Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer 1340-1400 (?)Geoffrey Chaucer 1340-1400 (?)

Father of English Father of English languagelanguage

Middle class, well-Middle class, well-educated (father was educated (father was wine merchant)wine merchant)

Served at courtServed at court Diplomatic missions to Diplomatic missions to

France, Spain, ItalyFrance, Spain, Italy Catholic who perceived Catholic who perceived

abuses within Church abuses within Church and exposed themand exposed them

Church in EnglandChurch in England Pope collecting heavier & heavier taxes from EnglandPope collecting heavier & heavier taxes from England Political maneuvering among bishops against Roman control Political maneuvering among bishops against Roman control As English kings gained power, they began to resist power of As English kings gained power, they began to resist power of

churchchurch English church full of ignorant priests & corrupt officialsEnglish church full of ignorant priests & corrupt officials

simony, indulgences, abuse of church courts & positionssimony, indulgences, abuse of church courts & positions Common person unschooled & illiterate: couldn’t dispute Common person unschooled & illiterate: couldn’t dispute

religious leadersreligious leaders John Wycliffe (1328-84) English theologian and religious John Wycliffe (1328-84) English theologian and religious

reformer who rejected biblical basis of papal power and reformer who rejected biblical basis of papal power and disputed doctrine of the transubstantiation; translated first disputed doctrine of the transubstantiation; translated first English Bible from Latin VulgateEnglish Bible from Latin Vulgate

Languages of EngandLanguages of Engand

Old English: form of German spoken by Old English: form of German spoken by Saxons before Norman ConquestSaxons before Norman Conquest

Middle English: influx of French; LatinizationMiddle English: influx of French; Latinization

Native tongue, Latin and French spokenNative tongue, Latin and French spoken

MapMap

Pilgrim’s RoutePilgrim’s Route

CanterburyCanterbury

The Place: CanterburyThe Place: Canterbury

connected 3 trading ports to London; Julius Caesar connected 3 trading ports to London; Julius Caesar invaded in 43 A.D.invaded in 43 A.D.

Roman civilization with theatres, baths, temples, etc. Roman civilization with theatres, baths, temples, etc. until invasion of Angles, Saxons, Jutes in 5th/6th until invasion of Angles, Saxons, Jutes in 5th/6th centurycentury

Canterbury converted to Christianity in 597 by Saint Canterbury converted to Christianity in 597 by Saint AugustineAugustine

Monastery, today’s Cathedral, founded in 602 by St. Monastery, today’s Cathedral, founded in 602 by St. Augustine; Canterbury as mother of British ChristianityAugustine; Canterbury as mother of British Christianity

Surrendered at Battle of Hastings (1066) to William Surrendered at Battle of Hastings (1066) to William the Conqueror; Cathedral destroyed by fire in 1067; the Conqueror; Cathedral destroyed by fire in 1067;

fortified with new walls, gates, stone keepfortified with new walls, gates, stone keep

St. AugustineSt. Augustine

Thomas a BeckettThomas a Beckett Thomas Becket Thomas Becket

archbishop; struggled archbishop; struggled for church’s for church’s independence with independence with King Henry II; exiled to King Henry II; exiled to France for 6 years; France for 6 years; returned & angered returned & angered KingKing

““Not one will deliver me Not one will deliver me from this low-born from this low-born priest.” 4 knights priest.” 4 knights murdered him murdered him December 29, 1170, in December 29, 1170, in Cathedral, spilling his Cathedral, spilling his brains on floor; brains on floor; canonized 3canonized 3 years years later later andand shrine shrine completed in 1220completed in 1220

Canterbury CathedralCanterbury Cathedral

Canterbury CathedralCanterbury Cathedral

The TalesThe Tales work existed in fragments at Chaucer’s deathwork existed in fragments at Chaucer’s death

planned for each of 30 to tell 2 tales/going & 2 planned for each of 30 to tell 2 tales/going & 2 tales/returning (120 stories in original framework)?tales/returning (120 stories in original framework)?

we have only one story each from 24 pilgrimswe have only one story each from 24 pilgrims written between 1357-1400written between 1357-1400

each tale deals with one of Chaucer’s themeseach tale deals with one of Chaucer’s themes richest portrayal of religious men & women in earthly richest portrayal of religious men & women in earthly

scene (Dante: portrayal of life after death)scene (Dante: portrayal of life after death) detached delight of Chaucer detached delight of Chaucer regularly rhyming coupletsregularly rhyming couplets Chaucer customarily writes a five-stress, ten-syllable line, Chaucer customarily writes a five-stress, ten-syllable line,

alternating unstressed and stressed syllables (what would alternating unstressed and stressed syllables (what would later be called iambic pentameter): later be called iambic pentameter):

told in social order (except for Miller)told in social order (except for Miller)

