Canterbury Tales Background
2-20-08
Above is a pilgrimage scene from a
stained glass window in Canterbury
Cathedral
September 15, 2007
Mrs. Billet Canterbury Tales /58
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Canterbury Tales Background
Assignment
– Read pages 90-143
– Review Questions
– All Grammar
Exercises
– All Vocabulary
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**What is a Prologue?***
1. An introduction or preface, especially a
poem recited to introduce a play.
2. An introduction or introductory
chapter, as to a novel.
3. An introductory act, event, or period.
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Canterbury Tales Background
• Framing Narrative Device
• Geoffrey Chaucer wanted to tell 120
different stories that was to be told by 30
people
• Originally written in Middle English
• Chaucer wrote about what he knew
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Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales Background
• He was familiar with the annual pilgrimages
from London
Canterbury
• Canterbury is 55 miles Southeast of London
• Canterbury is at the southern tip of England
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Canterbury Tales Background
• It was tradition to travel in the Spring/Summer
to the Cathedral of Canterbury
• The pilgrimage was to honor
St. Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of
Canterbury
• Becket was murdered in 1170
• Becket was made a saint, his remains lay
entombed in the cathedral
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St. Thomas Becket
• Archbishop of
Canterbury
from 1162 to 1170.
• Saint and martyr by
both the Roman
Catholic Church and the
Anglican Church.
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St. Thomas Becket
• He engaged in a
conflict with King
Henry II over the
rights and privileges
of the Church
• He was assassinated
by followers of the
king in Canterbury
Cathedral.
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Canterbury Tales Background
• Written between 1387 and 1400.
• Group of thirty people who travel as pilgrims
to Canterbury (England).
• **The pilgrims, who come from all layers of
society, tell stories to each other to kill time
while they travel to Canterbury.
• **Chaucer intended that each pilgrim should
tell two tales on the way to Canterbury and
two tales on the way back.
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Canterbury Tales Background
• He never finished his enormous project and
even the completed tales were not finally
revised.
• Scholars are uncertain about the order of the
tales.
• As the printing press had yet to be invented
when Chaucer wrote his works, The
Canterbury Tales has been passed down in
several handwritten manuscripts.
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The General Prologue
• Geoffrey Chaucer starts the story at the Tabard
Inn, when a group of pilgrims join together
• He describes almost all of the nine and twenty
pilgrims in this company, each of whom practices a
different trade (often dishonestly).
• On the night before they leave, the Host of the
Tabard Inn, Harry Bailey, proposes that he joins
them as a guide and that each of the pilgrims
should tell tales (two on the outward journey, two
on the way back); whoever tells the best tale will
win a supper, at the other pilgrims' cost when they
return.
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The General Prologue
• The pilgrims agree, and Chaucer warns his
readers that he must repeat each tale exactly
as he heard it, even though it might contain
frank language.
• The next morning the company sets out, pausing
at the Watering of St. Thomas, where all draw
straws, and the Knight is thus selected to tell
the first tale.
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Canterbury Tales Background
• Purpose of pilgrimage= to pray for cures, solve
their problems
• 30 pilgrims x 4 tales each = 120 total tales
• Harry Bailey (Tabard Inn)= host/innkeeper,
he is the pilgrim 30th, he is also the judge
• ****Chaucer died before finishing,
he finished only 24 tales in total
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Vocabulary page 97
• Solicitous - showing care or concern
• Garnished - decorated; trimmed
• Absolution - act of freeing someone of a sin
or criminal charge
• Commission - authorization; act of giving
authority to an individual
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Vocabulary page 97
• Sanguine - confident; cheerful
• Avouches - asserts positively; affirms
• Prevarication - evasion of truth
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Characterization pg 120
• Characterization is the technique a writer
uses to create and develop the personality of a
character.
• Direct characterization= stated outright
• Indirect= suggested through details of
appearance or action or by the character’s
statements
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Social Commentary pg 120
• Social commentary= is writing that offers
insight into a society, its values, and its
customs.
• **Analyze difficult sentences by applying
the questions who, what, where, when,
why, and how to them.
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The Prologue
Pg 98 Characters
• Several of the characters are described in
minute detail, e.g. social position, their
professions, clothing, hair color, jewelry, etc.
• Characters tell stories that suit their
personality
• Some characters do tell dirty jokes
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Chaucer
• Experts believe Chaucer is the narrator of
The Canterbury Tales
• Time Setting of the Canterbury Prologue
takes place not long after 1170, during the
height of pilgrimages to St. Thomas
Becket’s tomb
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Pg 98
Characters
• What does a miller do?
• He processes grain with two large stones, you
place grain in a tube.
