Slide 2 The Canterbury Tales A Royal Introduction to Medieval
Literature Slide 3 Geoffrey Chaucer (1343? 1400) Son of a
prosperous London wine merchant Son of a prosperous London wine
merchant Worked as a page for the Kings sons wife Worked as a page
for the Kings sons wife Chaucers introduction to Aristocracy
Chaucers introduction to Aristocracy Soldier in the English Army
Soldier in the English Army Married the queens lady in waiting
Married the queens lady in waiting Son was also a great success Son
was also a great success Buried in Westminster Abbeys Poets Corner
Buried in Westminster Abbeys Poets Corner Slide 4 Chaucers Work
Well known in his time Well known in his time Greatest English poet
Greatest English poet Early works include French translations Early
works include French translations Culture of the English upper
class was predominantly French Culture of the English upper class
was predominantly French Another popular work - Troilus and
Criseyde Another popular work - Troilus and Criseyde Frequently
studied Frequently studied Shakespeare drew on Chaucers poem for
his play Troilus and Cressida Shakespeare drew on Chaucers poem for
his play Troilus and Cressida Slide 5 14 th Century England Society
strictly ordered Society strictly ordered King, nobles political
power King, nobles political power Catholic Church spiritual power
Catholic Church spiritual power Expansion of trade and commerce
Expansion of trade and commerce Gave rise to the middle class Gave
rise to the middle class Population mostly agrarian Population
mostly agrarian Looked to the Church for consolation/defense Looked
to the Church for consolation/defense Clergy became landowners -
abuse and corruption Clergy became landowners - abuse and
corruption Slide 6 Problems The Plague The Plague Killed 1/3 of the
population of England Killed 1/3 of the population of England Labor
shortage Labor shortage The Peasants Rebellion 1381 The Peasants
Rebellion 1381 Chaucer Controller of the Custom Chaucer Controller
of the Custom Witnessed the rebellion literally outside his window
Witnessed the rebellion literally outside his window Lived
among/dealt with many different classes Lived among/dealt with many
different classes Slide 7 Influences People and classes of London
People and classes of London Classical writers Ovid, Virgil
Classical writers Ovid, Virgil Christian apologists Augustine,
Boethius Christian apologists Augustine, Boethius French poetry
French poetry Italian poets Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio Italian
poets Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio Uses well-known models and sources
Uses well-known models and sources Slide 8 Uniqueness Frame story
Frame story Many tales united by the journey Many tales united by
the journey Written in English Written in English Serious writing
was in Latin or French Serious writing was in Latin or French
Well-received Well-received Given a second printing in its time
Given a second printing in its time Has never been out of print Has
never been out of print Slide 9 The Pilgrimage Narrator and 29
travelers happen to meet at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, London.
Narrator and 29 travelers happen to meet at the Tabard Inn in
Southwark, London. 60-mile, four-day religious journey to the
shrine of St. Thomas Becket at the Cathedral in Canterbury 60-mile,
four-day religious journey to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket at
the Cathedral in Canterbury Blessing and forgiveness to those who
made pilgrimage; Blessing and forgiveness to those who made
pilgrimage; Relics of the saint were enshrined there, miracles had
been reported by those who prayed before the shrine. Relics of the
saint were enshrined there, miracles had been reported by those who
prayed before the shrine. Chaucer's pilgrims are not all traveling
for religious reasons. Many of them simply enjoy social contact or
the adventure of travel -- mixed reasons to attend. Chaucer's
pilgrims are not all traveling for religious reasons. Many of them
simply enjoy social contact or the adventure of travel -- mixed
reasons to attend. Slide 10 Maps Maps Slide 11 The Tabard Inn How
it begins Innkeeper Harry Bailey suggests a game Innkeeper Harry
Bailey suggests a game A story-telling contest - dinner to the
winner A story-telling contest - dinner to the winner Each pilgrim
four stories: two on the way to Canterbury, and two on the return
trip = 120 stories! Each pilgrim four stories: two on the way to
Canterbury, and two on the return trip = 120 stories! Narrator
observes characters arriving and getting acquainted Narrator
observes characters arriving and getting acquainted Chaucer didnt
finish; very few stories; ends almost as soon as it starts Chaucer
didnt finish; very few stories; ends almost as soon as it starts
Travelers a cross-section of fourteenth-century English society
Travelers a cross-section of fourteenth-century English society
