The Canterbury Tales

by Geoffrey Chaucer

Literary Terms satire: characterization frame narrative/story prologue hyperbole stereotype

satire A literary mode based on criticism of

people and society through ridicule. The satirist aims to reduce the practices attacked by laughing scornfully at them--and being witty enough to allow the reader to laugh, also.  Ridicule, irony, exaggeration, and several other techniques are almost always present.

characterization The method used by a writer to develop

a character. The method includes (1) showing the character's appearance, (2) displaying the character's actions, (3) revealing the character's thoughts, (4) letting the character speak, and (5) getting the reactions of others.

frame narrative The result of inserting one or more small stories within

the body of a larger story that encompasses the smaller ones. Often this term is used interchangeably with both the literary technique and the larger story itself that contains the smaller ones, which are called "framed narratives" or "embedded narratives." The most famous example is Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, in which the overarching frame narrative is the story of a band of pilgrims traveling to the shrine of Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. The band passes the time in a storytelling contest. The framed narratives are the individual stories told by the pilgrims who participate.  

prologue An introductory section of a literary work. It

often contains information establishing the situation of the characters or presents information about the setting, time period, or action. In the "General Prologue" of The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer describes the main characters and establishes the setting and purpose of the work.

hyperbole Exaggeration or overstatement. Example:

I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.He's as big as a house.

stereotype 1. A conventional, formulaic, and

oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.

2. One that is regarded as embodying or conforming to a set image or type.

Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)

Son of a merchant, page in a royal house, soldier, diplomat, and royal clerk.

The Canterbury Tales provides the best contemporary picture we have of 14th century England.

Began writing Canterbury Tales in 1386

Known as “The Father of English Poetry”

The Canterbury Tales Originally planned

to write 124 tales Only 24 tales were

completed Each character

tells a tale on the pilgrimage to the cathedral at Canterbury

Manuscripts Written in Middle English

Ellesmere Manuscript

240 pages of parchment leaves

The most famous manuscript in the English language

General Complexity of The Canterbury Tales

Different genres have different views of the world, different vocabularies, and different images for truth

Romance- deals with human emotions and relationships

Fabliau- deals with the basic human needs of food, sex, or money

Saint’s Life- deals with the operations of God

Sermons and Ethical Treatises- deals with spiritual matters

The Prologue Prologue- an

introduction Setting- in spring in

the city of Southwark at the Tabard Inn

30 pilgrims in all 3 groups of pilgrims-

1)Oratores (those who pray), Bellatores (those who fight), and Laborares (those who work)

Theory of the Four Humors

This theory held that the body's state of health--and by extension the state of mind, or character--depended upon a balance among the four elemental fluids: blood, yellow bile, phlegm, and black bile. The four basic human temperaments, phlegmatic, sanguine, melancholic, and choleric, were each caused by a predominance of one of the four humors. The humors and their corresponding temperaments were closely allied with the four elements (air, fire, water, and earth) and the dualities of hot/cold, moist/dry .

Phlegmatic The temperament of

the calm and tough phlegmatics was influenced by excess phlegm, and was closely associated with water, cold and moisture. Characteristics: dull, pale, cowardly. 

Sanguine Sanguines, whose

cheerful and lively temperament resulted from the dominance of the blood, and was associated with the air, heat and moisture. Characteristics: amorous, happy, generous.

Melancholic The worry and

gloominess of the melancholies were due to a surfeit of melancholy. Associated with earth, cold and dryness. Characteristics: gluttonous, lazy, sentimental

Choleric The energetic

cholerics had too much choler (an irritable petulant feeling) in his or her system. Associated with fire, heat and dryness. Characteristics: violent, vengeful.

Pride is an excessive belief in one's own abilities. Envy is wanting what others have, be it status, abilities, or possessions. Gluttony is the desire to eat or consume more than you require. Lust is a powerful craving for such as sex, power and money.  Anger is the loss of rational self-control and the desire to harm others. Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain.

Sloth is laziness and the avoidance of work.

The Seven Deadly Sins