Geoffrey Chaucer
Who was
Chaucer? Was
he only a big
man on a little
horse? Let’s
find out…
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Quick Biographical Sketch
Born 1340-1343 in London.
Was not born into nobility, however
was of the higher middle class and
hence could read which is a good
thing for us.
Became an “attendant” for the King’s
son and quickly was schooled in the
ways of the elite.
In 1377 he became a member of
Parliament and became knight of the
shire (no hobbits in this tale—sorry).
Between 1380-1390 he wrote The
Canterbury Tales which became the
first English work of importance.
Was captured and held for ransom
while fighting in the Hundred Years’
War. First literary P.O.W. (Hemingway
would be jealous)
Who Murdered Chaucer?
• Chaucer died on October
25, 1400 from unknown
causes (grounds for a
conspiracy theory).
• A recent book, Who
Murdered Chaucer?,
suggests that Chaucer may
have been killed by Richard
II’s enemies (aka Henry IV)
for his political affiliations.
• This is pure speculation, but
an interesting thought
nonetheless.
The Tales
• Frame story—a collection
of narratives woven
together to produce one
story.
• Story is made up of 30
pilgrims traveling to the
shrine of Canterbury.
• They agree to have a
storytelling contest as a
means to pass the time.
• The group consists of
farmers, townsfolk,
clergy, saints, and sinners.
Let’s Meet Our Characters
The Wife of Bath
1.Seamstress is her official title, however
we can say she is a “professional
wife.”
2. Married 5x
3. Claims she is educated
in the art of love.
4. Deaf in one ear, a gap
in her front teeth and
was considered to be
attractive by medieval
standards.
5. Had a taste for rich
attire and arguing.
The Pardoner
1. Long, greasy yellow hair.
2. Beardless
3. Carries fake
relics around.
4. Sells salvation
from eternal
damnation for
a price.
5. He’s a hustler.
In The Words of Diddy, “More Money,
more problems…”
The Pardoner’s Tale
• Tale examines the
question: does money
corrupt or lead to
problems?
• Tale is an example of an
exemplum—a short
anecdote or story that
illustrates a moral point.
Historical Context
• Written during the bubonic
plague which wiped out about
40% of England’s population.
• Death then becomes a central
theme in everyday life and
literary works.
• Here’s an awesome explanation
of what the black death was:
http://www.history.com/topics/bl
ack-death/videos#coronersreport-plague
• One quick caveat: new research
suggests that the plague was
spread human to human and not
by rats. Read the article at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world
/2011/aug/17/black-death-ratsoff-hook
Vocabulary Words for Canterbury Tales
Copy down the following words in your vocabulary section of
your binder. Define the words as they appear in your reading.
1. Avarice
2. Castigate
3. Parley
4. Bequeath
5. Crone
6. Implore
7. Rebuke
8. Sovereignty
9. Temporal
Review of Irony
Irony—contrast between expectation and reality.
Types of irony:
1. Situational irony—when a character or reader
expects one thing to happen but something else
occurs.
2. Verbal irony—when a character says one thing
but means another.
3. Dramatic irony—when the reader is aware of
something that a character is not.
Guided Reading Questions
The Prologue
• Why would the pardoner admit his own
corruption in the prologue?
• In lines 39-47, why does the Pardoner tell his
moral stories? How is his motive ironic?
The Pardoner’s Tale
• How does the Pardoner create death into a character in
lines 72-89?
• What does the rioters’ treatment of the old man reveal
about them?
• Why is the character of the old man included in the
tale?
• Characters in an exemplum are usually good or evil,
what category would the gambler fit into and why?
• In what way is the discovery of the rioters make ironic?
• Who is the “Fiend” in line 243? Why does the
Pardoner align the rioters with this character?
• In lines 300-340 the Pardoner attempts to swindle
money from the fellow pilgrims. How is this ironic?
9/14
Quickwrite: do men and women understand
each other’s needs?
The Wife of Bath Context
• A tale about the differences between men and
women.
• An examination of social hierarchy based upon
gender.
• An account of women’s rights and subjection
to male authority.
• Told by a female narrator which provides a
unique perspective on the issues raised.
Historical Context
• Knighthood began
under the pretenses of
chivalry, however by
Chaucer’s day the only
men who could afford
to be knights were
aristocrats.
• Hence knighthood
became associated with
an abundance of wealth
not chivalry.
The Wife of Bath Prologue
• After reading the Prologue what opinions do
you think the Wife of Bath has on men and
marriage?
• What is unusual about the Wife of Bath’s
character telling a tale on marriage? Would
you listen and take advice from someone with
her history?
The Wife of Bath
D2
• At the opening of the tale, the knight is convicted of what
crime? What does this crime suggest about the knight’s
character and views on women?
• What does the queen ask the knight to find out on his
quest? Why would she ask this of him?
• In lines 101-110 the narrator reveals her opinion on male
flattery, what are they? Do you agree?
• The knight discovers many opinions on what women want.
Identify several of the opinions and state your position.
• The crone reveals to the knight what women want. What
then is the key to understanding women?
• At the end of page 191, why is the knight so distraught?
Do you side with the knight, why or why not?
The Wife of Bath
D3
• According to the knight’s wife, what gives a man the
distinction of being a great gentleman?
• Who ultimately is able to give this title? How might this be
seen as a commentary of knighthood during Chaucer’s time?
• In lines 360-365 the knight’s wife redefines the term poor.
What is her definition of poor? Do you agree with this?
• Why is it important that the knight’s wife make reference to
Greek and Latin classic texts? How does this illustrate her
point and position?
• What is the importance of allowing the wife to decide the
answer to the question, “Which would you have?”
• At the end of the tale we learn the Wife of Bath’s attitude
toward controlling husbands. Was she ahead of her time?
The Canterbury Tales Assessment
Take one of the two moral lessons from the tales
studied and write a modern version of the story.
Requirements:
1. 1-2 pages TYPED
2. Uses a moral learned from one of the two
tales.
3. Setting and characters is modern.
4. Due—9/21. Counts as a project grade.