Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales

Chaucer (1343 – 1400)Chaucer (1343 – 1400)

The father of English poetryThe father of English poetry

Wrote in Middle English (Anglo-Wrote in Middle English (Anglo-Saxon); uncommon for the time; Saxon); uncommon for the time; however, he was a master writer.however, he was a master writer.

Government official who served Government official who served under three kings – Edward III, under three kings – Edward III, Richard II, and Henry IVRichard II, and Henry IV

Chaucer ContinuedChaucer ContinuedTrained in the legal field he Trained in the legal field he advanced in his government career advanced in his government career as the King’s ambassador.as the King’s ambassador.Served in the Hundred Year’s War Served in the Hundred Year’s War and was held as a captive until the and was held as a captive until the King paid his ransom King paid his ransom Wife – Philippa and had two childrenWife – Philippa and had two childrenJustice of the Peace in Kent and a Justice of the Peace in Kent and a member of Parlimentmember of Parliment

More ChaucerMore ChaucerWriting was a second career for him and it Writing was a second career for him and it took a backseat to his political career.took a backseat to his political career.Chaucer used a framing device to help tell Chaucer used a framing device to help tell the story of a pilgrimage – each character the story of a pilgrimage – each character is to tell 4 stories – two going on the is to tell 4 stories – two going on the pilgrimage – two leaving for home.pilgrimage – two leaving for home.He also used iambic pentameter – He also used iambic pentameter – unstressed syllable followed by a stressed unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable.syllable.– And And batbathed hed eveevery ry veveyne in yne in swichswich lic licourour..

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury TalesChaucer wrote Chaucer wrote The The Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales, a , a collection of stories in a collection of stories in a frame story, between 1387 frame story, between 1387 and 1400.and 1400.Story about a group of Story about a group of thirty people who travel as thirty people who travel as pilgrims to Canterbury pilgrims to Canterbury (England). The pilgrims, (England). The pilgrims, who come from all layers of who come from all layers of society, tell stories to each society, tell stories to each other to kill time while they other to kill time while they travel to Canterbury.travel to Canterbury.

http://academics.vmi.edu/english/audio/GP_Hanks.html

Canterbury Tales ContinuedCanterbury Tales Continued

Scholars are uncertain about the Scholars are uncertain about the order of the tales. order of the tales.

As the printing press had yet to be As the printing press had yet to be invented when Chaucer wrote his invented when Chaucer wrote his works, The Canterbury Tales has works, The Canterbury Tales has been passed down in several been passed down in several handwritten manuscripts. handwritten manuscripts.

Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales1    1    Whan that Aprill with Whan that Aprill with

his shoures sootehis shoures soote            When April with its When April with its sweet-smelling showerssweet-smelling showers

2   2   The droghte of March The droghte of March hath perced to the hath perced to the roote,roote,              Has pierced the Has pierced the drought of March to the drought of March to the root,root,

3.3. Of which vertu Of which vertu engendred is the flour;engendred is the flour;      By the power of which By the power of which the flower is created;the flower is created;

4.4.     Whan Zephirus eek Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethwith his sweete breeth    When the West Wind also When the West Wind also with its sweet breath,with its sweet breath,

5.5. Inspired hath in every Inspired hath in every holt and heethholt and heeth    In every holt and heath, In every holt and heath, has breathed life intohas breathed life into

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury TalesChaucer began work Chaucer began work on on The Canterbury The Canterbury TalesTales about 1387 about 1387

However, only twenty-However, only twenty-three pilgrims received three pilgrims received a story before a story before Chaucer's death in Chaucer's death in 1400.1400.

Chaucer's Tales Chaucer's Tales gained mass gained mass popularity the early popularity the early fifteenth century. fifteenth century.

This facsimile is the first reproduction ever made of this manuscript, considered a prime authority for the text of The Canterbury Tales.

Chaucer ContinuedChaucer Continued“ “ all of humanity moves through its all of humanity moves through its pages.”pages.”

Presents humor, at once friendly and Presents humor, at once friendly and satirical. satirical.

A rich, tapestry of medieval social lifeA rich, tapestry of medieval social life– combining elements of all classes, from combining elements of all classes, from

nobles to workers, from priests and nuns nobles to workers, from priests and nuns to drunkards and thieves.to drunkards and thieves.

History of the TimesHistory of the TimesChristianity was the dominant social force Christianity was the dominant social force throughout western Europe, including England. throughout western Europe, including England. In 1388, while Chaucer was working on the tales, In 1388, while Chaucer was working on the tales, a change occurred in the way that Christianity a change occurred in the way that Christianity was perceived and practiced by John Wycliffe, an was perceived and practiced by John Wycliffe, an English reformer.English reformer.A version of the Bible was translated into English. A version of the Bible was translated into English. For the first time, people from the lower classes, For the first time, people from the lower classes, who had not been educated in Latin, could read who had not been educated in Latin, could read the Bible themselves instead of having its word the Bible themselves instead of having its word interpreted to them by members of the clergy. interpreted to them by members of the clergy.

ProloguePrologueThe General Prologue consists of character The General Prologue consists of character sketches of each member of the group sketches of each member of the group that is going to Canterbury, as described that is going to Canterbury, as described by Chaucer, who is also a character in his by Chaucer, who is also a character in his own novel. own novel.

Chaucer: He is a character in his own Chaucer: He is a character in his own novel, and he writes in the first person as novel, and he writes in the first person as an outside observer traveling with the an outside observer traveling with the pilgrims on their way to Canterbury.pilgrims on their way to Canterbury.

Canterbury Tales- some of the Canterbury Tales- some of the characterscharacters

The Knight: a warrior who relies on the The Knight: a warrior who relies on the code of chivalry. Represents the code of chivalry. Represents the romanticized standards of the feudal romanticized standards of the feudal systemsystemThe Prioress: A nun, named Madame The Prioress: A nun, named Madame Eglantine. She makes every effort to be Eglantine. She makes every effort to be refined and elegant, and she cannot bear refined and elegant, and she cannot bear to see any harm come to any of God’s to see any harm come to any of God’s lesser creatures, like mice. However, lesser creatures, like mice. However, when it is her turn to tell a story, hers is when it is her turn to tell a story, hers is violent and full of blood and sorrow.violent and full of blood and sorrow.

Characters ContinuedCharacters ContinuedThe Wife of Bath: A well-traveled middle-The Wife of Bath: A well-traveled middle-aged woman who has been married five aged woman who has been married five times, not counting other lovers she did times, not counting other lovers she did not marry. She has a large amount of not marry. She has a large amount of knowledge from experience, and when she knowledge from experience, and when she questions the authority of the bible, she questions the authority of the bible, she does it with a very good background from does it with a very good background from which to debate it. which to debate it. Poor Priest: lived truly poor and in the Poor Priest: lived truly poor and in the service of God. An example of how a service of God. An example of how a traditional priest should live in Chaucer’s traditional priest should live in Chaucer’s time, following the life of Christ.time, following the life of Christ.

Characters ContinuedCharacters ContinuedThe Merchant: The merchant is obsessed The Merchant: The merchant is obsessed with his wealth, and talks about money with his wealth, and talks about money constantly. constantly. The Miller: a large and strong man, and is The Miller: a large and strong man, and is one of the best at telling vulgar stories. one of the best at telling vulgar stories. The Pardoner: A clergyman who is The Pardoner: A clergyman who is outwardly corrupt. His main motivating outwardly corrupt. His main motivating factor was money, and so if the sinner had factor was money, and so if the sinner had the gold, the Pardoner would favor the the gold, the Pardoner would favor the sinner and help pardon him. sinner and help pardon him.