Historical Context and Background
Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)
Life and Accomplishments
Son of a vintner (wine merchant) page soldier diplomat royal clerk.
Began writing Canterbury Tales in 1386
Known as “The Father of English Poetry”
Wrote in vernacular English
Founded in 597
First permanent religious institution built in England
England’s largest church
Center of Catholicism in the medieval England
Canterbury Cathedral
Chancellor under Henry II
Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162
“Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?”
1170 - Murdered by knights of King Henry II in Canterbury Cathedral.
The Martyrdom of Sir Thomas Becket
Why go on a pilgrimage?
Most common reasons for embarking on pilgrimages to improve chances of salvation gain healing touch supposedly found in saints’ relics atone for sins
Other reasons avoid shame of confessing sins at home desire to travel meet new people escape drudgery of daily lives Often, people were attacked or swindled en route;
traveling in a group was much safer
The Canterbury Tales
30 Pilgrims on the pilgrimage to the cathedral at Canterbury
Frame story - stories within a story
Chaucer intended to write 120 tales
Each traveler is to tell 4 stories (two going, 2 returning)
Only 24 tales were completed
The Canterbury Tales provides the best contemporary picture we have of 14th century England.
Classes in Society
Pilgrims generally fall into 3 major divisions of medieval society Feudal order (Knight and his Squire) The Church / clergy (Monk and Nun) Merchant or professional class (Miller and
Guildsmen)
The Travelers to Canterbury
Upper Class
Wife of Bath Franklin
The Travelers to Canterbury
Professional Class
Military Religious Secular
Knight, Squire, Yeoman
Nun, 3 Priests, Friar, Parson,
Pardoner, SummonerCleric, Serjeant at Law, Merchant,
Skipper, Doctor
The Travelers to Canterbury
Working Class
Plowman Reeve HostCook Miller
Haberdasher Dyer Carpenter Weaver Carpetmaker
General Complexity of The Canterbury Tales
Different genres have different views of the world, different vocabularies, and different images for truth
Romance- deals with human emotions and relationships
Fabliau- deals with the basic human needs of food, sex, or money
Saint’s Life- deals with the operations of God
Sermons and Ethical Treatises- deals with spiritual matters
Manuscripts Written in Middle English
Ellesmere Manuscript
240 pages of parchment leaves
The most famous manuscript in the English language
1481 first printed edition by William Caxton
Literary Terms
A literary mode based on criticism of
people and society through ridicule. The satirist aims to reduce the practices attacked by laughing scornfully at them--and being witty enough to allow the reader to laugh, also. Ridicule, irony, exaggeration, and several other techniques are almost always present.
satire
The method used by a writer to develop
a character. The method includes (1) showing the character's appearance, (2) displaying the character's actions, (3) revealing the character's thoughts, (4) letting the character speak, and (5) getting the reactions of others.
characterization
The result of inserting one or more small
stories within the body of a larger story that encompasses the smaller ones. Often this term is used interchangeably with both the literary technique and the larger story itself that contains the smaller ones, which are called "framed narratives" or "embedded narratives."
frame narrative
An introductory section of a literary
work. It often contains information establishing the situation of the characters or presents information about the setting, time period, or action.
In the "General Prologue" of The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer describes the main characters and establishes the setting and purpose of the work.
prologue
Exaggeration or overstatement. Example:
I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.He's as big as a house.
hyperbole
1. A conventional, formulaic, and
oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.
2. One that is regarded as embodying or conforming to a set image or type.
stereotype
Perspectives
from which to view The Canterbury Tales
1. Pride is an excessive belief in one's own abilities.
2. Envy is wanting what others have, be it status, abilities, or possessions.
3. Gluttony is the desire to eat or consume more than you require.
4. Lust is a powerful craving for such as sex, power and money.
5. Anger is the loss of rational self-control and the desire to harm others.
6. Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain.
7. Sloth is laziness and the avoidance of work.
The Seven Deadly Sins
Theory of the Four Humors
Balance among the four elemental fluids: blood, yellow bile Phlegm black bile.
The four basic human temperaments: phlegmatic sanguine, Melancholic choleric
Phlegmatic
The temperament of the calm and tough phlegmatics was influenced by excess phlegm.
Associated with water, cold and moisture.
Characteristics: dull, pale, cowardly.
Sanguine
Sanguines, whose cheerful and lively temperament resulted from the dominance of the blood.
Associated with the air, heat and moisture.
Characteristics: amorous, happy, generous.
Melancholic
The worry and gloominess of the melancholies were due to a surfeit of melancholy.
Associated with earth, cold and dryness.
Characteristics: gluttonous, lazy, sentimental
Choleric
The energetic cholerics had too much choler (an irritable petulant feeling) in his or her system.
Associated with fire, heat and dryness.
Characteristics: violent, vengeful.
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