Canterbury Tales (I)

Canterbury Tales (I)

P. 90-115

Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-14000)

*aka: “Father of English Poetry”

-Medieval world experiences (14^th century England)

-Son of a merchant, page in a royal house, soldier, diplomat, and royal clerk

-used experiences to write The Canterbury Tales

*Born into middle-class family

-page job opened his eyes to England’s aristocratic society

-captured and held prisoner in 1359 (English Army Soldier in France)

-married Philippa Pan (Princess in line for throne)

*Poet Matures

-replicated his poems on European poets/translations of French poets

-wrote: The Book of the Duchess, Troilus and Criseyde, and Canterbury Tales

Literary Analysis:

*Direct Characterization: presents direct statements about a character, such as Chaucer’s statement that the Knight “followed chivalry,/Truth, honor…”

*Indirect Characterization: uses actions, thoughts, and dialogue to reveal a character’s personality. By saying “he was not gaily dressed,” for instance, Chaucer suggests that the Knight is not vain and perhaps takes the pilgrimage seriously enough to rush to join it straight from battle

Literary Elements/Techniques:

*Social Commentary: writing that offers insight into society, its values, and its customs. In Canterbury Tales, we draw conclusions about Chaucer’s views on English society by noting the virtues and faults of each character

Vocabulary Development:

*Solicitous: showing care or concern

*Garnished: decorated; trimmed

*Absolution: act of freeing someone of a sin or criminal charge

*Commission: authorization; act of giving authority to an individual

*Sanguine: confident; cheerful

*Avouches: asserts positively; affirms

*Prevarication: evasion of truth

Prologue:

-Chaucer meets 29 pilgrims at the Tabard Inn in the suburb of London

-Harry Bailey sets a challence; to make the journey more entertaining, he suggests that each pilgrim tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and two stories on the return trip. The person with the best tale will have a feast prepared by the other pilgrims. Bailey judges the competition.

-24 different tales overarching the tale of the pilgrimage.

-Chaucer describes each pilgrim and describes the setting (medieval society with the courtly world)

*stories were mainly romance stories (tales of chivalry), fabliaux (short, bawdy, humorous stories), the stories of saint’s lives, sermons, and allegories (narratives in which characters represent abstractions)

Bede
P.74-82

Summary:
-writing about English history
-Languages in Britain: English, British, Scots, and Picts
-God and Faith/Spirituality unites them together
-Picts aligned with the Scots
-Setting: comfortable weather and seasonal patterns
-Isle: safe, no "poison" and abundance of water good for food
-Migrants inhabited Britain and fighting/controversy between the Danes and the English broke out