““Father of English Father of English Poetry”Poetry”

Geoffrey ChaucerGeoffrey Chaucer

1343-14001343-1400

ChaucerChaucer

He is considered the “He is considered the “Greatest Greatest English Poet of the Middle Ages”English Poet of the Middle Ages”

He was a well-known government He was a well-known government official who had the honor to serve official who had the honor to serve under three different Kings:under three different Kings:

Edward IIIEdward IIIRichard IIRichard IIHenry IVHenry IV

Early LifeEarly Life Born c. 1343Born c. 1343 Son of a prosperous wine Son of a prosperous wine

merchantmerchant In his mid teens, he was In his mid teens, he was

placed in the service of a placed in the service of a Countess so he could Countess so he could obtain a better education obtain a better education and be schooled in both and be schooled in both court and society life.court and society life.

Thus, he would have Thus, he would have learned Latin and some learned Latin and some Greek as well as French Greek as well as French and Italian.and Italian.

Early Life (cont.)Early Life (cont.)

In, 1360 Chaucer joined In, 1360 Chaucer joined the royal household and the royal household and became a trusted became a trusted messenger and minor messenger and minor diplomat for the King.diplomat for the King.

He was so important to He was so important to the King that when he was the King that when he was captured in France during captured in France during the Hundred Years’ War the Hundred Years’ War the King paid his ransom.the King paid his ransom.

Other Jobs Chaucer Held…and Learned Other Jobs Chaucer Held…and Learned From...From...

Controller of Customs on Wools, Skins and Hides for the Controller of Customs on Wools, Skins and Hides for the Port of LondonPort of London Here he would meet many types of businessmen, sailors, Here he would meet many types of businessmen, sailors,

travelers city folk and common laborerstravelers city folk and common laborers Clerk of the King’s WorksClerk of the King’s Works

In charge of construction and repairs affecting the royal In charge of construction and repairs affecting the royal residences; here he would meet many guildsmen as well as residences; here he would meet many guildsmen as well as court officialscourt officials

Deputy Forester of the King’s ForestsDeputy Forester of the King’s Forests Away from the city, he met peasants, foresters, local clergy and Away from the city, he met peasants, foresters, local clergy and

other country folkother country folk Representative of the Shire of Kent in ParliamentRepresentative of the Shire of Kent in Parliament

Here he met the rich, the influential and the upper middleHere he met the rich, the influential and the upper middle class as well as the higher ranking church officialsclass as well as the higher ranking church officials

ChaucerChaucer

Had a high work ethic.Had a high work ethic.Motto: work first, writing was a Motto: work first, writing was a

means of pleasure.means of pleasure.Wrote in the language of the people Wrote in the language of the people

and with his own and with his own StyleStyle: : IAMBIC PENTAMETERIAMBIC PENTAMETERCOUPLET COUPLET

ChaucerChaucer

Chaucer used several metrical forms Chaucer used several metrical forms and some prose.and some prose.

His dominant meter was His dominant meter was IAMBIC IAMBIC PENTAMETERPENTAMETER—a line of 10 syllables; —a line of 10 syllables; unstressed followed by stressed.unstressed followed by stressed.He is responsible for making this the He is responsible for making this the

most popular metric form in literature.most popular metric form in literature.Finally abandoning the alliterative Finally abandoning the alliterative

world of poetry. (first advance into world of poetry. (first advance into the modern lang.)the modern lang.)

ChaucerChaucer

His favorite rhyme scheme was the His favorite rhyme scheme was the COUPLET: COUPLET: two consecutive lines of two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme. (2 types)poetry that rhyme. (2 types)

Heroic Couplet:Heroic Couplet: A couplet that presents a A couplet that presents a complete thought.complete thought.

Open Couplet: Open Couplet: A couplet that has no A couplet that has no complete thought; thought continues into complete thought; thought continues into the next couplet and so on.the next couplet and so on.

ChaucerChaucer

Chaucer died October 25, 1400 and Chaucer died October 25, 1400 and was the 1was the 1stst to be buried in what is to be buried in what is now called “Poets Corner” in now called “Poets Corner” in Westminster Abbey.Westminster Abbey.

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales

Chaucer’s most famous piece of writing was Chaucer’s most famous piece of writing was the the Canterbury Tales.Canterbury Tales.

Scholars say that the Prologue alone puts him in a Scholars say that the Prologue alone puts him in a class with Shakespeare and Milton.class with Shakespeare and Milton.

