1. Geoffrey Chaucer The Canterbury Tales

2. Chaucer Born in 1340’s Son of well-to-do family of wine merchants in Ipswich Work History: –Was a soldier, member of King’s household, a diplomat, custom house controller, justice of the peace, member of Parliament, forest official

3. In spite of many careers –he found time to write thousands of lines of poetry –Translated works from French and Italian into English

4. The Canterbury Tales Most recognizable and important work Collection of stories told by group of pilgrims as they travel from London to Canterbury. –Uses framework to comment on social structure of his time –Pilgrims are cross-section of medieval society

5. Presents reader with: –Millers –Knights –Priests –Con men –Merchants Only in the context of a pilgrimage would a diverse group such as listed above interact in the medieval world

6. Chaucer Quick Facts Chaucer, the father of English poetry, wrote in Middle English His career in govt. advanced through the patronage of John of Gaunt His most significant result of years of travel and service to the crown was his written observations of English people and their national character

7. Chaucer’s 1 st important poem was The Book of the Duchess When writing The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer was likely influenced by Boccaccio’s Decameron

8. The Wife of Bath’s Tale The Wife of Bath’s Tale belongs to the “so-called” marriage group of tales –Pilgrims offer stories expressing philosophies of love and marriage –Set in the day’s of King Arthur –Medieval Romance

9. Brief Summary… A knight breaks the rules of chivalry and as punishment must undertake a quest.

10. VOCAB 1.Abominably 2.Bequeath 3.Concede 4.Contemptuous 5.Cosset 6.Crone 7.Dejected 8.Ecstasy 9.Implore 10.Maim 11.Prowess 12.Rebuke 13.Statute 14.Temporal 15.Tribulation