Language Arts 3-4H

Chaucer’s World: 14th Century EnglandBasic assumptions of the medieval world:

Existence of a Christian afterlife2 paths: religious life or secular life Things of the world inferior to things of GodMedieval passion for order/fear of disorder

Recurrent image: Fortuna & the wheelImmutable order: one’s estat is an absolute,

both sinful & futile to rebel against Signaled by clothing (array), manner (curteisye)

Chaucer’s Middle EnglishAngl0-Saxon Old English enriched by French,

LatinImportant, serious writing = French & LatinLight, often comic writing = EnglishChaucer’s high diction used for abstraction,

while low, colloquial diction used for comic relief; formal diction (particularly when given in or mixed with Latin or French) can sometimes be used to satirize intellectual snobbery

On to Canterbury!29 pilgrims meet at the Tabard Inn to travel on pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral for repentance, divine goodwill, etc. Canterbury Cathedral is the shrine of St. Thomas Becket (1118-1170), martyred by Henry II’s henchmen while at prayer in the cathedral. If life is a journey, pilgrimage gives pilgrims a taste of their ultimate goal.

4 types of tale (some overlap)Bawdy: lewd content, usually for comic

effectMorally instructive: teaches a moral lessonSatirical: obvious target; told in the hopes of

inciting changeAllegorical: a tale in which one thing

represents another

Cross-section of society: “Those who work” (in order of hierarchy)Landed gentry: FranklinProfessionals: Sergeant of the Law, Doctor

of PhysicTradespeople: Merchant, Wife of Bath, Five

Guildsmen, Harry Bailly (tavern keeper), Miller

Secular employees: Manciple, ReeveLaborers: Shipman, Yeoman, CookPeasants: Plowman

Cross-section of society:“Those who fight”KnightSquire

Cross-section of society:“Those who pray”Religious orders: Monk, Prioress, Friar,

Nun’s Priest, Second NunParish clergy: ParsonStudent: Clerk at OxfordChurch employees: Pardoner, Summoner

The Knight The Squire“Troth & honor,

freedom and courtesy”

CrusaderMust be ready both

to slay his foe and be a perfect gentleman – code of chivalry

Son of the knightApprentice—he is a

knight-in-trainingCourtly lover & lusty

bachelor

The Yeoman The PrioressCountry rusticClothing signifies his

country origins and satirizes them as well

Madame EglentyneWell-mannered,

tender-hearted and sweet; knows social graces

Values are primarily social, not religious

The Monk The FriarHypocritical—

violates monastic rules of poverty, self-denial

Chaucer points out the problems of the church through him

Description is both ironic and critical, notes that the Friar prefers the society of tavern-keepers and ladies to lepers and beggars.

Has a side business to support his more worldly habits

The Merchant The ClerkMan of the business

worldDespite his

appearance, bargaining, buying, selling, trading, etc. = risk (he is also in debt)

Poor & sincereRepresents what a

good scholar should be

One of the few role models in Canterbury Tales (despite the fact that he’s a little dull)

The Lawyer &The Franklin The 5 GuildsmenLawyer is

competent, knows the law = “For his science and for his heigh renoun/Of fees and robes hadde he many oon.”

Franklin is a country gentleman

He is an Epicurean - physical pleasure (food)=happiness

Guild = medieval trade union

Prosperity of tradesmen meant they could be “conspicuous consumers” (above their estat—disrupting order)

The Cook& the Shipman The DoctorCook to the

guildsmen (another sign of their wealth)

Good cooking, but little attention to hygiene!

Shipman more of a pirate than a seaman

Has skill & knowledge; doesn’t have dedication

In it for the money: “For gold in phisik is a cordial/Therefore he lovede gold in special”

The Miller &the Manciple The ReeveMiller is very “salt of

the earth” characterBeauty = virtue in

the medieval world, so . . .

Manciple is a profiteer--he is the financial manager of a law school (Inn of Court)—pockets the difference

Manager/overseer of an estate

Skims profits of employer also (same class of people as Manciple & Miller)

Wife of Bath The Parson &the Plowman

Alisoun, 5 times a widow

Inherited and earned (she is a weaver) income

Associated with the color red (her costume her face)

Traits—assertiveness & sensuality

Parson is a truly good man—the best of Chaucer’s religious characters

Pure Christian principles

Plowman hauls dung for a living, but has a good spiritual attitude

The Summoner The PardonerMedieval

physiognomy at play . . . physical condition symbolic of spiritual condition

His job was to summon people to ecclesiastical courts

Documented spiritual benefits from virtuous deeds (sold pardons)

Also sold (dubious) relics

Takes advantage of the faith of the poor and simple