Geoffrey Chaucer’s Masterpiece

Presented by:Tienny Makrus & Romaita Sembiring

Summary of the Canterbury Tales

The Pilgrims on Their Ways

The Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer, is a very long poem about a pilgrimage from London to Canterbury. It is best pieces of literature ever written, even though it is not complete or perfect.

Chaucer used imaginative characters and clever tales to compile a book that is both informative and entertaining. He portrays different medieval opinions through his characters, who respond to one another's tales.

The Example of Chaucer’s Works

The Miller’s Tale

women as innocent and passive, but with a significant advantage over their male suitors.

women should be the controlling party in the relationship, and repeatedly illustrates this belief in both her story and prologue.

The Wife of Bath Tale

The Nun's Priest's Tale

the Nun's Priest portrays women as untrustworthy, women should be humble and the objects of men who might give bad consul.

Historical BackgroundThe Canterbury Tales is:•recognized as the first book of poetry written in the English language.•written in Middle English.•a collection of stories that read like a story-telling competition between a small group of pilgrims as their journey to see St. Thomas Becket's shrine at the Canterbury Cathedral.

English Society in the Fourteenth Century• Pilgrimages were very common in fourteenth-

century England, and they were well depicted in the Middle English literature.

• The King and nobles having all power in things political and the Catholic Church having all authority in spiritual matters.

• Society, in the 14th century, was influenced by the church, which is made by the same society.

The Corruption of the Church

The Canterbury Church, Kent, England

By the late fourteenth century, the Catholic Church, which governed England, Ireland, and the entire continent of Europe, had become extremely wealthy.

The cathedral was built with very expensive, with decorations made of gold and even jewels.

The Corruption of the Church

The Church did not care about famine, pestilence, and poor people who beg on their door.

Irreligious churchmen accepted bribes, bribing people and greedy.

Chaucer wrote many tales relating to this matter.

Geoffrey Chaucer (1343 – 25 October 1400)

the Father of English literature

marriage and feminism Church and God

So, The Canterbury Tales are an accurate reflection of the English society in the 14th century.

Middle English Modern EnglishWhilom ther was dwellynge at oxenford A riche gnof, that gestes heeld to bord, And of his craft he was a carpenter. With hym ther was dwellynge a poure scoler, Hadde lerned art, but al his fantasye Was turned for to lerne astrologye, And koude a certeyn of conclusiouns, To demen by interrogaciouns, If that men asked hym in certein houres Whan that men sholde have droghte or elles shoures, Or if men asked hym what sholde bifalle Of every thyng; I may nat rekene hem alle.

This clerk was cleped hende nicholas.

Once on a time was dwelling in OxfordA wealthy lout who took in guests to board,And of his craft he was a carpenter.A poor scholar was lodging with him there,Who'd learned the arts, but all his phantasyWas turned to study of astrology;And knew a certain set of theoremsAnd could find out by various stratagems,If men but asked of him in certain hoursWhen they should have a drought or else have showers,Or if men asked of him what should befallTo anything- I cannot reckon them all.This clerk was called the clever Nicholas;

THE MILLER'S TALE

THE WIFE OF BATH'S TALE

Middle English Modern EnglishIn th' olde dayes of the kyng arthour, Of which that britons speken greet honour, Al was this land fulfild of fayerye. The elf-queene, with hir joly compaignye, Daunced ful ofte in many a grene mede. This was the olde opinion, as I rede; I speke of manye hundred yeres ago. But now kan no man se none elves mo, For now the grete charitee and prayers Of lymytours and othere hooly freres, That serchen every lond and every streem, As thikke as motes in the sonne-beem, Blessynge halles, chambres, kichenes, boures, Citees, burghes, castels, hye toures, Thropes, bernes, shipnes, dayeryes -- This maketh that ther ben no fayeryes.

Now in the olden days of King Arthur, Of whom the Britons speak with great honour, All this wide land was land of faery. The elf-queen, with her jolly company, Danced oftentimes on many a green mead; This was the old opinion, as I read. I speak of many hundred years ago; But now no man can see the elves, you know. For now the so-great charity and prayers Of limiters and other holy friars That do infest each land and every stream As thick as motes are in a bright sunbeam, Blessing halls, chambers, kitchens, ladies' bowers, Cities and towns and castles and high towers, Manors and barns and stables, aye and dairies-

This causes it that there are now no fairies.

The Nun's Priest's Tale

Middle English Modern EnglishA pore wydow, somwhat stooped in age,Was whilom duellyng in a narrow cotáge,Bisyde a grove, stondyng in a dale.This wydowe, of which I telle yow my tale,Syn that same day that she was last a wif,In paciens ladde a ful symple lyf.For litel was hir catel and hir rent;By housbondry of such as God hir sent,She fond hirself, and eek hir doughtres tuo.Thre large sowes had she, and no mo,Thre kyne, and eek a sheep tha highte Malle.Ful sooty was hir bour, and eek hir halle,In which she eet ful many a slender bit.

A widow poor, somewhat advanced in age,Lived, on a time, within a small cottageBeside a grove and standing down a dale.This widow, now, of whom I tell my tale,Since that same day when she'd been last a wifeHad led, with patience, her strait simple life,For she'd small goods and little income-rent;By husbanding of such as God had sentShe kept herself and her young daughters twain.Three large sows had she, and no more, 'tis plain,Three cows and a lone sheep that she called Moll.Right sooty was her bedroom and her hall,Wherein she'd eaten many a slender meal.

Thank you for your attention…

English Literature

~ Tienny Makrus & Romaita Sembiring ~