1. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales

2. Geoffrey Chaucer Considered the Father of English poetry
Revolutionary in that he wrote about other classes (not Nobility) and wrote in commoners’ language (French was language of the courts)
Style is simplistic- words were commonplace of ordinary people in ordinary circumstances

3. The Canterbury Tales
Original Plan: Each character tells 4 stories; two on the way to Canterbury and two on the way back
Only completed 23 tales; if finished, 116 total
Concerned with creating believable/colorful characters, not passing judgment

4. Canterbury Characters
“The General Prologue” considered a source book of info. of 14th century people because Chaucer describes their dress, class, jobs, practices of the Church
Narrator, 29 various pilgrims, Host combine to make a pilgrimage to Becket’s shrine in Canterbury (approx 50 miles from London)
Host based on real innkeeper of Tabard Inn in Southwark- Harry Bailey

5. Canterbury Characters
Each pilgrim represents a broad cross-section of all parts of Medieval society EXCEPT nobles and serfs (middle-class)
Each character symbolizes an archetype or model. Each appears to be the most skilled in their profession for good or evil

6. Canterbury Characters
Royalty
Church: Prioress (her secretary and priest); Monk; Friar; Parson; Summoner; Pardoner; and Scholar
Upper Class: (not nobility) Knight and Squire
Well-to-Do Businessmen: Merchant
Small Landowner: Franklin and Yeoman
Professional: Lawyer and Physician
Manager: Manciple and Reeve
Woman: (member of the rising middle class) Wife of Bath
Tradesman: Guildsmen (Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter, Weaver, Carpet-maker); Miller; Cook; Shipman
Laborer: Plowman
Serfs