A pageant of 14th Century lifeA pageant of 14th Century life

Pilgrims span the whole range of the unofficial Pilgrims span the whole range of the unofficial middle class. Groups represented are: middle class. Groups represented are: Upper class (Knight, Squire, church people); Upper class (Knight, Squire, church people); Learned professions (Physician, Man of Law); Learned professions (Physician, Man of Law); Landed gentry (Franklin); Landed gentry (Franklin); Medieval manor people (Miller, Reeve); Medieval manor people (Miller, Reeve); Mercantile class (Shipman, Merchant); Mercantile class (Shipman, Merchant); Guildsmen (Haberdasher, Dyer, etc.); Guildsmen (Haberdasher, Dyer, etc.); Laborer (Plowman). Laborer (Plowman).

Structure & StyleStructure & Style Tales have different tones, attitudes, poetic style: Tales have different tones, attitudes, poetic style:

Marian miracle tale for PrioressMarian miracle tale for Prioress Sermonic structure for Pardoner’s taleSermonic structure for Pardoner’s tale Supernatural, folkloric tale for Wife of BathSupernatural, folkloric tale for Wife of Bath

Point of ViewPoint of View Chaucer enables reader to see story, person telling Chaucer enables reader to see story, person telling

story, point behind story--all at oncestory, point behind story--all at once points of view represent different outlooks, moralspoints of view represent different outlooks, morals

Sources: virtually every type of medieval writingSources: virtually every type of medieval writing Fabliaux, mini-epics, romances, fables, exempla, lays, Fabliaux, mini-epics, romances, fables, exempla, lays,

anecdotes, a sermon, religious allegoriesanecdotes, a sermon, religious allegories

Chaucer’s Attitude Chaucer’s Attitude Five ideals, Chaucer treats seriously (Knight, Five ideals, Chaucer treats seriously (Knight,

Squire, Clerk, Parson, Plowman);Squire, Clerk, Parson, Plowman); Some he pokes fun at (Prioress, Monk, Wife of Some he pokes fun at (Prioress, Monk, Wife of

Bath);Bath); Some is quiet about; short portraits with now Some is quiet about; short portraits with now

personal view coming through (Prioress's personal view coming through (Prioress's entourage);entourage);

Some not very good; Chaucer is just a little Some not very good; Chaucer is just a little negative (Shipman, Manciple);negative (Shipman, Manciple);

Hardened sinners, all of them religious officials Hardened sinners, all of them religious officials (Friar, Pardoner, Summoner)(Friar, Pardoner, Summoner)

General PrologueGeneral Prologue Introduction of pilgrimsIntroduction of pilgrims

Catholics (150 years before Henry VIII broke from Catholics (150 years before Henry VIII broke from Rome)Rome)

Reasons for pilgrimage?Reasons for pilgrimage? Common to travel together: protectionCommon to travel together: protection April in Southwark at Tabbard Inn, owner Harry BaileyApril in Southwark at Tabbard Inn, owner Harry Bailey Bailey suggests they pass time by taking turns telling Bailey suggests they pass time by taking turns telling

stories; best will win prizestories; best will win prize Brief portraits of pilgrimsBrief portraits of pilgrims Attitude of Chaucer the PilgrimAttitude of Chaucer the Pilgrim Three estates and rising middle class representedThree estates and rising middle class represented

7 Church Officials7 Church Officials PrioressPrioress

sentimental depiction, proud in petty sentimental depiction, proud in petty wayway

MonkMonk hedonistic, hunter, inept but not hedonistic, hunter, inept but not

maliciousmalicious FriarFriar

seducer, sells forgivenessseducer, sells forgiveness Parson and PlowmanParson and Plowman

ideal religious menideal religious men Parson one of 2 heroes in talesParson one of 2 heroes in tales

SummonerSummoner blackmailed, bribed on way to blackmailed, bribed on way to

success; ugly, stupid thugsuccess; ugly, stupid thug PardonerPardoner

perfect fraud: charming, clever, perfect fraud: charming, clever, corrupt; biggest hypocritecorrupt; biggest hypocrite

secular church official fighting secular church official fighting w/church official (Friar)w/church official (Friar)

DiscussionDiscussion

"The General Prologue" presents a vivid "The General Prologue" presents a vivid cross-section of the people who composed cross-section of the people who composed the various social classes of 14th Century the various social classes of 14th Century England. Organize the characters depicted England. Organize the characters depicted in the "Prologue" based on social position in the "Prologue" based on social position first then on their morality. What seems to first then on their morality. What seems to be Chaucer's opinion of the Clergy? Of the be Chaucer's opinion of the Clergy? Of the other classes? Which characters does other classes? Which characters does Chaucer seem to esteem or criticize? What Chaucer seem to esteem or criticize? What attributes do these characters have that attributes do these characters have that Chaucer appears to value or not? Chaucer appears to value or not?

