MEDIEVAL PERIOD (1066‐1485) IN THESE YEARS, KNIGHTS LIVED BY THE CODE OF CHIVALRY WHICH STRESSED THAT TRUTH, HONOR, AND COURTESY BE PART OF A KNIGHT’S DAILY LIFE OFF THE BATTLEFIELD AND VALOR ON THE BATTLE FIELD. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH BECAME THE ONLY UNITING FORCE FOR WESTERN CIVILIZATION. RELIGION WAS VERY IMPORTANT IN EVERYDAY LIFE. THE NORMANS OR “NORTH MEN” WERE DESCENDENTS OF VIKINGS WHO INVADED THE COAST OF FRANCE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NINTH CENTURY. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, THESE NORMANS ADOPTED MANY FRENCH CUSTOMS AND BECAME CHRISTIAN. THEY ORGANIZED THEMSELVES ACCORDING TO THE FRENCH POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM WHICH WAS CALLED FEUDALISM. FEUDALISM IS WHEN A LORD OR OVERLORD GRANTED A VASSAL THE USE OF LAND FOR PERSONAL SERVICE. IN REALITY ALL LAND BELONGED TO THE KING. WILLIAM WAS THE DUKE OF NORMANDY WHO HAD FAMILY TIES TO EDWARD THE CONFESSOR THE ENGLISH KING. THEY WERE COUSINS.
WHEN EDWARD DIED IN 1066, WILLIAM CLAIMED THAT EDWARD HAD PROMISED HIM THE ENGLISH THRONE. ENGLISH BARONS CHOSE HAROLD II AS KING. AN UPSET WILLIAM LED THOUSANDS OF TROOPS ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL TO INVADE. HE MET KING HAROLD AND HIS TROOPS IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND AT THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS. WILLIAM’S TROOPS EASILY WON. WILLIAM BECAME KNOWN AS WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. HAROLD WAS KILLED. THE VICTORIOUS WILLIAM HEADED TO LONDON. ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN 1066, WILLIAM CROWNED HIMSELF KING WILLIAM I AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY. WILLIAM I’S REIGN MARKED THE BEGINNING OF ENGLAND BECOMING A WORLD POWER. ALTHOUGH NORMAN INFLUENCE CONTINUED FOR CENTURIES, NORMAN RULE ENDED IN 1154 WHEN HENRY PLANTAGENETS CAME TO THE THRONE AS KING HENRY II. HENRY BECAME ONE OF ENGLAND’S BETTER KINGS. HOWEVER, HENRY’S CONCERN WITH LEGAL ISSUES LED HIM TO A CONFLICT WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
BY THE TWELFTH CENTURY, THE CHURCH HAD BECOME VERY POWERFUL EVEN RUNNING ITS OWN COURT SYSTEM. HENRY LOOKED TO STOP WHAT HE CONSIDERED AN ABUSE OF POWER. WHEN THE ARCHBISHOP’S SEAT AT CANTERBURY BECAME VACANT, HENRY APPOINTED HIS FRIEND THOMAS BECKET TO THE POSITION. HENRY THOUGHT BECKET WOULD FOLLOW THE KING’S POLICIES, BUT BECKET FOLLOWED THE POPE’S. FOUR KNIGHTS MISUNDERSTOOD HENRY’S ROYAL WRATH. IN THE YEAR 1170, THEY WENT TO CANTERBURY AND MURDERED BECKET WHILE HE WAS PRAYING IN THE CATHEDRAL. HENRY QUICKLY CONDEMNED THE CRIME AND WENT TO CANTERBURY TO MAKE AMENDS. HE MADE A HOLY JOURNREY OR PILGRIMAGE TO BECKET’S TOMB. FROM THAT TIME ON, A PILGRIMAGE TO BECKET’S TOMB BECAME A COMMON ENGLISH MEANS OF SHOWING RELIGIOUS DEVOTION. RICHARD I BECAME KING WHEN HENRY DIED.