Slide 12 Why is it so good? Completely original in concept and
method Completely original in concept and method Range and variety
Range and variety Different classes of people Different classes of
people Different genres Different genres Romances tales of chivalry
Romances tales of chivalry Fabliaux short, bawdy, humorous Fabliaux
short, bawdy, humorous Religious saints, sermons, allegories
Religious saints, sermons, allegories Pilgrimage serves as dramatic
device Pilgrimage serves as dramatic device Tales are set each
other off and throw light on the characters Tales are set each
other off and throw light on the characters Life in the 14 th
century even life itself Life in the 14 th century even life itself
Slide 13 Social Status Study All levels are represented All levels
are represented Nobility Nobility The Knight The Knight The Squire
The Squire Clergy Clergy The Prioress The Prioress The Monk The
Monk The Friar The Friar The Nun The Nun The Priest The Priest The
Cleric The Cleric The Parson The Parson The Canon The Canon The
Summoner The Summoner The Pardoner The Pardoner Each Pilgrim tells
a tale consistent with their character Each Pilgrim tells a tale
consistent with their character The Middle Class The Merchant The
Man of Law The Franklin (possibly minor nobility) The Haberdasher
The Carpenter The Weaver The Dyer The Tapestry The Shipman The
Physician The Wife of Bath The Miller The Manciple The Reeve The
Host Peasants The Yeoman The Cook The Plowman The Canon's Yeoman
Slide 14 Religion Roman Catholic Roman Catholic Religious member of
a religious order Religious member of a religious order Nun
(prioress), Monk, Friar Nun (prioress), Monk, Friar Secular clergy
that governs the diocese Secular clergy that governs the diocese
Parson, Summoner Parson, Summoner Disputes between religious and
secular Disputes between religious and secular MONEY MONEY Slide 15
The Code of Chivalry Prowess: Seek excellence in all endeavors
expected of a knight, martial and otherwise, seeking strength to be
used in the service of justice, rather than in personal
aggrandizement. Prowess: Seek excellence in all endeavors expected
of a knight, martial and otherwise, seeking strength to be used in
the service of justice, rather than in personal aggrandizement.
Justice: Seek always the path of 'right', unencumbered by bias or
personal interest. Recognize that the sword of justice can be a
terrible thing, so it must be tempered by humanity and mercy.
Justice: Seek always the path of 'right', unencumbered by bias or
personal interest. Recognize that the sword of justice can be a
terrible thing, so it must be tempered by humanity and mercy.
Loyalty: Be known for unwavering commitment to the people and
ideals you choose to live by. Loyalty: Be known for unwavering
commitment to the people and ideals you choose to live by. Defense:
Defend your liege lord and those who depend upon him. Seek always
to defend your nation, your family, and those to whom you believe
worthy of loyalty. Defense: Defend your liege lord and those who
depend upon him. Seek always to defend your nation, your family,
and those to whom you believe worthy of loyalty. Courage: Choose
the more difficult path, the personally expensive one. Be prepared
to make personal sacrifices in service of the precepts and people
you value. Seek wisdom to see that stupidity and courage are
cousins. Take the side of truth in all matters, rather than seek
the expedient lie. Seek the truth whenever possible, but remember
to temper justice with mercy, or the pure truth can bring grief.
Courage: Choose the more difficult path, the personally expensive
one. Be prepared to make personal sacrifices in service of the
precepts and people you value. Seek wisdom to see that stupidity
and courage are cousins. Take the side of truth in all matters,
rather than seek the expedient lie. Seek the truth whenever
possible, but remember to temper justice with mercy, or the pure
truth can bring grief. Slide 16 The Code Continued Faith: Have
faith in your beliefs, for faith roots you and gives hope against
the despair that human failings create. Faith: Have faith in your
beliefs, for faith roots you and gives hope against the despair
that human failings create. Humility: Value first the contributions
of others; do not boast of your own accomplishments, let others do
this for you. Tell the deeds of others before your own, according
them the renown rightfully earned through virtuous deeds. Humility:
Value first the contributions of others; do not boast of your own
accomplishments, let others do this for you. Tell the deeds of
others before your own, according them the renown rightfully earned
through virtuous deeds. Largesse: Be generous in so far as your
resources allow; largesse used in this way counters gluttony. It
also makes the path of mercy easier to discern when a difficult
decision of justice is required. Largesse: Be generous in so far as
your resources allow; largesse used in this way counters gluttony.
