Chaucer’s World: 14th Century England Basic assumptions of the medieval world:  Existence of a Christian afterlife  2 paths: religious life or secular life  Things of the world inferior to things of God  Medieval passion for order/fear of disorder  Recurrent image: Fortuna & the wheel  Immutable order: one’s estat is an absolute, both sinful & futile to rebel against  Signaled by clothing (array), manner (curteisye) Chaucer’s Middle English  Angl0-Saxon Old English enriched by French, Latin  Important, serious writing = French & Latin  Light, often comic writing = English  Chaucer’s high diction used for abstraction, while low, colloquial diction used for comic relief; formal diction (particularly when given in or mixed with Latin or French) can sometimes be used to satirize intellectual snobbery 29 pilgrims meet at the Tabard Inn to travel on pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral for repentance, divine goodwill, etc. Canterbury Cathedral is the shrine of St. Thomas Becket (1118-1170), martyred by Henry II’s henchmen while at prayer in the cathedral. If life is a journey, pilgrimage gives pilgrims a taste of their ultimate goal. On to Canterbury! 4 types of tale (some overlap)  Bawdy: lewd content, usually for comic effect  Morally instructive: teaches a moral lesson  Satirical: obvious target; told in the hopes of inciting change  Allegorical: a tale in which one thing represents another Cross-section of society: “Those who work” (in order of hierarchy)  Landed gentry: Franklin  Professionals: Sergeant of the Law, Doctor of Physic  Tradespeople: Merchant, Wife of Bath, Five Guildsmen, Harry Bailly (tavern keeper), Miller  Secular employees: Manciple, Reeve  Laborers: Shipman, Yeoman, Cook  Peasants: Plowman Cross-section of society: “Those who fight”  Knight  Squire Cross-section of society: “Those who pray”  Religious orders: Monk, Prioress, Friar, Nun’s Priest, Second Nun  Parish clergy: Parson  Student: Clerk at Oxford  Church employees: Pardoner, Summoner The Knight The Squire  “Troth & honor, freedom  Son of the knight and courtesy”  Crusader  Must be ready both to slay his foe and be a perfect gentleman – code of chivalry  Apprentice—he is a knight-in-training  Courtly lover & lusty bachelor The Yeoman The Prioress  Country rustic  Madame Eglentyne  Clothing signifies his  Well-mannered, tender- country origins and satirizes them as well hearted and sweet; knows social graces  Values are primarily social, not religious The Monk The Friar  Hypocritical—violates  Description is both monastic rules of poverty, self-denial  Chaucer points out the problems of the church through him ironic and critical, notes that the Friar prefers the society of tavern-keepers and ladies to lepers and beggars.  Has a side business to support his more worldly habits The Merchant The Clerk  Man of the business  Poor & sincere world  Despite his appearance, bargaining, buying, selling, trading, etc. = risk (he is also in debt)  Represents what a good scholar should be  One of the few role models in Canterbury Tales (despite the fact that he’s a little dull) The Lawyer & The Franklin The 5 Guildsmen  Lawyer is competent,  Guild = medieval trade knows the law = “For his science and for his heigh renoun/Of fees and robes hadde he many oon.”  Franklin is a country gentleman  He is an Epicurean physical pleasure (food)=happiness union  Prosperity of tradesmen meant they could be “conspicuous consumers” (above their estat—disrupting order) The Cook & the Shipman The Doctor  Cook to the guildsmen  Has skill & knowledge; (another sign of their wealth)  Good cooking, but little attention to hygiene!  Shipman more of a pirate than a seaman doesn’t have dedication  In it for the money: “For gold in phisik is a cordial/Therefore he lovede gold in special” The Miller & the Manciple The Reeve  Miller is very “salt of the  Manager/overseer of an earth” character  Beauty = virtue in the medieval world, so . . .  Manciple is a profiteer-he is the financial manager of a law school (Inn of Court)—pockets the difference estate  Skims profits of employer also (same class of people as Manciple & Miller) Wife of Bath The Parson & the Plowman  Alisoun, 5 times a widow  Parson is a truly good  Inherited and earned man—the best of Chaucer’s religious characters  Pure Christian principles  Plowman hauls dung for a living, but has a good spiritual attitude (she is a weaver) income  Associated with the color red (her costume her face)  Traits—assertiveness & sensuality The Summoner The Pardoner  Medieval physiognomy  Documented spiritual at play . . . physical condition symbolic of spiritual condition  His job was to summon people to ecclesiastical courts benefits from virtuous deeds (sold pardons)  Also sold (dubious) relics  Takes advantage of the faith of the poor and simple Geoffrey Chaucer & The Canterbury Tales • Famously captures and satirizes life in the late Middle Ages • Author of the poem The Canterbury Tales Life and Times • Lives during 14th Century - an age of transition • Son of a wine merchant, born 1340 • Educated; served in royal households in