medieval literature notes ii
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MEDIEVAL LITERATURE NOTES
Canterbury Tales
Objectives: Students will be able to.. identify historical events that changed the landscape
of England and they will be able to explain how the literature of the time period reflects that
Analyze the effects of a feudal system and why the language of English developed the way it did and lasted throughout the ages
Define what a pilgrimage was in the Medieval times and compare it to modern pilgrimages
Identify specific ways that the language changed from Middle English to English
Define and apply characterization both indirect and direct
Apply the characteristics of Chaucer’s life and analyze it’s influence to his work Canterbury Tales
1066 Norman Invasion
Normans invaded because William was angry that Harold was chosen to be King
“GET OFF MY THRONE!”
Norman Invasion
WILLIAM defeats Harold
Normans controlled government and suppressed A.S. nobility and remade England on their terms by instituting feudalism.
Feudalism
Feudalism: Exchange of property for personal service.
Plantagenets
Henry II came to the throne
Founded royal house and became one of England’s most ablest kings
Had problems with the church and appointed his friend, Thomas Beckett as Bishop of Canterbury, hoping that this would lessen the tension
B. F.F.’s
Poor Thomas Beckett
Instead, Thomas Beckett sided with the Pope instead of the King on an issue
Henry’s soldiers misunderstood his wrath about this incident and killed Beckett.
B.F.F.’s
Let’s make a pilgrimage
Henry quickly condemned the crime and tried to atone for it by making a pilgrimage to Beckett’s tomb
Pilgrimages to Beckett’s shrine became very common as a means of religious devotion
Think, Pair, Share
What sort of pilgrimages do people make today? With a partner come up with at least five places people make pilgrimages to and the reasons they make those journeys.
Medieval Literature
Medieval Drama: Church sponsored plays
Morality plays – depicted the lives of ordinary people
Mystery plays- retold stories from the Bible or saints
That is one great invention!
Johan Gutenberg perfect printing from movable type
Caxton set up the first printing press- England
One of Caxton’s first projects was printing of Geoffrey Chaucer’s work, in Middle English
Geoffrey Chaucer
Father was a merchant Teenage years he
entered an aristocratic household
Apprenticeship led to a career in which he served the nobility as a capable administrator
He was just below aristocracy gave him the best point to observe people
FUN FACTS: “Famous People Watcher”
Canterbury Tales
shows keen observation of people
Exchange of tales among pilgrims as they journey to the shrine of martyr Thomas Becket at Canterbury
Canterbury Tales continued… Themes of love
and knightly adventure dominated
He only completed 22 of the 120 tales
Cantebury Tales in Middle English
Let’s compare, with a partner write down words that are familiar When in April the
sweet showers fall, And pierce the drought of March to the root, and all the veins are bathed in liquor of such power, As brings about the engendering of a flower, When also Zephyrus with his sweet breath, Exhales an air in every grove and heath
Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote, The droghte of March hath perced to the roote, And bathed every veyne engendred is the flour; Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth, Inspired hathin ever holt and heet…
Literary Terms to remember when reading Canterbury Prologue Characterization- techniques of
revealing character Direct characterization- presents
direct statements about a character, such as Chaucer’s statement that the Knight “followed chivalry,/Truth, honor”
Indirect characterization- uses actions, thoughts, and dialogue to reveal a character’s personality.
Characterize your partner!
As POLITELY as possible, let’s practice characterization!
Write down two examples of indirect characterization and direct characterization for your partner.
So what is Canterbury Tales about??
Websites used for images
http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/geoffrey_chaucer/photo
http://www.arthursclipart.org/stories/storiesbw/page_01.htm
http://abcteach.com/directory/clip_art/history/