The Middle Ages, Chaucer

and The Canterbury

Tales

8.3, 8.4, 8.5

The Middle AgesBe Thankful You Missed It

Language• French did not become either the official or unofficial language of

England.

• William was not combining the lands of Normandy and England, and had no wish to replace language or culture.

• Latin and English were used for most documents and formal

proclamations by William, and the English legal system was renewed, not replaced.

• Nevertheless, the upper class was almost completely taken over by (French speaking) Normans, and although the system was English, many of the legal proceedings and documents were in French.

Feudalism •law of the land

•upper nobility class maintained control over the lower classes

•rigid structure of government consisted of kings, nobles (barons), and the peasants (serfs)

•leaders of the church and neighboring nobles held sway

•king needed a way to maintain control over his lands, even if indirectly

•barons were given a large portion of the king's land, known as fiefs or manors. In turn, they had to pay "homage and fealty" to the king

•gave their support to the king at all times, governing the land that was given them, and being ready to provide troops and fight for the king when the need arose

More Pictures

Saint Thomas á Becket• Murdered in 1170 (Assassinated by followers of

the King Henry in Canterbury Cathedral)

• Was canonized as both Saint and martyr following his murder

• The Shrine of Saint Thomas of Beckett became a popular destination for religious pilgrimages during the Middle Ages

The Black Death• 1348 – Black Plague reached England and wiped out 1/3

of the population (2.25 million to 3.75 million)

• The sudden collapse of the population sent prices skyrocketing by increasing the price of labor while decreasing the price of land

• The overall effect of the Plague was to hasten the collapse of feudalism by creating intense competition for labor and tenants

Illustration of the Black Death from the Toggenburg Bible (1411)

Geoffrey ChaucerHis Life & Times

Geoffrey Chaucer (1343 – 1400) Son of London vintner (winemaker)Served in the royal household (page to 2nd son of

Edward III) and later held a series of administrative posts under Edward and Richard II.

Visited France and Italy on behalf of the crown during the 1360's and 1370‘s.

Chaucer's career illustrates the economic, political, and social ferment of late 14th century England (landed wealth versus moneyed wealth).

Well-travelled on diplomatic missions for the kingRead English, Latin, Italian, and FrenchRecall some things you read from our textbook

The Canterbury TalesAn Overview

Some BackgroundBegun: 1386Planned: 120 tales

Completed: 22 tales and 2 fragmentsPilgrimage was a “framing device”

for tales; tales also have “thematic unity”.

The pilgrims share stories to pass the time; these stories described the very different points-of-view and beliefs and practices of the people of Chaucer’s age.

Those Who Work (Peasants & Middle Class)Merchants, Laborers, Farmers,

Government officials, etc.Those Who Pray (Clergy)

Priests, Monks, Nuns, Friars, Pardoners

Those Who Fight (Nobility)Knights, Squires, Mercenaries,

Princes, Dukes, etc.

The Three Estates

Pilgrimages began as exercises in penance (attempt to earn forgiveness)

Roads were poorly maintained. Thieves hid in wait for lone travelers, so most people traveled as “pilgrims” in a large group.

Later on, travel improved, but getting to far-off spots (e.g. Jerusalem) was never easy or safe.

“Professional” pilgrims returned with relics, badges, pilgrim symbols, tall tales (some of these were falsified).

Pilgrimages

Frame Story: a story that holds together several other stories; usually, characters in the frame story tell stories of their own.e.g. each of the characters in The

Canterbury Tales tells their own story, which has a new, unique cast of characters.

The Canterbury Tales is the story of a group of pilgrims who tell stories as they travel to Canterbury; each pilgrim’s story stands alone as its own story, but fits within the overall story of the journey.

Content Knowledge: Frame Story

Indirect Characterization occurs when an author tells what a character does, says, or looks like, or describes how other characters react to him or her.

The reader must use their judgment to decide what the character is like.

What can you infer about this character:Bill straightened his starched suit and

slicked back his hair; he nudged his toothbrush to line up parallel with his toothpaste before he looked at himself in the mirror, then smiled with satisfaction.

Content Knowledge: Indirect Characterization (definition)

Chaucer uses these types of indirect characterization (and others):“This yeoman wore a coat and hood

of green, And peacock-feathered arrows, bright and keen” (Appearance)

Her greatest oath was only “By St. Loy!” (Speech)

“And gladly would he learn, and gladly teach.” (Attitude/Behavior/Feelings)

Content Knowledge: Indirect Characterization (examples)

Direct characterization occurs when the author states a character’s traits—virtuous, vain, clever, etc.e.g. Bill was vain and self-

centered.Chaucer also uses direct

characterization, especially on his minor characters:There was a Friar, a wanton one

and merry,A Limiter, a very festive fellow.

Content Knowledge: Direct Characterization

• irony: incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs.• coincidence is not irony, though the

two are similar.• verbal irony: The contrast between

what is said and what is actually meant.• the surface meaning and the

underlying meaning of what is said is not the same.

Content Knowledge: Irony

• Chaucer provides some details that contradict what the characters think of themselves. This is a form of satire:• witty language convey insult/scorn• ridicules its subject (for example,

individuals, organizations, or states) often as an intended means of provoking or preventing change

Content Knowledge: Satire

1. Accurate depiction of life in the middle ages (class levels, interactions between the classes)

2. First story about lower classes (mix of classes)

3. Satire & humor for social / political / religious commentary.

4. “The Canterbury Tales” point out problems within society.

The Significance of The Canterbury Tales

How We Learn About the Pilgrimssocial rank, moral & spiritual condition

Include many of the followingPhysiognomy – physical features (esp.

facial)

ClothesJobHobbiesFood ChoiceHumorTheir Words

Some tales are serious, others are comical.

Each is an accurate description of a set of traits, beliefs, and faults.

Chaucer criticized the malpractice of the clergy, and poked fun at those from the 3 estates. (nobility, clergy, commoner)

Many of the tales shared similar themes; some tales are told in response to a previous tale (e.g. a story about the joy of immorality is followed by a story about the punishment for sinners)

Overview

The Canterbury TalesThe Prologue

• As you read the Prologue, pay close attention to any details that help give you an immediate impression of a character. Assignment:

The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales Reading Skills: Analyzing Style: Key Details

• Handout

• Pay attention to direct and indirect characterization for the characters

Narrator is Chaucer, but don’t confuse “pilgrim Chaucer” with “author Chaucer”

Narrator is acting as a reporter of what others say, not adding/removing.

Pretends to be unaware of irony or satire.

The Narrator

The Wife of Bath is one of three women on the trip.

“She was a worthy woman all her life”, the narrator says, then mentions her 5 husbands. This is an example of ______.

She is a business woman with a strong sense of self-importance, her elaborate dress is a sign of her character as well as her wealth.note that she is probably

in her forties and is married to a man in his twenties

The Wife of Bath

satire

The Summoner and the Pardoner are the most unlikeable figures; one administers the church courts, the other sells pardons (indulgences).

The Pardoner is a church official who sells fake relicsWhat impression of him do

you get from this knowledge?

The Summoner is suffering from some kind of skin disease.What might this tell us

about him?

The Summoner, the Pardoner

The Knight & the Squireespecially their dress and their resume

The Monkwell-fed and jolly, but something about him

is unappealingThe Yeoman

the peacock-feathered arrowsThe Guildsmen

their opinion of their own worththeir clothing & accessories

Other Specific Characters to Note

The Prioress (Nun)her physical description, education,

mannersThe Plowman

qualities the narrator seems to admireThe Parson

how he is different from the other clergy

Other Specific Characters to Note