• And then horses or oxen would move the
stones in order to grind them
• A miller would have been paid in flour
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The Knight’s Tale
General Prologue
Lines 43-78: The Knight
•
•
•
•
•
•
Gentleman, followed chivalry
Truth, honor,
Very courteous
Fought in the 100 Years War
Participated in many battles
Well traveled and The perfect
noble knight
• He wore a tunic of simple cloth
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The Squire
Lines 79-100: The Squire
•
•
•
•
The Knight’s son
About 20 years old, a bachelor
Curly hair
Wears fine embroidered
(colorful) clothes
• Practicing to be a knight
• “Fresh as the month of May”
• Multi-talented: jousting,
dancing, sketching, and writing
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The Yeoman
Lines 103-121: The Yeoman
• The Knight’s servant
• Clothed in coat and hood of green.
• A sheaf of peacock arrows bright
and keen
• He bore a mighty bow
• Wore a brace on his arm
• Sun-browned face
• Wore a St. Christopher Medal
• Forester
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Who does the Yeoman remind you of?
Robin Hood
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The Prioress
Lines 122-166: The Prioress
•
•
•
•
Head of a convent
Spoke daintily in French
Very mannered
Very entertaining, pleasant,
and friendly
• Dignified
• Charitably solicitous (caring)
• All sentiment
• Elegant nose, small mouth
Known as
• The Nun is traveling w/3
Madam
Eglantyne Mrs. Billet Canterbury Tales /58
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priests and another nun
The Prioress
Lines 122-166: The Prioress
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• She is acting (pretending) to
be high class, superior to
others, but she is unsuccessful
• In church she sings through
her nose
• She tries to speak French, but
she speaks in inferior French
• Not worldly enough to pull it
off her image that she wants to
portray
• Phony
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Prioress= Phony/Fake
• The Prioress reminds
me of a local guy and
when he opened an
Italian Restaurant, he
started talking in a
fake Italian accent.
Can you think of anyone like the prioress?
Madonna/Britney Spears
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The Monk
Lines 169-211: The Monk
• What is your impression of a monk?
• Wealthy, has horses and dogs, likes
to hunt, an outdoorsman
• Wears jewelry
• Fine clothes, fur on his sleeves, and
collar
• Bald
• Likes to eat, fat and personable
• Bulging eyes that glitter
• Not
a
typical
monk!
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The Friar
Lines 212-279: The Friar
• Friars were suppose to beg
What is a friar’s job?
and give to the poor
• But, this Friar would rather
spend time w/ wealthy
landowners
• He likes to drink
• A festive fellow
• Glib (superficial)
• Sang well
• He knew innkeepers &
barmaids
better than
lepers
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The Friar
Lines 212-279: The Friar
• Naturally gifted beggar
• He took money from
• Corruption in the Catholic
widows
Church in the 1300’s led
• He took in more than
to the Protestant Revolt
he gave out
by
John
Wycliffe
• He played a harp
• His name was Hubert
• And then in the 1500’s
• He didn’t want to be
additional revolts were
with poor people
led by John Calvin and
• He took confessions and
Martin Luther
gave small penances
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The Friar
Lines 212-279: The Friar
• Friars paid rent to the
church for an area to
beg
• The Friar was very good
at getting money out of
people
• Friar didn’t care about
the poor
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The Merchant
Lines 280-294: The Merchant
Short description
Beard
Beaver hat
Dainty buckled shoes
Expert at currency exchange
Stately in negotiation
No one could tell if he was in
debt or not
Harry Bailey (the host) did
not know his name, because
he was traveling w/30 people,
and you may not know
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The Oxford Cleric
Lines 295-318: The Oxford Cleric/Scholar
•
•
•
•
•
A student from Oxford
Studied philosophy
Both he and horse were thin
Wore a very worn overcoat
Would rather spend money
on books
• He had but little gold within
his suitcase
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The Sergeant of the Law
Lines 319-340: The Sergeant of the Law
• Keen, wise, and dignified
• An advisor to St. Paul's
• By royal assignment he was
an appointed judge in court
• He took large fees
• His house was never short of
food and pies
• Successful in real estate
• Very knowledgeable about
the law
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The Franklin
Lines 341-370: The Franklin
• White beard
• Wealthy landowner
• Self-satisfied, contented
temperament
• He loved to dip his morning
bread in wine.
• His bread, his ale were
always good and fine;
• No man had cellars better
stocked with wine.
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The Haberdasher, Dyer, a Carpenter,Weaver
and Carpet-maker
Lines 371-380:The Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter,
Weaver and Carpet-maker
• One solemn, great fraternity.
• Guild (Union) members
• Freshly and new their gear,
and well adorned it was;
• Their weapons were not
cheaply shaped with brass,
• But all with silver; neatly
made and well
• Their belt and their purses too
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The Cook
Lines 389-397: The Cook
• He boiled chickens with the
marrow-bones
• He knew how to recognize a
draught of London ale.
• And he could roast and boil and
broil and fry,
• And prepare a stew, and bake a
tasty pie.
• He had an open sore on his shin
(knee)
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The Skipper
Lines 398-421: The Skipper
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A Successful SAILOR, living far out west;
Came from Dartmouth
He rode a horse the best he could
Lanyard- A dagger hanging on a cord had
he about his neck, under his arm, and down.
