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.