Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales
Period 1
Nickname-”The Father of English Poetry” Father- Prosperous middle class wine
merchant. Chaucer became a page in a Royal House
when he was a teen. Work as a page expose him to a world of
high/born people. Fought in a hundred years war in 1359
taken prisoner and held for ransom.
Chaucer Bio
In his 20’s- Court Official- travel abroad learn different cultures and literatures.
Influenced-by French medieval traditions 1st writer to use Middle English in a major
literary work which was the Canterburry Tales
Canterburry Tales gives a “Lifelike and engaging picture of a various strata of english society of the 13oo’s.
Born 1342—Died 1400
Chaucer Bio
ReligionChristianizing England*596 Pope Gregory I sent missionaries to convert Anglo-Saxon to Christianity*By 650 most of England was Christian* Celtic monks brought Christianity to other parts of England*Religion came with education and culture
Monasteries*Women and men dedicated their lives to work and prayer*English monks established libraries and schools*Alfred’s greatest achievement in this regard was the Anglo-Saxon chornicle
Pilgrimages*An important shrine in Spain was Santiago de Compostela *Thomas a Becket was slain in 1170One way to express religions devotion was to undertake a pilgrimage.
When king Edward died in 1066, William of Normandy claimed the throne.
Harold II was chosen by the English group of elders, William the conqueror attacked, battle of hasting, which he won
History
Following Norman conquest, Anglo-Saxons became subjects of the Norman aristocracy
William the conquer introduced feudalism to England
King John needing money for the military, imposed financial burdens on his barons
Feudal England