represent a wide range of 14thth century century English societyEnglish society 3 Groups Represent:3 Groups Represent:

►Agricultural feudalismAgricultural feudalism Landownership and serviceLandownership and service

► Knight’s yeomanKnight’s yeoman► FranklinFranklin

►UrbanizationUrbanization Change in feudal structureChange in feudal structure

► DoctorDoctor► GuildsmenGuildsmen

►The ChurchThe Church One of the most powerful elements in medieval soceityOne of the most powerful elements in medieval soceity

► 9 of pilgrims belong to clergy9 of pilgrims belong to clergy

Page 5: Canterbury Tales

ProloguePrologue

►Each pilgrim Each pilgrim tell two stories on the way to Canterbury tell two stories on the way to Canterbury two stories on the way backtwo stories on the way back

►Plan proposed by Harry Bailey, host of the Plan proposed by Harry Bailey, host of the Tabard InnTabard Inn

►Teller of best tale is rewarded at the end Teller of best tale is rewarded at the end A dinner provided by his fellow pilgrims at A dinner provided by his fellow pilgrims at

the Tabardthe Tabard►Harry Bailey is judge Harry Bailey is judge

Page 6: Canterbury Tales

ProloguePrologue

►Prologue sets the scene and Prologue sets the scene and introduces reader to the charactersintroduces reader to the characters

►Between many of the tales Chaucer Between many of the tales Chaucer expounds upon the personalities of the expounds upon the personalities of the pilgrims.pilgrims. Number of arguments that prepare for Number of arguments that prepare for

subsequent talessubsequent tales Some pilgrims introduce a tale with a Some pilgrims introduce a tale with a

commentary on his/her own personal lifecommentary on his/her own personal life

Page 7: Canterbury Tales

ProloguePrologue

►Chaucer’s project was never finishedChaucer’s project was never finished Only 24 tales existOnly 24 tales exist

►Tales were probably composed at Tales were probably composed at various times in Chaucer’s lifevarious times in Chaucer’s life

Page 8: Canterbury Tales

ProloguePrologue

►Begins with a long, rhetorical sentence Begins with a long, rhetorical sentence in “high style” describing spring.in “high style” describing spring.

►Gradually descends into a more Gradually descends into a more “realistic” style of expository “realistic” style of expository narrative.narrative.

Page 9: Canterbury Tales

ProloguePrologue

►Group is on its way to the holy shrine Group is on its way to the holy shrine of St. Thomas of St. Thomas ăă Becket Becket Archbishop of Canterbury Archbishop of Canterbury

►opposed Henry II over the balance between opposed Henry II over the balance between royal and religious powerroyal and religious power

►was murdered in the cathedralwas murdered in the cathedral Considered a martyr and later made a saintConsidered a martyr and later made a saint His blood was held to contain great curative His blood was held to contain great curative

qualities, restoring health to the sickqualities, restoring health to the sick

Page 10: Canterbury Tales

The KnightThe Knight

►Was an honorable warrior who fought for Was an honorable warrior who fought for Christianity against the heathens.Christianity against the heathens.

► Appropriate that he is the first pilgrim to be Appropriate that he is the first pilgrim to be introduced because he stands at the top of introduced because he stands at the top of the social hierarchy, thus is the most the social hierarchy, thus is the most socially prominent person on the journey.socially prominent person on the journey.

► Tells the first story; many offer him Tells the first story; many offer him compliments.compliments.

► All of the battles mentioned that he fought All of the battles mentioned that he fought in were religious wars of some kind.in were religious wars of some kind.

Page 11: Canterbury Tales

The KnightThe Knight

►Prologue’s description:Prologue’s description: Worthy manWorthy man Loved the followingLoved the following

►ChivalryChivalry►FidelityFidelity►Honor (good reputation)Honor (good reputation)►GenerosityGenerosity►courtesycourtesy

Honored for his worthiness in warHonored for his worthiness in war

Page 12: Canterbury Tales

The KnightThe Knight

► Prologue’s description:Prologue’s description: Fought in many battles/ had “been at many a Fought in many battles/ had “been at many a

noble expedition”noble expedition”►AlexandriaAlexandria►PrussiaPrussia►Lithuania/Latvia Lithuania/Latvia ►RussiaRussia►Grenada at siege of Algeciras to Belmarye (north Africa)Grenada at siege of Algeciras to Belmarye (north Africa)►MoroccoMorocco►The MediterraneanThe Mediterranean►Tiemcen Tiemcen ►TurkeyTurkey

