Biography
Prologue
Wife of Bath’s Tale
The Pardoner’s Tale

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Born c. 1343
Son of a prosperous wine merchant
In mid teens, he was placed in the service of the Countess of
Ulster so he could obtain more education and be schooled in court and society life
Thus, he would have learned
Latin and some Greek as well as perhaps some French and Italian

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Began a government career
Captured in France serving as a soldier in the Hundred Years’ War
King paid his ransom
Married, Philippa; had at least 2 children
Served as a justice of the peace and a member of Parliament

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Important government servant
Between 1374 - 1386
The Book of the Duchess
The House of Fame
Parliament of Fowls
Troilus and Criseyde
Traveled in Italy
Influenced by Dante and Petrarch
Died 10/25/1400
Buried Westminster Abbey – Poets’
Corner

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Chaucer influenced by Boccaccio’s
Decameron
The Canterbury Tales and Decameron – frame stories
Modern frame story – Joy Luck Club
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Used several metrical forms, some prose, dominant – iambic pentameter
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Pictures life in the Middle Ages

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Poet-pilgrim narrator – Chaucer
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Host of the Tabard Inn suggests pilgrims tell stories
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Pilgrimage story – quest narrative
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Storytellers – pilgrims looking for renewal at the Shrine of Thomas a’ Becket
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Represent “everyman” – all of us
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Universal pilgrimage through life

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Satire – A kind of writing that ridicules or makes fun of human weakness, vice, or folly in order to bring about social reform
Imagery – Language that appeals to the senses
Characterization – The process by which the writer reveals the personality of the character
Situational irony – when what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate

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4 tales per person: 2 coming; 2 going
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Actually completed 22
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Began 2 others
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Journey to the Shrine of Thomas a’ Becket in Canterbury
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Becket, murdered in 1170
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Use of journey motif as framing device
Introduces all characters in The Prologue

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Sets stage for journey
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Meeting place the Tabard Inn in
Southwark
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29 pilgrims including:
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A Knight and his Squire and a Yeoman
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A Nun (Prioress) Madam Eglantine + another Nun, her chaplain, + 3 Priests
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A monk and a friar

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A merchant, a cleric, a lawyer, a franklin
A haberdasher, carpenter, weaver, dyer, a tapestry maker
A cook, sailor, physician
The Wife of Bath, a poor parish Priest
A plowman, a reeve, a miller, a summoner, a
Manciple (29)
Narrator (30)
Host of Tabard Inn (31)
Draw straws to begin tales: Knight begins

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Their job
The type and color of their clothing
Their “accessories” (jewelry, pets, other portables)
The way they act
Their income
Their “secrets”
Their status in society as a whole
The way they speak / their slang or accent
Their mode of transportation

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Choose a pilgrim
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Dress like the pilgrim
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Memorize at least 6 lines that Chaucer wrote about the pilgrim
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Recite your lines and explain more about your pilgrim during class
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Feast in L108 during 5 th period A & B lunch
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Contribute food or $

century) from the Ellesmere manuscript (15 th

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Tells tale of her late husbands and her treachery as well as her jaunts.
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Tells a tale of the Knight and his decisions regarding a wife.
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Knight was to be killed for raping a maiden unless he could answer the question: what do women desire most?
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The Knight saw 24 maidens dancing, who disappeared to be replaced by an ugly hag.

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The hag asks him to swear to do the next thing she asks of him and she will save his life by giving him the answer.
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“Women wish to have complete control over husbands, lovers, and masters of their men.”
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The Knight marries the hag, but hates his decision.
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But once he gives in to her wishes, she becomes a beautiful, loving bride.

century) from the Ellesmere manuscript (15 th

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3 young men of drunk and riotous behavior search for Death.
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An old man whom they insult tells them that Death lies up the hill under a tree.
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They find bags of gold and plot to send the youngest for food and wine and then kill him for the gold.
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He returns with poisoned wine and all die.
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“The love of money is the root of all evil.”