It also makes the path of mercy easier to discern when a difficult
decision of justice is required. Nobility: Seek great stature of
character by holding to the virtues and duties of a knight,
realizing that though the ideals cannot be reached, the quality of
striving towards them ennobles the spirit, growing the character
from dust towards the heavens. Nobility also has the tendency to
influence others, offering a compelling example of what can be done
in the service of rightness. Nobility: Seek great stature of
character by holding to the virtues and duties of a knight,
realizing that though the ideals cannot be reached, the quality of
striving towards them ennobles the spirit, growing the character
from dust towards the heavens. Nobility also has the tendency to
influence others, offering a compelling example of what can be done
in the service of rightness. Franchise: Seek to emulate everything
I have spoken of as sincerely as possible, not for the reason of
personal gain but because it is right. Do not restrict your
exploration to a small world, but seek to infuse every aspect of
your life with these qualities. Should you succeed in even a tiny
measure then you will be well remembered for your quality and
virtue. Franchise: Seek to emulate everything I have spoken of as
sincerely as possible, not for the reason of personal gain but
because it is right. Do not restrict your exploration to a small
world, but seek to infuse every aspect of your life with these
qualities. Should you succeed in even a tiny measure then you will
be well remembered for your quality and virtue. Slide 17 The
Knights Tale Draw straws to see who will tell the first tale. Draw
straws to see who will tell the first tale. The Knight draws the
shortest straw. The Knight draws the shortest straw. Long romantic
epic about two brave young knights who both fall in love with the
same woman and who spend years attempting to win her love Long
romantic epic about two brave young knights who both fall in love
with the same woman and who spend years attempting to win her love
A real crowd-pleaser A real crowd-pleaser Slide 18 The Knights Tale
Romance / Epic Romance Romance / Epic Romance Inspired by
Boccaccios Teseida delle nozze di Emilia Inspired by Boccaccios
Teseida delle nozze di Emilia Features Pagan Gods Features Pagan
Gods Planets are gods names Planets are gods names Determine who
you are Determine who you are Palamon prays to Venus Palamon prays
to Venus Arcite prays to Mars Arcite prays to Mars Emily prays to
Diana Emily prays to Diana Ethical system without being Christian
Ethical system without being Christian Slide 19 Boethius and the
Knight Boethius 6 th Century Christian Philosopher Boethius 6 th
Century Christian Philosopher Consolation of Philosophy Consolation
of Philosophy Philosophy = unity of self leads to true happiness
Philosophy = unity of self leads to true happiness Reflects on how
evil can exist in a world governed by God, and how happiness can be
attainable amidst fickle fortune, while also considering the nature
of happiness and God. Reflects on how evil can exist in a world
governed by God, and how happiness can be attainable amidst fickle
fortune, while also considering the nature of happiness and God.
Boethius writes the book as a conversation between himself and Lady
Philosophy Boethius writes the book as a conversation between
himself and Lady Philosophy Boethius engages questions such as the
nature of predestination and free will, why evil men often prosper
and good men fall into ruin, human nature, virtue, and justice.
Boethius engages questions such as the nature of predestination and
free will, why evil men often prosper and good men fall into ruin,
human nature, virtue, and justice. Slide 20 The Millers Tale Drunk
Drunk Intended to be comic Intended to be comic Tale of a student
who lives with a carpenter and his much younger wife Tale of a
student who lives with a carpenter and his much younger wife
Student and wife have affair Student and wife have affair All are
made fools by end of story All are made fools by end of story
Offends the Reeve (he, himself, is an aging carpenter), who had a
young wife Offends the Reeve (he, himself, is an aging carpenter),
who had a young wife He says that he, like all old men, is
motivated by boasting, anger, lying, and covetousness. He says that
he, like all old men, is motivated by boasting, anger, lying, and
covetousness. The Reeve promises to get even with the Miller The
Reeve promises to get even with the Miller Slide 21 The Reeves Tale
Fabliau Fabliau Central character a Miller Central character a
Miller Looks like the Miller on the pilgrimage presented in the
most unflattering light possible Looks like the Miller on the
pilgrimage presented in the most unflattering light possible
Dishonest in his dealings Dishonest in his dealings Has a wife, a
beautiful and desirable young daughter of marriageable age, and an
infant still in the cradle Has a wife, a beautiful and desirable
young daughter of marriageable age, and an infant still in the
cradle In the Millers Tale, the carpenter is cuckolded In the
Millers Tale, the carpenter is cuckolded In The Reeves Tale, the
miller is cuckolded In The Reeves Tale, the miller is cuckolded And
must suffer the further indignity of having his virgin daughter
deflowered And must suffer the further indignity of having his
virgin daughter deflowered Slide 22 Wife of Bath Woman of
experience Woman of experience Prefaces her tale with a long
discourse on marriage Prefaces her tale with a long discourse on
marriage Tale about the marriage of a young and virile knight who
dishonors a young woman Tale about the marriage of a young and
virile knight who dishonors a young woman Punished by marrying an
ancient hag Punished by marrying an ancient hag He must answer What
do women want? He must answer What do women want? Answer: Not to be
subservient to husbands Answer: Not to be subservient to
husbands