C. T. were written between 1387-1400C. T. were written between 1387-1400 They were NEVER COMPLETED!They were NEVER COMPLETED! The tales were written as a concise portrait The tales were written as a concise portrait

of an entire nation going through the ups of an entire nation going through the ups and downs of life during the Middle Ages. and downs of life during the Middle Ages. **A way for Chaucer to Satire England.**A way for Chaucer to Satire England.

(Remember the end of (Remember the end of The Knight’s Tale??)The Knight’s Tale??)

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales The The Canterbury Tales Canterbury Tales begin with a general begin with a general

prologue introducing the setting, prologue introducing the setting, (where/when), and the 29 travelers going (where/when), and the 29 travelers going on the pilgrimage to visit the shrine of on the pilgrimage to visit the shrine of Thomas Thomas à Becket at the Canterbury à Becket at the Canterbury Cathedral.Cathedral.

As the prologue progresses you will be As the prologue progresses you will be introduced to each individual character who introduced to each individual character who will then tell their ‘tale’.will then tell their ‘tale’.

FRAME STORY TECHNIQUE: FRAME STORY TECHNIQUE: story within a story within a story. story.

Chaucer will be telling the story while all of his Chaucer will be telling the story while all of his characters tell their own story, within the tales characters tell their own story, within the tales themselves.themselves.

Characters will be described Characters will be described by:by:

Their jobTheir job The type and color of their clothingThe type and color of their clothing Their “accessories” (jewelry, pets, other Their “accessories” (jewelry, pets, other

portables)portables) The way they actThe way they act Their incomeTheir income Their “secrets”Their “secrets” Their status in society as a wholeTheir status in society as a whole The way they speak / their slang or accentThe way they speak / their slang or accent Their mode of transportationTheir mode of transportation

Chaucer’s Plan ...Chaucer’s Plan ...

Each character Each character would tell 2 stories would tell 2 stories going and 2 stories going and 2 stories coming home from coming home from Canterbury.Canterbury.

Why do you Why do you suppose they did suppose they did this??this??

London

But why go to Canterbury?But why go to Canterbury?

Canterbury was a Pilgrimage Canterbury was a Pilgrimage SiteSite

People of all classes went on pilgrimages to holy People of all classes went on pilgrimages to holy sites to ask for help with medical, financial or sites to ask for help with medical, financial or

other problems.other problems.

The Shrine ofThe Shrine ofSt. Thomas à BecketSt. Thomas à Becket

The travelers in Chaucer’s CT were headed to the Shrine of Thomas àà Becket.

Becket was a trusted adviser and friend of King Becket was a trusted adviser and friend of King Henry II who later named Becket, Archbishop of Henry II who later named Becket, Archbishop of

Canterbury.Canterbury.

Becket’s outspoken Becket’s outspoken style angered the style angered the King. One day, Henry King. One day, Henry complained, “Will no complained, “Will no one rid me of this one rid me of this meddlesome priest?” meddlesome priest?” Three knights rode to Three knights rode to Canterbury where Canterbury where they found Becket at they found Becket at the altar of the altar of Canterbury Canterbury Cathedral.Cathedral.

There, at the altar, they beheaded Becket.There, at the altar, they beheaded Becket.

Canterbury Cathedral became a site for pilgrims Canterbury Cathedral became a site for pilgrims to offer prayers to St. Thomas.to offer prayers to St. Thomas.

Today, a modern cross made from swords Today, a modern cross made from swords marks the site of the martyrdom.marks the site of the martyrdom.

The fact that Chaucer wrote in The fact that Chaucer wrote in Middle EnglishMiddle English, rather than , rather than French or Latin like many of his French or Latin like many of his fellow writers, meant that fellow writers, meant that ordinary folk could enjoy ordinary folk could enjoy TheThe Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales and their and their vivid characters.vivid characters.

The late fourteenth century world was still very The late fourteenth century world was still very much one of the spoken word. Books were much one of the spoken word. Books were

copied out by hand and were a rare luxury till copied out by hand and were a rare luxury till the advent of the printing press 70 years later. the advent of the printing press 70 years later.

The educated elite could read, but they The educated elite could read, but they preferred to hear texts preferred to hear texts read outread out loudloud for for

entertainment. entertainment. The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales, with , with their earthy humor and and vivid dialogue, their earthy humor and and vivid dialogue,

were a runaway success. were a runaway success.

So, let’s travel back to London, to the area So, let’s travel back to London, to the area called Southward, and stop at the Tabard Inn.called Southward, and stop at the Tabard Inn.

We’ll meet the characters and hear their We’ll meet the characters and hear their stories.stories.

So the story begins...So the story begins...