CANTERBURY TALESENG 273: World Literature

History• Written by Geoffrey Chaucer

(1343-1400)• “Father of English Literature”

• Written in Middle English• Established Vernacular as a

Legitimate Language for Writing• Previously Latin, French

• Depicts Medieval English Society• Social Stratification• Christianity

• Including Corruption

Canterbury• Pilgrimage was very important

during the Middle Ages• Rome, Jerusalem• Display of faith (and a vacation)

• Canterbury was a popular destination for the English because it was nearby

• The location includes a shrine to “Saint” Thomas Becket • Archbishop of Canterbury• Murdered in the cathedral in 1170

due to conflict with King Henry II• Canonized as a Saint by the Pope

Three Estates• Nobility

• Represented by the Military

• Clergy

• Laborers

• The Canterbury Tales is an “estates satire”• Attempts to highlight the

negative aspects of the social system with humor

Changes in the English Language• Old English

• Beowulf• https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooj25_j3k1E

• Middle English• The Canterbury Tales

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahuT-JwxIa8

• Elizabethan English• Shakespeare

• Modern English

Plot• 29 Pilgrims are on their way to

Canterbury in April

• The meet at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, England

• The Narrator joins them• He describes each one

• The Host suggests a storytelling contest on the way to and from Canterbury• Each Pilgrim will tell two stories each way• The winner would receive a meal paid for

by the rest of the group when they get back

• The Host agrees to go along to judge the contest

Plot Continued• Prologue

• Introduces the idea of the pilgrimage• Introduces the Narrator• Introduces each of the characters• Introduces the storytelling contest

• Individual Stories• Prologue

• Gives more information about the character

• Story• Many different forms, messages, etc.

• There are 24 stories total – the work is unfinished

Characters• Narrator (Chaucer?)

• Introduces the other characters in order of social status (Nobility, Clergy, Laborer)

• Knight• His Son the Squire• Yeoman

• Prioress (Madame Eglantine)• Nun and Priest

• Monk• Friar (Hubert)

• Friars are beggars

Characters Continued• Merchant• Oxford Student• Man of Law• Franklin• Five Guildsmen

• Haberdasher, Carpenter, Weaver, Dyer, Tapestry-Maker

• Cook• Skipper• Physician• Wife of Bath

Characters Continued• Parson• Plowman (Parson’s Brother)• Miller• Manciple

• In charge of the purchase and storage of food at places like universities or monasteries

• Reeve• Chief Magistrate in an area

• Summoner• Delivers charges to people who were

accused of wrongdoing by the church

• Pardoner• Sells Indulgences

• Tavern Host (Harry Bailly)

Key Themes• Significance of Courtly Love

• Christian Ideals versus Worldly Values

• Corruption in Christianity

• Social Roles in Medieval England

• Tension between how the character should fulfill his/her social role and how he/she behaves• How Physical Description Reveals

Character Traits

• Duty of Pilgrimage versus Pleasure of Story Telling• Destination versus Journey