Middle Ages- The Canterbury Tales

The Medieval Period  The period historically begins with the Norman conquest of  The Normans were superb soldiers, excellent administrators and lawyers, great borrowers and adopters, but lacked creativity and inventiveness.

The Medieval Period  In systems of government and in artistic design, the Anglo-Saxons were more advanced than the Normans.  William of Normandy introduced the feudal system, based on landholding by a great noble or king who “rented” the land out in return for allegiance and military service.  This resulted in many property disputes.

The Medieval Period  To alleviate the problem, in 1086 an inventory of all property was drawn up by the order of William and collected in the Domesday Book, which listed all landowners and their claims.  This was used to settle disputes and to tax subjects.

The Medieval Period  During William’s reign, English common law evolved, and the medieval church spread its influence.  From papal proclamation came the Crusades, which engendered that ideal of knightly behavior we call chivalry.

The Medieval Period  The Medieval Era has been characterized as a period when “knights were bold and steeds were prancing.”  The feudal system established a basis for class structure and class consciousness.

The Medieval Period  In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer immortalized the chivalric knight and, in the earliest example of British satiric wit, made fun of the society’s people.  Next came the romance. It added love interests, unusual characters and strange situations to tales of chivalry.

The Medieval Period  Sir Gawain & the Green Knight, the major English medieval romance, uses stylized metrical structure.  Malory’s Morte D’Arthur (the first major prose work in English) uses the subject matter of the romances, as well as historical accounts, folk legends, and previous writings.

The Medieval Period  Ballads - Rhymed verse in Middle English became the first major type.  The Canterbury Tales incorporates most of the genres of the day.

The Medieval Period  Miracle plays based on stories of the saints and sacred history were also popular.  The Morality Plays of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries developed from Miracle Plays.

Background on Chaucer…  1343(?)-1400  Born into middle class family  In 1359 while serving in English army, he is captured and held for ransom  Begins writing in his 20’s  Wrote C.T. in his later years, no one knows exactly when  His ispiration for the stories may have come from his own pilgrimage to Canterbury (& Boccaccio)  Considered the greatest English poet  Buried in Westminster Abbey, in London, in Poet’s Corner Chaucer’s gravesite in Westminster Abbey (Poet’s Corner)

The Canterbury Tales  Geoffrey Chaucer was born a member of the rising middle class in the 15 th century.  He was trained for a career in the court, serving in the army, holding several government positions, and eventually marrying one of the ladies of the court.  He is buried in Westminster Abbey in the Poet’s Corner.

Geoffrey Chaucer  120 tales were originally planned, two told by each pilgrim on the way and two on the return trip.  Only 22 tales and two fragments were completed before his death.

Geoffrey Chaucer  He presented observations as a companion pilgrim, making fun of and commenting on the people and problems of his age.  In the character portraits of the Prologue, Chaucer reveals the paradoxes of human life.  He exposes the best and worst of human nature in both historical and personal context.

Archbishop Becket  Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170 by four knights of Henry II.  The reigning king had put Becket into the current Archbishop role.  However, Becket was taking his position more seriously than the King wanted and refused to do “unchristian” deeds, as the King requested.  According to some accounts, in a fit of passion (and drunkenness), the King said, “By the eyes of God, is there not one who will deliver me from this low born priest?”

Archbishop Becket  Thinking the King wished Becket dead, four knights went to Canterbury Cathedral and killed Becket while he was praying on the alter.  He was canonized in  Citizens of Great Britain, like those in The Canterbury Tales, took trips to pay homage to the bishop.

The Canterbury Tales  Chaucer’s greatest work was The Canterbury Tales.  One of the first books printed by William Caxton (inventor of the printing press).

Frame Story  A frame story is a narrative technique whereby a main story is composed, at least in part, for the purpose of organizing a set of shorter stories, each of which is a story within a story.  Often frame stories are organized as a gathering of people in one place for the exchange of stories. Each character tells his or her tale, and the frame tale progresses in that manner.