HE SPENT AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY ON MILITARY ADVENTURES. BEFORE HE COULD PAY HIS BILL, HE DIED LEAVING KING JOHN I TO RAISE MONEY OR WATCH THE GOVERNENT COLLAPSE. JOHN TRIED TO RAISE TAXES ON THE BARONS. THIS DID NOT GO OVER WELL, AND JOHN THOUGHT HE WAS ON THE VERGE OF BEING BEHEADED. FEARING FOR HIS LIFE, HE SIGNED THE MAGNA CARTA (LATIN FOR GREAT CHARTER). MAIN POINT IN THIS DOCUMENT IS THAT THE KING PROMISED NOT TO RAISE TAXES UNLESS THE BARONS APPROVED. ENGLAND GOES FROM AN UNLIMITED MONARCHY TO A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY. HENRY III APPOINTED THE GREAT COUNCIL WHICH LATER BECAME PARLIAMENT. TWO HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT ARE THE HOUSE OF LORDS AND THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. THE CRUSADES IN THE TWELFTH AND THIRTEENTH CENTURIES HELPED TO OPEN TRADE ROUTES BETWEEN EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE AND FAR EAST.
LONDON BECAME A MAJOR PORT FOR TRADE. WITH A POPULATION EXPLOSION, LONDON WAS NOT EQUIPPED TO HANDLE AN OVERLOAD OF PEOPLE. DISEASE BECAME A PROBLEM. THE BLACK PLAGUE KILLED A THIRD OF THE ENGLISH POPULATION BETWEEN 1348 AND 1349. THREE STAGES OF THE BLACK PLAGUE (BUBONIC PLAGUE OR BLACK DEATH): 1‐ A BOIL POPS UP ON YOUR NECK OR UNDER YOUR ARM. 2‐ LANCING THE BOIL GIVES ONE A CHANCE TO LIVE. 3‐ VIOLENT COUGHING FITS. THE CANTERBURY TALES THE AUTHOR OF THE TALES IS GEOFFREY CHAUCER (1343(?)‐ 1400). CHAUCER IS CONSIDERED BY HISTORIANS TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST IF NOT THE GREATEST ENGLISH POET. HIS UNFINISHED WORK THE CANTERBURY TALES RANKS AS ONE OF THE BEST WORKS OF LITERATURE AND GIVES US OUR BEST EXAMPLE OF LIFE IN FOURTEENTH CENTURY ENGLAND.
CHAUCER WAS BORN INTO A PROSPEROUS MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY IN LONDON. HIS FATHER, A WINE MERCHANT, RAISED CHAUCER TO BE A CIVIL SERVANT. CHAUCER MARRIED ONE OF THE QUEEN’S ATTENDANTS, PHILIPPA DE ROET, IN 1366. CHAUCER HELD SEVERAL DIFFERENT POSITION IN THE GOVERNMENT. EACH OF THESE POSITIONS BOUGHT HIM IN CONTACT WITH A VARIETY OF PEOPLE. HE USED THIS KNOWLEDGE IN WRITING THE CANTERBURY TALES. CHAUCER LIKED TO USE SATIRE IN HIS WRITINGS. CHAUCER WAS THE FIRST PERSON BURIED IN POET’S CORNER IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY. THE CANTERBURY TALES IS WRITTEN IN MIDDLE ENGLISH. MIDDLE ENGLISH HAS A FRENCH INFLUENCE. CHAUCER WANTED TO WRITE 124 TALES. HE WORKED ON TWENTY‐FOUR. TWENTY‐TWO ARE COMPLETED.
HIS PILGRIMS GATHER IN APRIL AT THE TABARD INN IN SOUTHWARK TO BEGIN THEIR PILGRIMAGE TO THOMAS BECKET’S TOMB. THE HOST, HARRY BAILEY, SUGGESTS THEY TELL STORIES TO PASS THE TIME. THE TWENTY‐NINE PILGRIMS (SOME SAY THIRTY‐TWO) AGREED. EACH PILGRIM WAS TO TELL TWO TALES ON THE FIFTY MILE TRIP TO CANTERBURY AND TWO TALES ON THE RETURN FROM CANTERBURY. CHAUCER WORKED ON HIS TALES FROM 1385 UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1400. THE PILGRIMS WERE APPROACHING CANTERBURY ON THE TRIP’S FOURTH DAY. THE CANTERBURY TALES IS A FRAME STORY. THAT IS A STORY WITHIN A STORY. CHARACTERS IN THE PROLOGUE TO THE CANTERBURY TALES THE KNIGHT IS THE MOST DISTINGUISHED PERSON ON THE TRIP. HE IS RETIRING AFTER YEARS OF FIGHTING IN MANY BATTLES. HE HAS DONE HIS BEST TO UPHOLD THE CODE OF CHIVALRY. HE IS GOING TO CANTERBURY TO GIVE THANKS TO THOMAS BECKET.
