AND GEOFFREY CHAUCER
BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE
Born in 1340 in London to John Chaucer, a vitner
(wine merchant). He would have been upper middle
class.
 1357 – worked as a page in the household of Prince
Lionel
 1359- served in army. Captured by
the French but ransomed by the king.
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ADULT LIFE
1366 married Phillippa Roet, a lady-in-waiting to
the queen.
 1370-1378 sent on diplomatic missions to France
and Italy.
 1386 – began having financial problems
 1387 on – Worked on The Canterbury Tales
 October 25, 1400 – Chaucer died. Buried in
Westminster.
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NEED TO KNOW
Pilgrimage – a religious journey
 Thomas a Becket – Catholic martyr, former Archbishop
of Canterbury(1162-1170). The pilgrims are travelling
to his tomb. His shrine was reputed to have great
healing qualities.
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THE CANTERBURY TALES – THE PLAN
First collection of short stories in English
 About a group of pilgrims travelling to
Canterbury the seat of the English church (which
was still Catholic) who agree to tell stories to
pass the time.
 Language – Middle English (combination of Old
English (Anglo-Saxons) and Norman French
 Frame story (story within a story)
 Each pilgrim was supposed to tell two tales on
the way to Canterbury and two on the way back.
As a result, Chaucer intended to write 124 tales,
but only actually wrote 24.
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THE VALUE OF THE TALES
Subject matter is varied, but grounded in realistic
individuals.
 Chaucer provides a fascinating cross-section of
medieval society.
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Chaucer also
includes a variety of
medieval genres.
 Chaucer’s interest in
the middle class
parallels their
increasing
importance in
society.
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GENRES
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Fabliau –medieval humorous tales told in France by a jongleur,
a traveling storyteller who also entertained with juggling
Beast fable – animals with human qualities teach moral lessons
Mock-heroic – ridicules chivalry and heroic characters
Chivalric romances – tales of adventure, knightly conflict, and
pageantry
Breton Lais – set in Brittany, France; Celtic tales of magic
fairies, folklore, and courtly love
Exemplum – a moral tale or illustration used by medieval
preachers to make a point
Mock-romance – parodies chivalric romance
Myth – re-telling a classic myth
Prose allegory – people and things represent abstract qualities
Sermon – preaches a Christian message
Saint’s legend – inspirational tales of martyrdom
Moral tale – tales to inspire moral conduct.
TYPES OF SATIRE
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Satire – ridicules human vice
Mock-heroic – imitation of the literary epic and its style by
exaggerating and distortion and by elevating the trivial to a
level higher than it deserves
Bathos – abrupt transition in style from the exalted to the
commonplace, producing a ludicrous effect
Parody – mocking a known person, event, or literary work
Mockery – subject of scorn, laughter, ridicule
Verbal irony – double meaning or saying one thing and
meaning another.
Overstatement – exaggeration, saying more than you mean.
Understatement – implying the opposite by saying less
Sarcasm – using praise to mock someone
GENERAL PROLOGUE
Time: April/ spring day
 Place: Southwark, at the Tabard Inn on their
way to Canterbury
 Chaucer describes the 29 pilgrims (he is the 30th).
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Read the descriptions carefully, they are often very
telling.
The inn keeper proposes the story telling
competition with the winner earning a free
supper upon their return.
SOCIAL GROUPS REPRESENTED
Aristocrats
 Clergy
 Middle Class
 Trade Class
 Peasant Class
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Who belongs to which class?
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Knight, Man of Law, Guildsmen, Doctor, Monk,
Manciple, Friar, Host, Nun’s Priest, Parson,
Merchant, Oxford cleric, Squire, Franklin, Reeve,
Second Nun, Wife of Bath, Skipper, Prioress, Cook,
Pardoner, Miller, Plowman, Summoner, and Yeoman