The Canterbury Tales
Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer
Father of English
poetry
 One of the greatest
English poets in his
lifetime

Geoffrey Chaucer
Father of the English
language
 Wrote in the
vernacular

– Language of the
common man
 Traditionally literature
was published in French
or Latin
Masterwork

The Canterbury Tales
– Framework story
 Inside story framed by
outside story
The Canterbury Tales

124 projected tales
– Only 24 exist
 Only first half of frame
exists
The Frame

The Prologue
– Setting
 Southwark, England
 The Tabard Inn
 April 11, 1387
Reasons to attend a pilgrimage

Seek divine assistance
– Obtain a miraculous cure
Give thanks for something already
received
 Penance
 Show religious devotion
 Social purposes

The Tabard Inn

29 pilgrims show up for the journey
– 14th century heroes and rogues
 Medieval life
 Medieval values
Destination of Pilgrimage
Canterbury
 Shrine of the Holy Martyr

– St. Thomas a Becket
 Implications of religious corruption
 Rumors surrounding his murder
Journey Across Medieval Society
The Tales
Each tale can stand on its own
 The tales reflect various aspects of
Medieval literature

– Romance and Comedy
– Rhyme and Prose
– Crude Humor and Religious Mysteries
The Narrator

Chaucer is the author and will serve as the
narrator
– Will join the pilgrims
– Offers an unbiased opinion
– Tell facts; provide insight
 Condition of each pilgrim
– Profession and degree
– Apparel
– Physical description
Chaucer

Worldly
– Has experienced many things and many
people in his lifetime

Educated
– Began Writing in twenties
 Poetry
 Translations of French Poetry

Realistic
– Offers insight into human character
Characterization

Direct
Characterization
– Directly told what a
character is like

Indirect
Characterization
– Information is
provided about the
character, appearance
and speech, which
enables us to
determine what the
character is like
The Canterbury Tales

Considered by historians and scholars to be the
best contemporary picture of 14th century
England
Admirable Characters

The Knight
– Chivalrous
– 15 Mortal battles
 Fought wherever he was
needed
– Modest
– Stained Tunic
– Rendering Thanks

The Oxford Cleric
–
–
–
–
–
Spent $ on books
Thin
Threadbare clothing
Somber
Would gladly teach and
gladly learn
– Interest in knowledge, not
$
 Not interested in working
for the church
 Not interested in finding a
quick way to make money
Acceptable/Flawed Characters

Squire
– A knight in training
 Fights well
 Jousts
 rides
– Interested in the ladies
 Dresses to impress
 Fights to impress
 Acts to impress
– Has the potential to be
like his father

Yeoman
–
–
–
–
Proper forester
Proper equipment
Wears green
Medal of St.
Christopher
 Patron saint of foresters
 Patron saint of travelers
Acceptable/Flawed Characters

Merchant
–
–
–
–
–
Claims to be an expert
Offers opinion
Knows the sea
Knows currency
Was in debt
 Hypocrite
 Claims to be what he is
not

Tradesmen
– Started union for
workers
 Protected member
 Hurt non-members
 Created a monopoly
– Worked Hard
 Because of wives
– Equipment is high
quality and well taken
care of
Acceptable/Flawed Characters

The Cook
– Knew all skills of a professional cook
 Roast, seethe, broil, fry
 Bake a tasty pie
– Had an “ulcer” on his knee
– Blancmange, creamy chicken dish, was one of
his specialties
– Poor hygiene
– Possibly contaminates food
Corrupt

Prioress
– Overweight
– Ate foods of wealth
– Spoke terrible French
 Appear smarter than those
around her
– Sang with an intoning through
her nose
 Appear sensual
– Sympathies lied with animals
 Fed them foods of wealth
– Jewelry
 Love conquers all
– Physical appearance
 Red lipstick
 Exposed freakishly large
forehead

Monk
– Overweight
– Hunted
 Not considered holy
 Decorated sleeves with fur
– Would ride or hunt in free
time
– Ignored rules of St. Benet and
St. Maur
 Founded and followed
monastic rules
– Did not study
– Was not tormented
– Refused to put life on a shelf
Corrupt

Friar
– Intimate with women
 Arranged marriages
 Offered gifts
 lisped
– Overweight
– Offered absolution for a
gift
 Blackmailed people
– Knew innkeepers and
barmaids
– Avoided sick and needy
– Kept $ collected for the
church

Sergeant at the Law
– Knew every criminal and
every crime
 Implies he is a criminal
– Manipulated or took
advantage of people
 Used position and power
to make money
 Used intelligence to take
advantage of less
intelligent
– Dress is gaudy and tacky
Corrupt

Franklin
– House open to all
 Really open to only rich
– Glutton
 In a society that is
impoverished
– Lived for his pleasure alone
 Implies he does not care
about others or if his
pleasures interfere with
the pleasures of others
– Hired help fears him
 Severe treatment if he is
not happy with their work

Skipper
– Sent prisoners home
 More of a pirate
 All walked the plank
– No mercy
– No conscience
– Stole wine
– Dagger on a lanyard
around his neck
 Symbolizes violence
– Dagger
– Noose
Time periods may differ:
Human nature changes
little, if at all!!!