Geoffrey Chaucer

And the Canterbury Tales

“The Wife of Bath’s Tale”

“The Pardoner’s Tale”

Chaucer and Language

Canterbury Tales is his most famous work (more on that soon)

This work is written in middle English. Between Old and Middle English is the largest change in the English language (both in terms of sound and appearance).

Watch the prologue read in Middle English

Chaucer Background

Called the father of English poetry

He was both a gifted poet and politician

Geoffrey Chaucer was born between 1344-1348, the exact date is not known.

Chaucer’s rise to fame

Chaucer fought with Prince Lionel in France during the Hundred Years War (war fought between England and France over the throne. Joan of Arc fought in this war)

During this war, Chaucer was taken prisoner and was ransomed by King Edward III

Chaucer’s Literary Break Chaucer is commissioned by

nobility to write one the first publicly presented poem in English (French was the natural language since both the King and Queen spoke it.)

Chaucer is appointed to Controller by the King (an accounting officer in charge of taxes). This is a very prestigious position. This was the beginning of several noble positions bestowed on Chaucer during his life.

This steady income allowed Chaucer leisure time to write.

The Canterbury Tales

With his life and fortune stable, Chaucer began work on his most famous work, The Canterbury Tales.

Chaucer pens this great work between 1387-1400. He dies before it is finished.

The Story

The story is a collection of tales. It tells the story of a pilgrimage (a

trip to visit a holy site for contrition). The group included over 20 people from different walks of life (a knight, to a preacher, to a miller).

During the trip to the holy site, the pilgrims tell stories to pass the time. Each character was originally envisioned to tell two stories. Chaucer dies before this is finished.

Major Themes of Selected Tales

“The Wife of Bath’s Tale”

“The Pardoner’s Tale”

Class System– Both tales that you will read in class with examine different inequities of the class system in Medieval England

Types of Tales

There are four types of tales that the pilgrims tell as well as a prologue (an introduction to the tale with conversations between the pilgrims.) bawdy- this is a tale that is usually considered

“inappropriate.” It may contain lewd content or present ideas that go against the social norm. These are usually presented for entertainment. Examples of these stories are The Wife of Bath’s Tale and The Miller’s Tale

Types of Tales Continued

satirical- these tales have an obvious target and are told in the hope of inciting change. The most notable of these tales is The Knight’s Tale

allegorical- this is a tale in which is one thing may represent another. These tales may be understood on more than one level (example of an allegory: The Lord of the Rings series is an allegory about the World Wars. The story makes sense when read on its own as the battle for middle earth, but it also makes sense as representing the world wars.) In many cases, more familiar characters may be substituted to tell the story. The Pardoner's Tale is an example.

Tales

morally instructive- this last type of tale is one which teaches a lesson. The most notable of these tales is The Pardoner’s Tale

The Wife of Bath’s Tale

One of the only reasons that she is able to continue her story is because of her class.

The Pardoner’s Tale

Elements of the story to consider… Irony Chaucer’s message Sermon Form Class system Pardoner’s profession and

pilgrimage person Allegory The Old man (How do we

interpret him? Is this Pardoner more educated

than he seems?

After Reading

Pardoner’s Tale Animated