Medieval Study Unit and The
Canterbury Tales
Ms. Ehringhaus
Monday, November 3rd
 Warm Up: Turn to page 140 and being reading and taking notes
on “The Medieval Reader.” Be prepared to answer questions.
 Plan for today: Remember, first quiz is Wednesday!!
 Get into group seating. Choose where you sit wisely, these are the
people who are going to help you study for each of the quizzes in
your Medieval Study Unit. Here is the progression:
 Feudalism
 The Medieval Church
 Chivalry and Courtly Love
 Chaucer
 Medieval Narratives
Announcements
 Herff Jones orders this week- how did it go?
 They will be back next week depending on when Ms. Sears
wants them to come.
 Senior Ads
 Senior Make Up Pictures Forms
 Who wasn’t here last week and needs a schedule?
The Medieval Period: Historical Context
 Pages 28-30 in textbook
 The monarchy:
 William the Conqueror- powerful, well-organized, determined to
exert his authority down to the smallest detail, brought law and order
to England
 Henry II- of the house of Plantagenet, reformed the judicial system,
set up royal courts, justice system, juries
 Richard- 10 year reign, fought wars abroad, brother King John
plotted against him(raised taxes-Robinhood legends)
 Magna Carta “Great Charter”- Signed by King John in 1215-limited
royal authority by granting more power to the barons.
War and Plague
 Hundred Years War- between England and France, began in
1337
 Black Death- 1/3rd of population died
 War of the Roses- House of York (white rose) and House of
Lancaster (red rose), ended when Henry Tudor came to
power (House of Lancaster)
Cultural Influences
 Feudalism: a political and economic system that William the
Conqueror introduced to England. King owns all the land,
gives ¼ to the church, rest goes to barons (like mayors) who
paid the king or supplied him with knights.
 King
 Barons
 Knights
 Serfs
 Feudalism Video
Church
Cultural Influences
 The Church- Holy Catholic Church, led by
the Pope in Rome, had tremendous power,
taxes, making own laws, running their own
courts, kept kings and noblemen in line
with the threat of excommunication, owned
more land than anyone, huge surge of
money = churches, cathedrals, architecture
Cultural Influences
 Chivalry- code of honor intended to govern
knightly behavior. Encourages knights to be
generous, brave, honest, pious, and
honorable, defend the weak and to battle
evil.
 Chivalry Site
Medieval Narratives
 There are four types of Medieval Narratives
 Ballad: a type of narrative poem that tells a story and has a
regular pattern of rhythm and rhyme.
 Medieval Romance: an adventure tale with extravagant
characters, exotic places, heroic events, love, and
supernatural elements.
 Allegory: a narrative in which every character and event is
a symbol that represents an idea, religious principle, or
moral (Piers Plowman)
 Moral Tale: a narrative that illustrates a moral lesson such
as a fable (The Pardoner’s Tale)
Geoffrey Chaucer
 Among the first writers to write and publish in English.
 Born in London, around 1340
 Family well off, not noble-growth of the middle class
 Served as an attendant in a noble household- flash forward to
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the yeoman in The Canterbury Tales
Member of Parliament, Knight
Didn’t get to finish The Canterbury Tales
Upon his death he was given the great honor of being buried
in Westminster Abbey in the Poet’s Corner
Westminster Abbey Tour Chaucer's Poets Corner
Thursday, November 6th
 Herff Jones people are coming back tomorrow during lunch
to take orders and payments.
 Warm Up: Turn to page 150: do the E Characterization
question, prepare answers.
 The Canterbury Tales: The Prologue
 Monk-Friar
 HW: Character Chart and Guided Questions
Wednesday, November 12th
Warm Up: Check what time you are taking your make up
picture- it is on the board. T
Get Homework out! This will be a catch up day.Your Medieval
Study Unit Quiz on the Church is Friday!