Page 13: Canterbury Tales

The KnightThe Knight

►Prologue’s description:Prologue’s description: Even though he was brave, he was Even though he was brave, he was

prudentprudent Deportment: “meek as a maid”Deportment: “meek as a maid” Never said any rude word in all his life to Never said any rude word in all his life to

any personany person Horses were goodHorses were good Clothing/dressClothing/dress

►Not gaudily dressedNot gaudily dressed►Tunic of coarse cloth, stained with rust from Tunic of coarse cloth, stained with rust from

his chain mail suithis chain mail suit Has just returned from an expeditionHas just returned from an expedition

Page 14: Canterbury Tales

The Knight’s TaleThe Knight’s Tale

►Probably adapted from Boccaccio’s Probably adapted from Boccaccio’s TeseideTeseide

►Tale of ideal love and chivalry.Tale of ideal love and chivalry.►Would be a popular type of tale in Would be a popular type of tale in

Chaucer’s day.Chaucer’s day.

Page 15: Canterbury Tales

The Knight’s TaleThe Knight’s Tale

►Premise:Premise: Two Thebian knights, Palamon & Arcite, fall in Two Thebian knights, Palamon & Arcite, fall in

love with the same woman, Emelye, whom they love with the same woman, Emelye, whom they see only from their prison window in Athens.see only from their prison window in Athens.

Their life-long friendship is immediately Their life-long friendship is immediately disrupted by their rivalry for Emelye. disrupted by their rivalry for Emelye.

In time Arcite is released from prison on the In time Arcite is released from prison on the condition that he never again set foot in condition that he never again set foot in Athens.Athens.

Palamon eventually escapes years later.Palamon eventually escapes years later.

Page 16: Canterbury Tales

The Knight’s TaleThe Knight’s Tale

►The men meet by chance in a grove hear The men meet by chance in a grove hear Athens and are about to fight when Athens and are about to fight when Theseus and his company interrupt them. Theseus and his company interrupt them.

►After forgiving the knights for their past, After forgiving the knights for their past, Theseus schedules a tournament (50 Theseus schedules a tournament (50 weeks later) for the hand of Emelye.weeks later) for the hand of Emelye.

►Arcite wins the tournament, but scarcely Arcite wins the tournament, but scarcely has had time to claim his fair prize when has had time to claim his fair prize when the misaligned planet Saturn causes him the misaligned planet Saturn causes him to fall from his horse and die shortly to fall from his horse and die shortly afterward.afterward.

Page 17: Canterbury Tales

The Knight’s TaleThe Knight’s Tale

►Palamon forgets his ill feelings toward Palamon forgets his ill feelings toward Arcite and retires to Thebes, where he Arcite and retires to Thebes, where he mourns his former friend.mourns his former friend.

►Several years later, Theseus summons Several years later, Theseus summons Palamon, who is still mourning and Palamon, who is still mourning and wearing black, and gives him Emelye wearing black, and gives him Emelye in marriage.in marriage.

►Makes of two sorrows one “parfit joye, Makes of two sorrows one “parfit joye, lastynge everemo.”lastynge everemo.”

Page 18: Canterbury Tales

The Knight’s TaleThe Knight’s Tale

►Not much action in the romance.Not much action in the romance.►Two knights are almost the sameTwo knights are almost the same

BothBoth►Make speeches declaring their loveMake speeches declaring their love►Curse their destinyCurse their destiny►Pray to their respective godsPray to their respective gods

Page 19: Canterbury Tales

The Knight’s TaleThe Knight’s Tale

►Conflict that a story about medieval Conflict that a story about medieval knights and their customs would be knights and their customs would be set in ancient Greece.set in ancient Greece.

Page 20: Canterbury Tales

►KnightKnight►SquireSquire►YeomanYeoman►PrioressPrioress►MonkMonk►FriarFriar►MerchantMerchant►ClerkClerk

Page 21: Canterbury Tales

►SergeantSergeant►FranklinFranklin►GuildsmenGuildsmen►CookCook►ShipmanShipman►DoctorDoctor►Wife of BathWife of Bath►ParsonParson

Page 22: Canterbury Tales

►MillerMiller►MancipleManciple►ReeveReeve►SummonerSummoner►PardonerPardoner►PoetPoet►Host (innkeeper Harry Bailey)Host (innkeeper Harry Bailey)