admin positions • Able to travel for the crown to France & Italy • Variety of jobs - witnessed the economic, political and social changes in England Chaucer’s Work • Chaucer’s work experience and travels afforded him with the ability to see people from all levels of society • This exposure allows him to write characters who represent the lower, middle, and upper classes • This in itself is unique. No longer does literature only present the lives of kings and warriors. Middle English • The Canterbury Tales was written in Middle English, the primary language spoken by the population • In part due to CT’s popularity, Middle English becomes primary language for the royal court and upper class as well • Chaucer is called “The Father of English Literature” Chaucer’s Tales • Tells the larger tale of the journey of pilgrims to Canterbury Cathedral • Involves storytelling by individuals, who range from a nun, a knight, a cook, a monk, and a merchant The Premise • Chaucer uses a pilgrimage (religious journey) as a way for 29 characters to share their stories • Leaving from the Tabard Inn (below), the pilgrims are instructed to tell 2 tales on the way to Canterbury Cathedral and 2 on the return journey • Best tale will be rewarded by the inn owner and host of the journey The Premise • Pilgrimages were popular in the period • Show your devotion • Healing properties • Archbishop Thomas a Becket murdered inside Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 when he disagreed with King Henry II over church rights and privileges Stained glass depicting two knights of King Henry II stabbing Archbishop Thomas a Becket • The Church canonized him within 3 years of the murder • Most popular pilgrimage site in England in the 13oo’s Structure of The Canterbury Tales • 3 Parts General Prologue Characters’ Prologues Characters’ Tales General Prologue • Chaucer’s poem begins with an introduction of all the pilgrims, the host, and Chaucer (who adds himself as a fictional narrator) • Each person is particularly identified by profession and appearance; there is also implied moral judgment. • The GP also sets up the journey and frames the characters’ individual stories Literary Characteristics of The Canterbury Tales • FRAME STORY: • A literary device in which a smaller story is told within the context of the tale • Example: Chaucer is telling the story of the pilgrims; within that, smaller tales are told Literary Characteristics of The Canterbury Tales • HEROIC COUPLETS: • 2 paired lines of poetry, written in iambic pentameter (meter). The pair (or couplet) must RHYME. • Introduced by Chaucer! • Example: “You’re off to Canterbury - well, God speed!/ Blessed St. Thomas answer to your need!” Literary Characteristics of The Canterbury Tales • SATIRE • When an author ridicules and exposes the faults of his or her subject • Used in order to provoke change • The Canterbury Tales is a very important satire, pointing out the need for change in Medieval beliefs and practices • Two tools Chaucer uses to create satire are 1. Verbal irony and 2. physiognomy Literary Characteristics of The Canterbury Tales • VERBAL IRONY • Is when there is a meaningful contrast between what is said and what is actually meant • Example: Saying, “The best monk,” when really the monk does not really adhere to the ideals of monastic life Literary Characteristics of The Canterbury Tales • PHYSIOGNOMY: • The use of physical appearance to suggest attributes of a person’s character or personality • Example: Think of evil stepmother figures in Disney movies. Their harsh, angular appearances always hint at their malevolent motives Characters’ Prologues and Tales • Chaucer meant for each character to share 4 tales in total, but died before he could achieve this • Before each tale, Chaucer includes a prologue or introduction of the person who will tell the tale • Each has a short introduction in the General Prologue, but here he or she is more fully developed • Narrator’s observations • Character’s words, actions, and interactions • Follows with shared tale told to the whole group of travelers. Types of Tales • ALLEGORY • A story with the purpose of teaching a moral lesson • Characters and events represent abstract qualities or ideas. The writer intends a secondary meaning. • Characters are often personifications of abstractions like greed, envy, etc. • Example: The Pardoner’s Tale Types of Tales • ROMANCE: • A story focusing on the episodic adventures of knights and the challenges they face • Example: The Wife of Bath’s Tale from @ChaucerDothTweet • Do a litel daunse. Make a litel love. Gette thee doune thys nighte. • Producte Idea: Greene knighte bobbelheade. The heade kan be removid. • What do alliteratif poetes have for lunche? Caesura salad • Yf any folke have payinge writinge gigges for a bureaucrat-poete, please DM. • Oh thou, thou didst shake me thurgh al the longe nighte. • In reaction to the Jay-Z album Magna Carta Holy Grail: • My reaccioun to Magna Carta ys that yt hath sum solid legal principles that kan be expanded upon yn the future.
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