Sunburned face
Skipper’s stealing wine and forcing
prisoners to walk the plank
Often drank wine
He calculated the tides, currents, and the
dangerous watersides,
His vessel had been called the Madeleine
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The Doctor
Lines 422-454: The Doctor
• He was instructed in astronomy,
he could calculate planetary
positions.
• He cared for and saved a patient
many times
• He knew the cause of every
sickness,
• In diet he was modest
• He did not study the Bible,
much.
• His clothes were of blue and
scarlet
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The Wife of Bath
Lines 455-486: The Wife of Bath
• Who was somewhat deaf, it is a pity
• Gap-toothed
• She wanted to be first at Church,
and if someone went up before, she
wasn’t charitable
• Good seamstress
• Fine dresses and stockings (red),
extravagant hats, and new shoes
• Married in church, 5x
• She was experienced in love
• Well traveled
• She traveled to Jerusalem 3x
• She was also to Rome and she even to
Boulogne, and to Spain.
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The Parson
Lines 487-538: The Parson
•
•
•
•
•
•
A good man
A poor COUNTRY PARSON,
Rich in holy thought and work
A learned man also, a clerk,
Patient, Devout, Gracious
Large parish, he visited the sick
no matter what the weather
conditions
• Used metaphors to preach
• He set an example to his flock
• He was the opposite of the monk
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The Plowman
Lines 539-555: The Plowman
• A PLOWMAN, and his brother,
• Hard worker
• They loaded and transported many
carts with dung, and many other
• Living in peace and perfect charity.
• He loved God most, and that with his
whole heart
• Was not materialistic
• He'd thresh and dig, and never thought
of wealth,
• He paid his taxes with his labor and
when necessary he would sell his
possessions.
• He
rode a mare (femaleMrs.horse).
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The Miller’s Portrait
Lines 561-584: The Miller
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Strong
Huge in size (16 stone), big bone
Wrestler
Red Beard/Hair
Nose, Wart w/2 hairs
Sword & buckler at his side
Jester
Stole corn and charged 3x the
price
• Gold thumb
• Bagpipe
• Miller’s name is Robin
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The College Manciple
Lines 585-604: The College Manciple
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• Steward or purchaser
• Learned in the art of buying victuals
(food);
• Came from the Inner Temple
(Masonic Temple- Mason)
• Cash or credit, he knew all the
rituals,
• That he knew the markets, watched
them closely, and found himself
ahead, he did quite nicely
• Shameless wrangler, belligerent,
lecherous
Canterbury Tales /58
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• Mrs.
ABillet
vulgar
man
The Reeve
Lines 605-640: The Reeve
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A slender choleric man
Very close shave
Short hair
Long and lean
Estate Manager
He understood farming and
livestock
No auditor could ever find anything
He knew about cunning and deceit;
They were afraid of him as of the
death.
He
had a nice cottageMrs. Billet Canterbury Tales /58
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The Summoner
Lines 625-670: The Summoner
• He gets people into church, he summons
them
• He had a fiery-red, cherubic face,
• He had pimples and nothing could fix it
• With black and scabby brows and scanty
beard;
• He had a face that little children feared.
• He loved garlic, onions, leeks, and loved
to drink strong blood red wine until dizzy.
• Then he would talk and shout as if he's
crazy.Then would he utter no word except
Latin.
• He was a noble rascal
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The Pardoner
Lines 689-734: The Pardoner
• Straight from the court of Rome had
journeyed he.
• Loudly he sang "Come hither, love, to
me,“
• Long yellow locks, fell like rat tails
• With unbound hair, except his cap,
head all bare.
• As shiny eyes he had as a hare.
• He had a fine Veronica (relic) sewed
to his cap.
• His knapsack lay before him in his
lap, stuffed full with pardons
brought from Rome all hot.
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The Pardoner
Lines 689-734: The Pardoner
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• A voice that sounded like a goat.
• Feminine features
• I think he was a gelding (castrated) or a
mare.
• He sold relics
• “For in his bag he had a pillow-case
• Of which he said, it was Our True Lady's
veil:
• He said he had a piece of the very sail that
good Saint Peter had, on the time he sailed
• In that one day he gathered more money
than the parson in two months, that
easy”.
• He used flattery and preached with his
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smooth tongue.
Host- Harry Bailey, Tabard Inn
• High class hostelry
• Our Host gave us
welcome
• His eyes were bright
• His girth a little wide
• Bold in speech
• Yet wise and full of tact
• Merry hearted man
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Past and Past Perfect Tenses
is a verb showing an action or a condition
• Past tense
that began and ended in the past
• Past perfect tense Indicates an action or a condition
that ended before another past
action began
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Past and Past Perfect Tenses
• This estimable (esteem) Merchant so
had set
PAST PERFECT TENSE
• His wits to work, none knew he was in
debt…
PAST TENSE
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