Canterbury Tales Guided Notes 2021 PDF

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The Canterbury Tales Historical Background Notes The Monarchy William the Conqueror took full control and restored law and order. Decades after Williams’ death, England was near anarchy until Henry II his (great grandson) came to throne in 1154. War and Plague The hundred-year war between England and France began in 1337. The Black Plague killed a third of England’s population. War of the Roses was between the Houses od York and Lancaster Henry Tudor (Lancaster) Killed Richard III in Bosworth Field “My kingdom for a horse!” Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343-1400) Dominant literary figure in the 14th century “Father of English Literature” Life Experiences  Child of wealth wine merchant  Page in a royal household  Spoke French, Lati, and Italian  Solider and diplomat  Member of Parliament The Canterbury Tales Wrote tales around 1385 A.D. Planned many more tales, but did not complete the proposed 120 tales before his death Wrote about all classes in The Canterbury Tales to give a glimpse of English society at the time. Went against tradition when he wrote in Middle English rather than French. Considered “Father of the English Language” because he went against the norm and chose to write in the language of the people. Middle Ages Hierarchy – Class Structure during Chaucer’s time Nobility  Knight  Squire Clergy  Monk  Friar  Prioress  Parson  Summoner  Pardoner

Middle Class  Merchant  Doctor  Student  Wife of bath Peasants  Miller  Plowman  Skipper The Middle Ages Code of Chivalry A knight must be:  True to his God and a defender of the faith.  True and loyal to his lord and king.  True to his lady.  Humble and modest in his daily actions.  Brave and fierce in war and adversity. Code of the Clergy A member of the clergy must:  Be chaste and pure.  Be devoted to God.  Obey God and Biblical law.  Take vows of poverty.  Achieve heavenly reward through earthly denial. Seven Deadly Sins       

Gluttony Greed Sloth Lust Envy Pride Wrath

Mortal Virtues (opposite of sins)       

Moderation Generosity Diligence Love Modesty Humility Forgiveness

Canterbury Tales Takes representatives of English society on a Pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral (Shrine of Archbishop) Pilgrims - each has a speech and tale that matches a real person during (Chaucer’s) time 30 characters representing all social classes  Although fictional, does have realistic setting and occupations.  Tabard Inn  Canterbury and Canterbury Cathedral  Shrine of Thomas Becket

Thomas a Becket He was an archbishop. He struggled for the church’s independence with king Henry II. He was exiled to France for six years. Four knights murdered him on December 29,1170 in the cathedral spilling his brains on the floor. He was canonized three years later and a shrine was completed in his honor in 1220.

Format of the Poem The Canterbury Tales are called a frame story. That means that there are many stories “framed” in the larger story of the pilgrimage to Canterbury. Structure and Style The tales have different tones, attitudes, and poetic:  Marian miracle tale for the Prioress’  Sermonic structure for the Pardoner’s tale  Supernatural, folkloric tale for the Wife of Bath’s tale Point of View Chaucer enables the reader to see the story, the person telling the story, and the point behind the story all at once. Points of view represent different outlooks, morals. Sources: virtually every type of medieval writing: Fabliaux - is a comic, often anonymous tale written by jongleurs in northeast France between c. 1150 and 1400. Mini epic, romance, fable, exempla, lays, anecdotes, a sermon, and religious allegories. Chaucer’s use of characterization  

Direct characterization is directly commenting on character’s nature or personality. Indirect characterization is describing character’s physical appearance, character’s action, thoughts, feelings, or speech, and character’s reactions to another character.

The Prologue Thirty 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 Pilgrims and the lines they can be found on in the Prologue

Narrator - line 20 Knight – line 43 Squire – line 81 Yeoman – line 103 Prioress (+3) line 122 Monk – line 169 Friar – line 212 Merchant – line 280 Oxford Cleric - line 295

Sergeant at Law – line 319 Franklin- line 341 Guildsmen – line 371 Cook – line 390 Skipper - line 398 Doctor – line421 Wife of Bath – line 455 Parson – line 488

Plowman – line 539 Miller – line 561 Manciple – line 585 Reeve – line 605 Summoner – line 641 Pardoner – line 689...