Middle Ages-

The Canterbury Tales

The Medieval PeriodThe Medieval Period

The period historically begins with the The period historically begins with the Norman conquest of 1066.Norman conquest of 1066.

The Normans were superb soldiers, The Normans were superb soldiers, excellent administrators and lawyers, excellent administrators and lawyers, great borrowers and adopters, but lacked great borrowers and adopters, but lacked creativity and inventiveness.creativity and inventiveness.

The Medieval PeriodThe Medieval Period

In systems of government and in artistic In systems of government and in artistic design, the Anglo-Saxons were more design, the Anglo-Saxons were more advanced than the Normans.advanced than the Normans.

William of Normandy introduced the feudal William of Normandy introduced the feudal system, based on landholding by a great noble system, based on landholding by a great noble or king who “rented” the land out in return for or king who “rented” the land out in return for allegiance and military service.allegiance and military service.

This resulted in many property disputes.This resulted in many property disputes.

The Medieval PeriodThe Medieval Period

To alleviate the problem, in 1086 an To alleviate the problem, in 1086 an inventory of all property was drawn up by inventory of all property was drawn up by the order of William and collected in the the order of William and collected in the Domesday BookDomesday Book, which listed all , which listed all landowners and their claims.landowners and their claims.

This was used to settle disputes and to This was used to settle disputes and to tax subjects.tax subjects.

The Medieval PeriodThe Medieval Period

During William’s reign, English common During William’s reign, English common law evolved, and the medieval church law evolved, and the medieval church spread its influence.spread its influence.

From papal proclamation came the From papal proclamation came the Crusades, which engendered that ideal Crusades, which engendered that ideal of knightly behavior we call chivalry.of knightly behavior we call chivalry.

The Medieval PeriodThe Medieval Period

The Medieval Era has been The Medieval Era has been characterized as a period when “knights characterized as a period when “knights were bold and steeds were prancing.”were bold and steeds were prancing.”

The feudal system established a basis for The feudal system established a basis for class structure and class consciousness.class structure and class consciousness.

The Medieval PeriodThe Medieval Period

In In The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales, Chaucer , Chaucer immortalized the chivalric knight and, in immortalized the chivalric knight and, in the earliest example of British satiric wit, the earliest example of British satiric wit, made fun of the society’s people.made fun of the society’s people.

Next came the Next came the romanceromance. It added love . It added love interests, unusual characters and strange interests, unusual characters and strange situations to tales of chivalry.situations to tales of chivalry.

The Medieval PeriodThe Medieval Period

Sir Gawain & the Green KnightSir Gawain & the Green Knight, the major , the major English medieval romance, uses stylized English medieval romance, uses stylized metrical structure.metrical structure.

Malory’s Malory’s Morte D’ArthurMorte D’Arthur (the first major (the first major prose work in English) uses the subject prose work in English) uses the subject matter of the romances, as well as matter of the romances, as well as historical accounts, folk legends, and historical accounts, folk legends, and previous writings. previous writings.

The Medieval PeriodThe Medieval Period

Ballads Ballads - Rhymed verse in Middle - Rhymed verse in Middle English became the first major type.English became the first major type.

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales incorporates most incorporates most of the genres of the day.of the genres of the day.

The Medieval PeriodThe Medieval Period

Miracle plays based on stories of the Miracle plays based on stories of the saints and sacred history were also saints and sacred history were also popular.popular.

The Morality Plays of the fifteenth and The Morality Plays of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries developed from sixteenth centuries developed from Miracle Plays.Miracle Plays.

Background on Chaucer…Background on Chaucer…

1343(?)-14001343(?)-1400 Born into middle class familyBorn into middle class family In 1359 while serving in English In 1359 while serving in English

army, he is captured and held for army, he is captured and held for ransomransom

Begins writing in his 20’sBegins writing in his 20’s Wrote C.T. in his later years, no one Wrote C.T. in his later years, no one

knows exactly whenknows exactly when His ispiration for the stories may His ispiration for the stories may

have come from his own pilgrimage have come from his own pilgrimage to Canterbury (& Boccaccio)to Canterbury (& Boccaccio)

Considered the greatest English poetConsidered the greatest English poet Buried in Westminster Abbey, in Buried in Westminster Abbey, in

London, in Poet’s CornerLondon, in Poet’s Corner Chaucer’s gravesite in Westminster Abbey (Poet’s Corner)

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer was born a member of Geoffrey Chaucer was born a member of the rising middle class in the 15the rising middle class in the 15thth century. century.

He was trained for a career in the court, He was trained for a career in the court, serving in the army, holding several serving in the army, holding several government positions, and eventually government positions, and eventually marrying one of the ladies of the court.marrying one of the ladies of the court.

He is buried in Westminster Abbey in the He is buried in Westminster Abbey in the Poet’s Corner.Poet’s Corner.

Geoffrey ChaucerGeoffrey Chaucer

120 tales were originally planned, two 120 tales were originally planned, two told by each pilgrim on the way and two told by each pilgrim on the way and two on the return trip.on the return trip.

Only 22 tales and two fragments were Only 22 tales and two fragments were completed before his death.completed before his death.

Geoffrey ChaucerGeoffrey Chaucer

He presented observations as a companion He presented observations as a companion pilgrim, making fun of and commenting on the pilgrim, making fun of and commenting on the people and problems of his age.people and problems of his age.

In the character portraits of the Prologue, In the character portraits of the Prologue, Chaucer reveals the paradoxes of human life.Chaucer reveals the paradoxes of human life.

He exposes the best and worst of human He exposes the best and worst of human nature in both historical and personal context.nature in both historical and personal context.

Archbishop BecketArchbishop Becket Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170 by four Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170 by four

knights of Henry II.knights of Henry II. The reigning king had put Becket into the The reigning king had put Becket into the

current Archbishop role.current Archbishop role. However, Becket was taking his position more However, Becket was taking his position more

seriously than the King wanted and refused to seriously than the King wanted and refused to do “unchristian” deeds, as the King requested.do “unchristian” deeds, as the King requested.

According to some accounts, in a fit of passion According to some accounts, in a fit of passion (and drunkenness), the King said, “By the eyes (and drunkenness), the King said, “By the eyes of God, is there not one who will deliver me from of God, is there not one who will deliver me from this low born priest?”this low born priest?”

Archbishop BecketArchbishop Becket

Thinking the King wished Becket dead, Thinking the King wished Becket dead, four knights went to Canterbury four knights went to Canterbury Cathedral and killed Becket while he was Cathedral and killed Becket while he was praying on the alter.praying on the alter.

He was canonized in 1174.He was canonized in 1174. Citizens of Great Britain, like those in Citizens of Great Britain, like those in TheThe

Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales, took trips to pay , took trips to pay homage to the bishop.homage to the bishop.

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales

Chaucer’s greatest work was Chaucer’s greatest work was The The Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales..

One of the first books printed by William One of the first books printed by William Caxton (inventor of the printing press).Caxton (inventor of the printing press).

Frame StoryFrame Story

A A frame storyframe story is a narrative technique whereby a is a narrative technique whereby a main story is composed, at least in part, for the main story is composed, at least in part, for the purpose of organizing a set of shorter stories, each purpose of organizing a set of shorter stories, each of which is a of which is a story within a storystory within a story. .

Often frame stories are organized as a gathering of Often frame stories are organized as a gathering of people in one place for the exchange of stories. people in one place for the exchange of stories. Each character tells his or her tale, and the frame Each character tells his or her tale, and the frame tale progresses in that manner. tale progresses in that manner.