THE SQUIRE IS THE KNIGHT’S SON. HE CONSIDERS HIMSELF TO BE A LADIES’ MAN. HE SINGS, WRITES POETRY, DANCES, AND RIDES HORSES WITH THE BEST OF THEM. HE IS TAKING HIS FATHER’S PLACE AS A KNIGHT. HE IS GOING TO CANTERBURY TO ASK BECKET FOR PROTECTION IN THE YEARS TO COME. THE YEOMAN IS THE SQUIRE’S SERVANT. HE IS AN EXCEPTIONAL WOODSMAN. HE WEARS GREEN LIKE ROBIN HOOD. HE IS GOING BECAUSE THE SQUIRE IS GOING. THE NUN’S NAME IS MADAM EGLANTYNE. SHE SINGS THROUGH HER NOSE, HAS IMPECCABLE TABLE MANNERS, AND A SOFT SPOT IN HER HEART FOR ANIMALS. SHE LIKES TO WEAR JEWELRY. SHE IS GOING TO CANTERBURY TO BE SEEN. ANOTHER NUN AND THREE PRIESTS ARE GOING WITH THE NUN. THE MONK IS A HUNTER WHO WEARS EXPENSIVE CLOTHING. WHILE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES OF HIS ORDER, HE DOES FIND TIME TO SELL THE SKINS AND MEAT OF THE ANIMALS HE KILLS. HE IS GOING TO CANTERBURY FOR A PROFIT. THE FRIAR’S (LIKE AN EVANGELISTS) NAME IS HUBERT. HE IS A CON MAN, AND ONE COULD MAKE A GOOD CASE THAT HE IS THE MOST EVIL PERSON IN THE GROUP. HE WOULD RATHER SPEND TIME IN A TAVERN THAN HELPING THE POOR. HE
WOULD ARRANGE MARRIAGES FOR WOMEN WHO HE GOT PREGNANT. HE WOULD ARBITRATE CASES BASED ON WHO PAID HIM THE MOST MONEY. HE COULD SING AND PREACH WITH THE BEST OF THEM. HE IS GOING TO CANTERBURY FOR A PROFIT. THE MERCHANT IS VERY GOOD AT WHAT HE DOES. HOWEVER, NO ONE IN THE GROUP KNOWS HE IS IN DEBT. HE IS GOING TO CANTERBURY TO ASK BECKET FOR HELP. THE OXFORD CLERIC (CLERK) IS A STUDENT WHO IS STUDYING TO BECOME A PRIEST. HE WOULD RATHER BUY BOOKS THAN EAT. HE SELDOM SPOKE, BUT WHEN HE DID EVERYONE LISTENED. HE IS GOING TO CANTERBURY TO ASK BECKET TO HELP HIM FIND A POSITION IN THE CHURCH. THE SERGEANT AT THE LAW (LAWYER) KNOWS EVERY CASE SINCE KING WILLIAM I. HE WAS LESS BUSY THAN HE SEEMED TO BE. HE IS LOOKING FOR CLIENTS ON THE TRIP. THE FRANKLIN IS A WEALTHY LANDOWNER. HE ALWAYS HAS FOOD ON HIS TABLE FOR ANYONE WHO COMES. HE ALSO WORKS IN HIS COMMUNITY’S LOCAL GOVERNMENT. HE IS GOING TO CANTERBURY FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. THE HABERDASHER (SELLS MEN’S CLOTHING) DYER, CARPENTER, WEAVER, AND CARPET‐MAKER ARE MEMBERS OF A GUILD FRATERNITY (UNION). THEIR WIVES MADE THEM
