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by Geoffrey Chaucer
England: island of peoples,
languages and divisions
The 3 estates in the Middle
Ages:
– Clergy
Those who pray to save
everyone’s soul (Latin)
– Nobles
Those who fight to
protect, provide peace
and justice (French)
– Commoners
Those who work to feed
and clothe all above them
(English)
feudalism
The economic system of much
of the Middle Ages (800-1100)
Commoners (peasants) lived on a
feudal manor. The lord of the
manor gave them land to farm.
In return, the vassals received
protection from roving bandits. Yet
they were taxed and had to
surrender a portion of their crops
to the lord.
Feudalism is important as it
created ties of obedience and
fostered a sense of loyalty
between the vassals and their lord.
A tenant (vassal) renews his oath of loyalty
to his lord
Medieval Literature
A notable amount of medieval literature
is anonymous.
Medieval authors often tended to re-tell
and embellish stories they heard or read
rather than invent new stories.
Characteristics:
– Heroism: Beowulf / SG and TGK
– Presentations of Idealized behaviour:
loyalty, chivalry, moralization
– Use of Kennings: storm of swrods (battle)
Medieval Literature II
Characteristics (continuation)
– Romance: Courtly Love
– Christian message: salvation
– The Quest: Hero’s journey towards a goal.
Deeds of a knight following a code of
bahaviour (Arthur)
– Use of allegory
Figurative mode of representation. It conveys a
meaning other than the literal, usually abstract
qualities, events and institutions.
It was used to convey the morals that the author
had in mind when writing.
THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES
They begin with the First Crusade
(1095) reclaim Jerusalem from
infidels
– Trade routes are opened
– Vassals are liberated to fight in the
Holy Lands Feudalism dies out.
– The Church becomes incredibly
corrupt
– Transition to the RENAISSANCE
begins
With the Crusades comes
The Black Death
spreads along trade routes
kills 1/3 European population
the plague outbreaks occur
through the Middle Ages and
into the Renaissance
Peasants – Miller,
Plowman, Skipper
Knight’s Code of Chivalry
A knight must be:
1. true to his God and a
defender of the faith.
2. true and loyal to his
lord and king.
3. true to his lady.
4. humble and modest
in daily actions.
5. brave and fierce in
war and adversity.
Code of the Clergy
A member of the clergy must:
1. be chaste and pure.
2. be devoted to God.
3. obey God / Biblical law.
4. take vows of poverty.
5. reach heaven through
earthly denial.
Seven Deadly Sins
Gluttony
Avarice / Greed
Sloth
Lust
Vanity
Pride
Anger
Moral Virtues (opposite of sins)
Moderation
Generosity
Diligence
Love
Modesty
Humility
Forgiveness
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales
Each pilgrim has speech and tale that matches a
real person during his (Chaucer’s) time (Different
genres, different views of the world, different vocabularies, and different images
for truth)
Romance- deals with human emotions and
relationships
Fabliau- deals with the basic human needs of food,
sex, or money
Saint’s Life- deals with the operations of God
Sermons and Ethical Treatises- deals with spiritual
matters
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales (cont.)
30 characters representing all social classes
--Chaucer, as a parody of himself, is one of the
pilgrims
--Although fictional, does have realistic settings
and occupations
*Tabard Inn
*Canterbury & Canterbury Cathedral
*Shrine of Thomas Becket (martyr with
healing powers killed by Henry II)
Chaucer’s tone: IRONIC
The Prologue
Introduction: 30 pilgrims are on their way to
Canterbury to pay homage at Becket’s
tomb.
Each agrees to tell two tales on the way to
the shrine and two tales back.
The winner will receive a supper paid for by
all.
List of 30 Pilgrims
Narrator – line 20 Cook – line 390
Knight – line 43 Skipper – line 398
Squire – line 81 Doctor – line 421
Yeoman – line 103 Wife of Bath – line 455
Prioress (+ 3) – line 122 Parson – line 488
Monk – line 169 Plowman – line 539
Friar – line 212 Miller – line 561
Merchant – line 280 Manciple – line 585
Oxford Cleric – line 295 Reeve – line 605
Serjeant at Law – line 319 Summoner - line 641
Franklin – line 341 Pardoner – line 689
Guildsmen – (Haberdasher,
Dyer, Carpenter, Weaver,
Carpet-Maker) - line 371
Literary Terms
Satire: literary mode based on criticism of people and
society through ridicule.
Characterization: method used by a writer to
develop a character such as appearance, actions, thoughts,
others’ reactions)
frame narrative/story: one or more small stories
inserted within the body of a larger story.
Prologue: establishes the situation of the characters or
presents information about the setting, period and action.
Hyperbole: Exaggeration or overstatement.
Stereotype: conventional, formulaic, oversimplified
conception, opinion, or image.
Tales’ links
The Wife of Bath (Presentation)
The Wife of Bath’s Tale
The Knight’s Tale
The Miller’s Tale
The Clerk’s Tale
THE END