GEOFFREY CHAUCER &THE CANTERBURY

TALESGet Ready for a Wild Ride!

GEOFFREY CHAUCER Born about 1342 in London Family was middleclass

Worked as wine merchants Became a page in the royal household while a

teenager Duties included making beds, running errands, carrying

candles Served in a military campaign in France and saw

more of the world In his 20s he was made a court official—start to

many years of public service Traveled abroad on diplomatic missions and was

exposed to French and Italian literature and culture

CHAUCER CONT.For the rest of his life he held a variety of

governmental postsCreated a large body of writingDivided into 3 periods

Early poetry Influenced by the French medieval tradition

Middle work Mature work

Canterbury TalesDied in 1400

Called the “The Father of English Poetry”

CANTERBURY TALESConsidered Chaucer’s masterpiece

First writer to use English in a major literary work

Focus is on an assortment of people who are thrown together on a journey

Composed of 17,000 lines of vivid poetry

CANTERBURY TALESUses a frame tale

Story that provides a vehicle, or frame, for telling other stories

About a pilgrimageA trip made to a holy place for religious

reasons 29 pilgrims travel to Canterbury to visit the

shrine of St. Thomas a Becket. When Chaucer’s pilgrims first meet, at an inn, their host suggests they tell stories to pass the time.

CANTERBURY TALES Pilgrims occupations reflect different aspects of

14th century societyFeudal System: Knight, Squire, Yeoman,

Franklin, Plowman, Miller, ReeveReligious Life: Nun, Monk, Friar, Cleric, Parson,

Summoner, PardonerTrades: Merchant, Sergeant at the Law, Five

Tradesmen, Cook, Skipper, Doctor, Wife of Bath, Manciple, Host

CANTERBURY TALESLanguage

Written in Middle EnglishGrammar and vocabulary is

familiar to speakers of modern English

Certain pronunciations are differentSilent e

Middle English considered unsuitable for literary purposes

JOURNAL IMAGINE YOURSELF ON A LONG TRIP

SURROUNDED BY STRANGERS. YOUR FELLOW TRAVELERS PROBABLY HAVE A VARIETY OF CHARACTERISITICS. WHAT CHARACTERISTICS ARE APPEALING? WHAT ARE CHARACTERISTICS ARE ANNOYING?