ChaucerChaucer

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales

BiographyBiography

Born in London in 1342 into middle class.Born in London in 1342 into middle class. Worked as page for upper class family.Worked as page for upper class family. Could read French, Latin, and ItalianCould read French, Latin, and Italian 1359-1360 went to France during the 1359-1360 went to France during the

Hundred Year’s WarHundred Year’s War 1367-1378 made several journeys abroad 1367-1378 made several journeys abroad

on diplomatic and commercial missions.on diplomatic and commercial missions. 1732 went to Italy and became familiar 1732 went to Italy and became familiar

with works of Dante, Patriarch, and with works of Dante, Patriarch, and Boccaccio.Boccaccio.

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury TalesBackgroundBackground

Chaucer’s plan was for each character to tell four Chaucer’s plan was for each character to tell four tales, two on the way to Canterbury and two on tales, two on the way to Canterbury and two on the way back. But instead of 120 tales, he only the way back. But instead of 120 tales, he only completed 22 tales.completed 22 tales.

The work was first conceived in 1386The work was first conceived in 1386 Chaucer’s realism is unique to the ageChaucer’s realism is unique to the age Chaucer’s aim was to create a literature and Chaucer’s aim was to create a literature and

poetic language for all classes of societypoetic language for all classes of society The Canterbury Tales contains nearly every type The Canterbury Tales contains nearly every type

of medieval fiction at its best.of medieval fiction at its best. Importance of pilgrimages in the Middle AgesImportance of pilgrimages in the Middle Ages

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales Chaucer endows types with realtyChaucer endows types with realty Use of frame tale or story within a storyUse of frame tale or story within a story Double view – secular and spiritualDouble view – secular and spiritual Pilgrims are both individual and representativePilgrims are both individual and representative Narrator is both in and out of narrativeNarrator is both in and out of narrative Pilgrims represent a wide spectrum of ranks and Pilgrims represent a wide spectrum of ranks and

occupations. occupations. Tales match tellersTales match tellers Tales are juxtaposed to bring out contrastsTales are juxtaposed to bring out contrasts Use of detail, exaggeration, focus on single Use of detail, exaggeration, focus on single

quality, sudden thrustquality, sudden thrust

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales

Art of being at once involved and Art of being at once involved and detached from a given situationdetached from a given situation

Rich suggestiveness of detailsRich suggestiveness of details A flash of intuition illuminates the A flash of intuition illuminates the

charactercharacter

The PilgrimsThe Pilgrims

The pilgrims are The pilgrims are types, not types, not individualsindividuals

Taken together, Taken together, they represent the they represent the whole range of life whole range of life in Chaucer’s in Chaucer’s England.England.

The HostThe Host

He gets things going and keeps them He gets things going and keeps them movingmoving

Varied roles of innkeeper, master of Varied roles of innkeeper, master of ceremonies, literary critic, social ceremonies, literary critic, social commentator,commentator,

Mediator between the tales and tellerMediator between the tales and teller He is genial.He is genial.

The PilgrimsThe Pilgrims

Knight – fights for Christian virtuesKnight – fights for Christian virtues Squire – Knight’s sonSquire – Knight’s son Yeoman= travels with Knight and Yeoman= travels with Knight and

SquireSquire Prioress – ironic portrait; she longs Prioress – ironic portrait; she longs

for a life beyond the convent; like a for a life beyond the convent; like a romance heroineromance heroine

Monk – care’s nothing for monk’s life; Monk – care’s nothing for monk’s life; loves horses and huntingloves horses and hunting

The PilgrimsThe Pilgrims

Friar – makes his living by begging; hears Friar – makes his living by begging; hears confessions; meddles in secular mattersconfessions; meddles in secular matters

Merchant – a rich man; lends money for a Merchant – a rich man; lends money for a priceprice

Clerk – loves books and learning; sacrifices Clerk – loves books and learning; sacrifices taste for learningtaste for learning

Franklin – a prosperous man; loves Franklin – a prosperous man; loves pleasurepleasure

Five Guildsmen, Cook, ShipmanFive Guildsmen, Cook, Shipman

The PilgrimsThe Pilgrims Doctor – a satirical portrait; astrology; humorsDoctor – a satirical portrait; astrology; humors Wife of Bath – most well-known portrait; she Wife of Bath – most well-known portrait; she

knows what she wants and how to get itknows what she wants and how to get it Parson – an idealized portrait; attempts to live by Parson – an idealized portrait; attempts to live by

Christ’s exampleChrist’s example Plowman – a favorable portrait; an honest workerPlowman – a favorable portrait; an honest worker Miller – Chaucer detests; likes to tell coarse talesMiller – Chaucer detests; likes to tell coarse tales Manciple – a shrewd businessmanManciple – a shrewd businessman Reeve – like a bailiff; not honestReeve – like a bailiff; not honest

The PilgrimsThe Pilgrims

Summoner- Chaucer detests; Summoner- Chaucer detests; lecherouslecherous

Pardoner – a cunning deceptive man; Pardoner – a cunning deceptive man; sells indulgences; dishonestsells indulgences; dishonest

ImagesImages

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