““The Canterbury Tales”The Canterbury Tales”and the History of 14and the History of 14thth
Century EnglandCentury England
Including the biography of Including the biography of Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-
1400)1400)
Medieval Social TheoryMedieval Social Theory
England was made up of three England was made up of three “estates” or classes (similar to “estates” or classes (similar to that of the feudal system)that of the feudal system)–The NobilityThe Nobility–The ChurchThe Church–The CommonersThe Commoners
The NobilityThe NobilityComposed of a small Composed of a small
hereditary aristocracyhereditary aristocracyMission on earth was to “rule Mission on earth was to “rule
over and defend the body of over and defend the body of the politic” (people).the politic” (people).
Usually had most of the money Usually had most of the money and land ownership and land ownership
The ChurchThe ChurchLook after the spiritual Look after the spiritual
welfare of the people.welfare of the people.Usually divided amongst Usually divided amongst
the people, but Christianity the people, but Christianity comprised most of the comprised most of the religion of the people.religion of the people.
The Commoners The Commoners Provided the work and Provided the work and
labor to sustain the labor to sustain the society.society.
Agricultural workersAgricultural workersFishermenFishermenMerchantsMerchants
Medieval Riddle #1Medieval Riddle #1 Oft I must strive with wind and wave, Oft I must strive with wind and wave, Battle them both when under the seaBattle them both when under the sea I feel out the bottom, a foreign land. I feel out the bottom, a foreign land. In lying still I am strong in the strife;In lying still I am strong in the strife; If I fail in that they are stronger than I, If I fail in that they are stronger than I, And wrenching me loose, soon put me to And wrenching me loose, soon put me to
rout.rout. They wish to capture what I must keep. They wish to capture what I must keep. I can master them both if my grip holds I can master them both if my grip holds
out,out, If the rocks bring succor and lend support, If the rocks bring succor and lend support, Strength in the struggle. Ask me my name! Strength in the struggle. Ask me my name!
Answer to Medieval Answer to Medieval Riddle #1Riddle #1
An AnchorAn Anchor
Social Change at the end of the Social Change at the end of the 1414thth Century Century
World changing more rapidlyWorld changing more rapidlyDifferent social classes were Different social classes were
intermarryingintermarryingSome merchants becoming Some merchants becoming
richer than land ownersricher than land ownersBrought about economic, Brought about economic,
social, and political change.social, and political change.Emergence of the “Middle Emergence of the “Middle
Class”Class”
Hundred Years WarHundred Years War Takes place between France and Takes place between France and
England from 1337-1453 (116 years all England from 1337-1453 (116 years all together)together)– Times of peace in between, but roughly 100 Times of peace in between, but roughly 100
years of warfare between the two.years of warfare between the two.
English Kings were descendants of the English Kings were descendants of the French Kings (Invasion of England by French Kings (Invasion of England by the Normans in 1066).the Normans in 1066).
French kings upset that English kings French kings upset that English kings had more land then them, so the went had more land then them, so the went back and forth about who could control back and forth about who could control which lands and how much. which lands and how much.
““The Black Death”The Black Death” Also called the “Black Plague” or Also called the “Black Plague” or
“Bubonic Plague of the 14“Bubonic Plague of the 14thth Century” Century” Killed nearly one-third (1/3) of Europe’s Killed nearly one-third (1/3) of Europe’s
entire population from 1347-1351 A.D.entire population from 1347-1351 A.D. Caused upheaval against various Caused upheaval against various religiousreligious and and socialsocial groups including: groups including: Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Foreigners, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Foreigners, Beggars, etc.Beggars, etc.
Slowed the progress of the Hundred Slowed the progress of the Hundred Years WarYears War
Medieval Riddle #2Medieval Riddle #2In former days my father and mother, Abandoned me In former days my father and mother, Abandoned me
dead, lacking breath Or life or being. dead, lacking breath Or life or being.
Then one began, A kinswoman kind, to care for and Then one began, A kinswoman kind, to care for and love me;love me;Covered me with her clothing, wrapped me in her Covered me with her clothing, wrapped me in her raiment, With the same affection she felt for her raiment, With the same affection she felt for her own;own;
Until by the law of my life's shaping, Under alien Until by the law of my life's shaping, Under alien bosom I quickened with breath.bosom I quickened with breath.
My foster mother fed me thereafter, Until I grew My foster mother fed me thereafter, Until I grew sturdy and strengthened for flight.sturdy and strengthened for flight.
Then of her dear ones, of daughters and sons, She had Then of her dear ones, of daughters and sons, She had the fewer for what she did. the fewer for what she did.
Answer to Medieval Answer to Medieval Riddle #2Riddle #2
A BirdA Bird
Geoffrey ChaucerGeoffrey Chaucer Born in London, 1343, son of a wine Born in London, 1343, son of a wine
merchantmerchant Grew up in “London Vintry,” where Grew up in “London Vintry,” where
ships docked with wines from France ships docked with wines from France and Spain and Spain
Grew up during the Hundred Years Grew up during the Hundred Years War & Black Death PandemicWar & Black Death Pandemic
Chaucer grew up around various Chaucer grew up around various people from different walks of life.people from different walks of life.
