The Canterbury The Canterbury TalesTales

J.L. Ilsley High SchoolJ.L. Ilsley High School

English 12English 12

Eras and AgesEras and Ages

Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)1400)

WriterWriter PoetPoet DiplomatDiplomat EducatorEducator PhilosopherPhilosopher HusbandHusband FatherFather Father of English Father of English

LitLit

The BookThe Book

One of the original One of the original works of English works of English LiteratureLiterature

Chaucer was the Chaucer was the first to argue that first to argue that there there couldcould be a be a literature in literature in English, as opposed English, as opposed to Latin or Greek.to Latin or Greek.

The ManuscriptThe Manuscript

Published Published beforebefore the the printing pressprinting press

Hand-letteredHand-lettered

Illuminated Illuminated ManuscriptManuscript

Stylized initial Stylized initial lettersletters

The StoryThe Story

Pilgrimage to Pilgrimage to CanterburyCanterbury

Knight, Miller, Nun, Knight, Miller, Nun, Monk, Merchant, Monk, Merchant, Cook, Physician, Wife Cook, Physician, Wife of Bath, etc.of Bath, etc.

Stories while travelingStories while traveling

The LanguageThe Language Written in “Middle Written in “Middle

English”English”

Anglo-Saxon Anglo-Saxon (Germanic) with (Germanic) with Latin and French Latin and French thrown inthrown in

Wait till you hear it!

And prively he caughte hire by the queynte,

And seyde, "Ywis, but if ich have my wille,170 For deerne love of thee, lemman, I spille."

And heeld hire harde by the haunchebones,And seyde, "Lemman, love me al atones,Or I wol dyen, also God me save!"And she sproong as a colt dooth in the trave,

175 And with hir heed she wryed faste awey,And seyde, "I wol nat kisse thee, by my fey!Why, lat be," quod she, "lat be, Nicholas,Or I wol crie 'out harrow' and 'allas!'Do wey youre handes, for youre curteisye!"

180 This Nicholas gan mercy for to crye,

And spak so faire, and profred him so faste,

That she hir love hym graunted atte laste,

Ans swoor hir ooth, by seint Thomas of Kent,

That she wol been at his comandement,

185 Whan that she may hir leyser wel espie.

"Myn housbonde is so ful of jalousie

That but ye wayte wel and been privee,

I woot right wel I nam but deed," quod she.

"Ye moste been ful deerne, as in this cas."

190 "Nay, therof care thee noght," quod Nicholas.

"A clerk hadde litherly biset his whyle,

But if he koude a carpenter bigyle."

And thus they been accorded and ysworn

To wayte a tyme, as I have told biforn.

195 Whan Nicholas had doon thus everideel,

And thakked hire aboute the lendes weel,

He kiste hire sweete and taketh his sawtrie,

And pleyeth faste, and maketh melodie.

The Miller’s TaleThe Miller’s Tale After the Knight’s After the Knight’s

Tale (which was Tale (which was chivalrous)chivalrous)

He was drunkHe was drunk

He was naughtyHe was naughty

He was the comic He was the comic reliefrelief

The StoryThe Story Young woman Young woman

(Alison), rich older (Alison), rich older husband (John)husband (John)

Pretty girl, loved by Pretty girl, loved by the young men in the young men in the communitythe community

Seduced by Seduced by Nicholas, but also Nicholas, but also loved by Absolomloved by Absolom

The Miller’s Tale, The Miller’s Tale, ContinuedContinued

Nicholas dupes Nicholas dupes Alison’s husband by Alison’s husband by convincing him that convincing him that there is going to be a there is going to be a Biblical flood; the Biblical flood; the husband hides in a husband hides in a tub on the roof.tub on the roof.

Absolom serenades Absolom serenades Alison, but she isn’t Alison, but she isn’t interested. She and interested. She and Nicholas are cruel to Nicholas are cruel to him.him.

In the end…In the end… Nicholas gets the Nicholas gets the

girl, but also gets girl, but also gets “hurt”“hurt”

Absolom gets his Absolom gets his feelings hurtfeelings hurt

John falls off the John falls off the roof in his tub; roof in his tub; neighbours think neighbours think he’s nutshe’s nuts

Alison remains a hoAlison remains a ho

Let’s Read an Excerpt!Let’s Read an Excerpt!

Questions for Reading – Copy and Questions for Reading – Copy and complete for Wednesdaycomplete for Wednesday

How is Alison described in “The Miller’s Tale”? How is Alison described in “The Miller’s Tale”? (Include some of the animals and plants that (Include some of the animals and plants that Alison is compared to, and discuss her looks.)Alison is compared to, and discuss her looks.)

How does Absalom try to “woo” Alison?How does Absalom try to “woo” Alison? How does astrology feature in this story? Who How does astrology feature in this story? Who

makes predictions based on the stars? Who makes predictions based on the stars? Who believes them?believes them?

Cite a tricky line or passage from “The Miller’s Cite a tricky line or passage from “The Miller’s Tale.” What strategies did you use to make Tale.” What strategies did you use to make meaning?meaning?

What is the What is the themetheme of “The Miller’s Tale”? of “The Miller’s Tale”? What is Chaucer saying about marriage, What is Chaucer saying about marriage, youth, or love?youth, or love?

Works CitedWorks Cited

http://www.vmi.edu/fswebs.aspx?http://www.vmi.edu/fswebs.aspx?tid=34099&id=34337tid=34099&id=34337

http://www.librarius.com/cantales.htmhttp://www.librarius.com/cantales.htm http://www.wwnorton.com/college/http://www.wwnorton.com/college/

english/nael/noa/audio.htmenglish/nael/noa/audio.htm http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/

~chaucer/teachslf/milt-par.htm~chaucer/teachslf/milt-par.htm http://www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/http://www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/

necastro/chaucer/ct/milt/necastro/chaucer/ct/milt/