Canterbury Tales

Chaucer (1343 – 1400) The father of English poetry Wrote in Middle English (Anglo- Saxon); uncommon for the time; however, he was a master writer. Government official who served under three kings – Edward III, Richard II, and Henry IV

Chaucer Continued Trained in the legal field he advanced in his government career as the King’s ambassador. Served in the Hundred Year’s War and was held as a captive until the King paid his ransom Wife – Philippa and had two children Justice of the Peace in Kent and a member of Parliment

More Chaucer Writing was a second career for him and it took a backseat to his political career. Chaucer used a framing device to help tell the story of a pilgrimage – each character is to tell 4 stories – two going on the pilgrimage – two leaving for home. He also used iambic pentameter – unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. –And bathed every veyne in swich licour.

The Canterbury Tales Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales, a collection of stories in a frame story, between 1387 and Story about a group of thirty people who travel as pilgrims to Canterbury (England). The pilgrims, who come from all layers of society, tell stories to each other to kill time while they travel to Canterbury.

Canterbury Tales Continued Scholars are uncertain about the order of the tales. As the printing press had yet to be invented when Chaucer wrote his works, The Canterbury Tales has been passed down in several handwritten manuscripts.

Canterbury Tales 1 Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote When April with its sweet-smelling showers 2 The droghte of March hath perced to the roote, Has pierced the drought of March to the root, 3.Of which vertu engendred is the flour; By the power of which the flower is created; 4. Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth When the West Wind also with its sweet breath, 5. Inspired hath in every holt and heeth In every holt and heath, has breathed life into

The Canterbury Tales Chaucer began work on The Canterbury Tales about 1387 However, only twenty- three pilgrims received a story before Chaucer's death in Chaucer's Tales gained mass popularity the early fifteenth century. This facsimile is the first reproduction ever made of this manuscript, considered a prime authority for the text of The Canterbury Tales.

Chaucer Continued “ all of humanity moves through its pages.” Presents humor, at once friendly and satirical. A rich, tapestry of medieval social life –combining elements of all classes, from nobles to workers, from priests and nuns to drunkards and thieves.

History of the Times Christianity was the dominant social force throughout western Europe, including England. In 1388, while Chaucer was working on the tales, a change occurred in the way that Christianity was perceived and practiced by John Wycliffe, an English reformer. A version of the Bible was translated into English. For the first time, people from the lower classes, who had not been educated in Latin, could read the Bible themselves instead of having its word interpreted to them by members of the clergy.

Prologue The General Prologue consists of character sketches of each member of the group that is going to Canterbury, as described by Chaucer, who is also a character in his own novel. Chaucer: He is a character in his own novel, and he writes in the first person as an outside observer traveling with the pilgrims on their way to Canterbury.

Canterbury Tales- some of the characters The Knight: a warrior who relies on the code of chivalry. Represents the romanticized standards of the feudal system The Prioress: A nun, named Madame Eglantine. She makes every effort to be refined and elegant, and she cannot bear to see any harm come to any of God’s lesser creatures, like mice. However, when it is her turn to tell a story, hers is violent and full of blood and sorrow.

Characters Continued The Wife of Bath: A well-traveled middle- aged woman who has been married five times, not counting other lovers she did not marry. She has a large amount of knowledge from experience, and when she questions the authority of the bible, she does it with a very good background from which to debate it. Poor Priest: lived truly poor and in the service of God. An example of how a traditional priest should live in Chaucer’s time, following the life of Christ.

Characters Continued The Merchant: The merchant is obsessed with his wealth, and talks about money constantly. The Miller: a large and strong man, and is one of the best at telling vulgar stories. The Pardoner: A clergyman who is outwardly corrupt. His main motivating factor was money, and so if the sinner had the gold, the Pardoner would favor the sinner and help pardon him.