By Geoffrey Chaucer

• Today Chaucer is remembered as a writer and a poet, but writing was not his “day job.”
• Chaucer was a civil servant who worked for 3 kings (Edward
III, Richard II, and Henry IV)
• In 1359, while working in the army, Chaucer was captured and held hostage. King Edward paid 16 pounds (a lot) to have him released
• In 1366, he married Philippa Pan, a lady-in-waiting to the queen (he married up)
• In 1389, Chaucer became clerk of the king’s works. He was in charge of repair and maintenance of buildings, but in this position he was robbed and beaten several times, so he looked for another job.

• He became the subforester of the King’s park
• Chaucer began writing in his 20’s and as he grew older, he developed a mature style and displayed a deep insight into human character.
• When he died, he was buried in Westminster
Abby, which was unusual for a commoner

• First literature written in English Language
Vernacular
• Originally written in Middle English:(ME) refers to the dialects of the English language spoken in parts of the British Isles after the Norman conquest (1066) until the late 15th century.
• Each character tells a tale on their way to
Canterbury
• The tales encompass medieval literature
• Only 24/120 tales were finished

• The major conflict between characters mostly involve clashes between social classes, differing tastes, and competing professions. There is however, some clashing between the sexes.
• On this Pilgrimage, the narrator joins a group and challenges them to a storytelling competition.

• Feminism-In the Middle Ages, feminism had obviously not been invented; but one sees very clearly in the mouth of the
Wife of Bath that ideas of female equality were by no means unusual.
• Christianity- The basis for the story since the tales are told while the travelers are on a pilgrimage
• Words and Language-The nature of language, the value of words, whether words can ever have a true "meaning", or whether you can ever really "own" words are all themes which Chaucer scrutinizes at various points during the Tales.

• Springtime-April, at the height of spring. The birds are chirping, the flowers blossoming, and people long in their hearts to go on pilgrimages, which combine travel, vacation, and spiritual renewal. The springtime symbolizes rebirth and fresh beginnings, and is thus appropriate for the beginning of
Chaucer’s text.
• Clothing-In the General Prologue, the description of garments, in addition to the narrator’s own shaky recollections, helps to define each character. In a sense, the clothes symbolize what lies beneath the surface of each personality.

• Characterization – o Direct Characterization- presents direct statements about a character o Indirect Characterization- uses actions, thoughts, dialogue, and descriptions to reveal a character’s personality
– Mischaracterization is to be given a false or misleading character trait

• Irony
 Dramatic Irony- irony that is inherent in speeches or situations of drama, understood by the audience but not the characters
 Verbal Irony- irony where a person writes or says one thing but means another, or uses words to convey a meaning that is opposite of the literal
 Situational Irony- irony involving a situation were actions have an effect that is opposite of what was intended, so the outcome is contrary to what was expected

• Allegory- narratives that have both literal and deeper, symbolic meanings
• Frame story- narrative that contains another story or group of stories
• Sarcasm- harsh or bitter derision of irony
• Vernacular-expressed or written in the native language of the place

• Be sure to have your vocabulary words defined
• You may use your notes in your spiral and nothing else on the quiz