The PilgrimsThe PilgrimsKnightKnight The Miller The MillerSquireSquire The Manciple The Manciple PrioressPrioress The Reeve The ReeveMonkMonk The Summoner The SummonerFriarFriar The Pardoner The PardonerMerchantMerchant The Host The HostClerk Clerk Chaucer the Pilgrin Chaucer the PilgrinThe LawyerThe LawyerThe FranklinThe FranklinThe CookThe CookThe PhysicianThe PhysicianThe Wife of Bath The Wife of Bath The ParsonThe ParsonThe Plowman The Plowman

The Prioress’s TaleThe Prioress’s Tale

Cult of the VirginCult of the Virgin Marian Miracle taleMarian Miracle tale Anti-Semitic legendsAnti-Semitic legends Hugh of Lincoln, Hugh of Lincoln,

murdered in 1255murdered in 1255 Relation of Teller to Relation of Teller to

Tale: who is anti-Tale: who is anti-semitic? The semitic? The Prioress? Chaucer?Prioress? Chaucer?

DiscussionDiscussion

Is the Prioress’s Tale anti-semitic? Is the Prioress’s Tale anti-semitic? Does Chaucer approve or condemn it? Does Chaucer approve or condemn it? Chaucer? What type of religiousity is Chaucer? What type of religiousity is expressed in the tale? Does the expressed in the tale? Does the description of her seem to match her description of her seem to match her tale? What is the relation between teller tale? What is the relation between teller and tale?and tale?

The Pardoner’s TaleThe Pardoner’s Tale

Pardoner: a layman who sells Pardoner: a layman who sells pardons or indulgences, pardons or indulgences, certificates from the pope by certificates from the pope by which people hoped to gain a which people hoped to gain a share in the merits of the share in the merits of the saints and escape more saints and escape more lightly from the pains of lightly from the pains of Purgatory after they diePurgatory after they die

Eunuch--The Pardoner is Eunuch--The Pardoner is spiritually sterile, a more spiritually sterile, a more significant fact than being significant fact than being physically sterile. physically sterile.

The Pardoner’s TaleThe Pardoner’s Tale The tale is an incomplete sermon. A medieval The tale is an incomplete sermon. A medieval

sermon should contain six parts:sermon should contain six parts: 1.1.Statement of theme or text;Statement of theme or text;

2.2.Protheme, introduced directly from the four gospels;Protheme, introduced directly from the four gospels;

3.3.Dilatation, expansion of the Biblical text;Dilatation, expansion of the Biblical text;

4.4.Exemplum, a story illustrating the point;Exemplum, a story illustrating the point;

5.5.Peroration, the application or eloquent haranguing;Peroration, the application or eloquent haranguing;

6.6.Benediction, the closing formula.Benediction, the closing formula.

This tale contains only parts 1, 4, 5, and 6.This tale contains only parts 1, 4, 5, and 6.

DiscussionDiscussion

How does the Pardoner characterize How does the Pardoner characterize himself in the Prologue to his tale? himself in the Prologue to his tale? What text does he always preach on? What text does he always preach on? Do you see irony in this? What is the Do you see irony in this? What is the relation between teller and tale? relation between teller and tale?

Wife of BathWife of Bath

Experience vs Experience vs AuthorityAuthority

The nature of The nature of WomanWoman

Role of man and Role of man and women in marriage: women in marriage: who is in top?who is in top?

What do women What do women want?want?

Is this tale anti-Is this tale anti-feminist?feminist?

DiscussionDiscussion

Prologue Prologue     Why does she open her “Prologue by claiming that Why does she open her “Prologue by claiming that

experience is a better guide to truth than authority? Do experience is a better guide to truth than authority? Do you think this helps in her argument on marriage and in you think this helps in her argument on marriage and in her general defense? Are her arguments problematic? her general defense? Are her arguments problematic? Does the Wife completely reject antifeminist attitudes Does the Wife completely reject antifeminist attitudes toward women, or does she provide proof that these toward women, or does she provide proof that these “old books” are correct in what they assume about “old books” are correct in what they assume about women? Do you believe that she is an object of satire women? Do you believe that she is an object of satire in her “Prologue” or an instrument of satire---or in her “Prologue” or an instrument of satire---or somehow both at the same time?   somehow both at the same time?  

Tale Tale What is the relationship between teller and tale? Is it an What is the relationship between teller and tale? Is it an

appropriate tale for her to tell? appropriate tale for her to tell?

Chaucer’s RetractionChaucer’s Retraction

Chaucer is retracting what works? Is he Chaucer is retracting what works? Is he sincere? sincere?