GO TO CANTERBURY TO MEET PEOPLE TO HELP THEM MOVE UP THE SOCIAL LADDER. THE COOK IS TRAVELING WITH THE UNION GUYS. HE IS A TRUE CONNISSEUR. HE IS KNOWN FOR HIS BLANCMANGE. HIS PROBLEM IS THAT HE HAS A ULCER (OPEN SORE) ON HIS KNEE THE CONTINUOUSLY RUNS PUSS. THE PUSS IS THE SAME COLOR AS THE CREAM IN HIS DISH. HE IS GOING TO CANTERBURY TO ASK FOR HEALING. THE SKIPPER IS RETIRING FROM THE SEAS. HE MADE THE PRISONERS HE CAPTURED WALK THE PLANK. HE IS GOING TO CANTERBURY TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS. THE DOCTOR IS THE PERFECT PRACTICING PHYSICAIN WHO LOVES GOLD. HE IS LOOKING FOR PATIENTS. THE WOMAN FROM BATH (A CITY IN SOUTHWEST ENGLAND) IS A UNIQUE CHARACTER. SHE WAS A LARGE WOMAN, SOMEWHAT DEAF, AND WITH A GAP IN HER TEETH. SHE HAD BEEN ON MANY PILGRIMAGES IN EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST. SHE HAD TO BE THE FIRST PERSON TO THE ALTER TO PRAY. SHE HAS BEEN MARRIED FIVE TIMES. SHE IS GOING TO CANTERBURY LOOKING FOR NUMBER SIX. THE PARSON IS THE BEST MAN ON THE TRIP. HE ALMOST DID NOT GO BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID HIS PARISHONERS WOULD NEED HIM. HE SELDOM TOOK A SALARY.
THE PLOWMAN IS THE PARSON’S BROTHER. HE IS ALSO A GOOD MAN WHO IS GOING TO CANTERBURY FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. THE MILLER (GROUND WHEAT INTO FLOUR) WEIGHT SIXTEEN STONE (224 POUNDS‐ 14 POUNDS PER STONE). HE WRESTLED AS A SECOND JOB. HE CHEATED HIS CUSTOMERS. HE PLAYS THE BAGPIPES. HE IS GOING TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS. THE MANCIPLE BUYS GOODS FOR COLLEGES. HE IS GOING TO CANTERBURY FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. THE REEVE MANAGES A LANDOWNER’S ESTATE. HE WAS CHOLERIC AND THIN. HE WAS EASILY ANGERED AND HAD CHOLERA. THIS IS WHY HE RODE BEHIND EVERYONE ELSE. HE IS GOING TO ASK FOR HEALING. THE SUMMONER SUMMONED PEOPLE TO COURT. HE HAS LEPORSY OR IS A DRUNK. HE SCARED CHILDREN WITH HIS LOOKS. HE IS GOING TO ASK FOR A HEALING. THE PARDONER SELLS INDULGENCES. HE SOLD THOSE INDULGENCES AT A HIGHER PRICE TO MAKE MORE MONEY. HE IS GOING TO CANTERBURY TO MAKE MONEY. THE HOST IS HARRY BAILEY. CHAUCER IS THE NARRATOR. THE PARDONER’S TALE
THE TALE IS FILLED WITH IRONY. IT IS A TALE ABOUT AVARICE WHICH IS AN UNHEALTHY DESIRE FOR WEALTH. CHAUCER WANTS YOU TO COMPARE THE TALE THE PARDONER TELLS WITH WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HIM. PARDONER’S QUIZ 1. WHO IS TELLING THIS TALE? 2. WHO DID THE RIOTES SEND TO FIND OUT THE IDENTITY OF THE PERSON IN THE COFFIN? 3. WHO TEL THE RIOTERS WHERE TO FIND DEATH? 4. HOW DO THE RIOTERS DECIDE WHO WILL GO TO TOWN? 5. WHICH RIOTER WENT BACK TO TOWN FOR SUPPLIES?
1. HOW MANY RIOTERS ARE THERE? 2. WHO DO THE RIOTERS AGREE TO KILL? 3. WHAT DOES THE OLD MAN TELL THE RIOTERS? 4. WHAT DO THE RIOTERS FIND UNDER THE TREE? 5. HOW DO THE LAST RIOTERS DIE?