Learned new languages: French & Learned new languages: French & LatinLatin
Geoffrey ChaucerGeoffrey Chaucer Chaucer becomes apprenticed to Chaucer becomes apprenticed to
nobilitynobility– Fine Schooling at the Count of UlsterFine Schooling at the Count of Ulster– Learned etiquette and mannersLearned etiquette and manners– Followed a strict Christian practice.Followed a strict Christian practice.
Worked on keeping books during the Worked on keeping books during the Hundred Years War for Edward III.Hundred Years War for Edward III.
Becomes ambassador and travels to Becomes ambassador and travels to Spain, France, Italy, etc. and learns Spain, France, Italy, etc. and learns more languages and skills.more languages and skills.
Pilgrimage to CanterburyPilgrimage to CanterburyThe pilgrimage from Southwark (Southern part of London) to
Canterbury took 10-14 days depending on weather conditions and number of travelers.
The Canterbury The Canterbury TalesTales Idea contrived originally in 1386Idea contrived originally in 1386
Story was to be a collection of 120 stories Story was to be a collection of 120 stories that were told by various pilgrims on a that were told by various pilgrims on a pilgrimage. (30 pilgrims: 2 stories on the pilgrimage. (30 pilgrims: 2 stories on the way there, 2 stories on the way back).way there, 2 stories on the way back).
Published version: 24 stories (2 in prose, Published version: 24 stories (2 in prose, 22 in verse)22 in verse)
Pilgrimage was for Thomas à BecketPilgrimage was for Thomas à Becket– Archbishop of Canterbury that was Archbishop of Canterbury that was
murdered at his cathedral in 1170 A.D. murdered at his cathedral in 1170 A.D. ““Odd assembly on purpose” Odd assembly on purpose”
The Canterbury The Canterbury TalesTales Tales were told by characters from different Tales were told by characters from different
classes and “walks of life”classes and “walks of life” Idea was to give the readers a perspective Idea was to give the readers a perspective
with respect to values and characteristics with respect to values and characteristics ascribed to particular social or economic ascribed to particular social or economic groups (middle class, religious officials, groups (middle class, religious officials, etc.)etc.)
Stories are competitive, follow various Stories are competitive, follow various formats, different tones, different narrators, formats, different tones, different narrators, etc. etc.
Stories reflect the values of the characters Stories reflect the values of the characters that orated them. that orated them.
Medieval Riddle #3Medieval Riddle #3A lonely wanderer, wounded with iron, I am smitten A lonely wanderer, wounded with iron, I am smitten
with war-blades, sated with strife,with war-blades, sated with strife,Worn with the sword-edge; I have seen many Worn with the sword-edge; I have seen many battles, Much hazardous fighting, oft without hopebattles, Much hazardous fighting, oft without hopeOf comforts or help in the carnage of war Ere I Of comforts or help in the carnage of war Ere I perish and fall in the fighting of men.perish and fall in the fighting of men.The leavings of hammers, the handiwork of The leavings of hammers, the handiwork of smiths, Batter and bite me, hard-edged and sharp;smiths, Batter and bite me, hard-edged and sharp;The brunt of the battle I am doomed to endure. In The brunt of the battle I am doomed to endure. In all the folk-stead no leech could I findall the folk-stead no leech could I findWith wort or simple to heal my wounds; But day With wort or simple to heal my wounds; But day and night with the deadly blowsand night with the deadly blowsThe marks of the war-blades double and deepen. The marks of the war-blades double and deepen. What am I?What am I?
Answer to Medieval Answer to Medieval Riddle #3Riddle #3
A ShieldA Shield
““General Prologue”General Prologue” Introduction of the storyIntroduction of the story Introduction of the charactersIntroduction of the characters
– Special emphasis placed on Special emphasis placed on characterizationcharacterizationPhysical appearance, clothing, accessories, Physical appearance, clothing, accessories, behaviors, etc.behaviors, etc.
Understanding their place with regard to Understanding their place with regard to social status is indicative of what kind of social status is indicative of what kind of story they are likely to produce.story they are likely to produce.
Allows reader to establish moral Allows reader to establish moral judgments.judgments.
Seven Deadly SinsSeven Deadly Sins One of the underlying motifs in the tales One of the underlying motifs in the tales
is the use of the Cardinal Sinsis the use of the Cardinal Sins– WrathWrath– Pride Pride – Envy Envy – GreedGreed– GluttonyGluttony– Sloth Sloth – LustLust
• Through elaborate characterization, nearly all of Chaucer’s pilgrims were seemingly guilty of one or more of these sins.
• Emphasis of sin was based on physical appearance, behavior, monetary situation, and/or allusion to sexual perversion.Are you a sinner?????
