The Canterbury Tales

Reporters:

Jome Lalpo-ut

Reychel Paredes

EtymologyEngland name originally comes from he term “Land of the Angels” which was translated to Engla Land in old English.

Map Location

Some of England’s Iconic Spots

Westminster Palace Tower of London

Windsor Castle Stonehenge

European Literature European literature refers to the literature of

Europe. European literature includes literature in many

languages; among the most important of the modern written works are those in English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Polish, German, Italian, Modern Greek, Czech and Russian and works by the Scandinavians and Irish.

Important classical and medieval traditions are those in Latin, Ancient Greek, Old Norse, Medieval French and the Italian Tuscan dialect of the renaissance.

In colloquial speech, European literature often is used as a synonym for Western literature.

European literature is a part of world literature.

The Canterbury TalesThe goal of the

frame story is pretty clearly to tickle our funny bones and satirize the quirks of various pilgrims and social estates.

Geoffrey ChaucerGeoffrey Chaucer, is considered to be the father of English literature. According to a biographic entry posted by the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), “Chaucer was the first great poet writing in English.” He had held several diplomatic positions and had been sent by Edward III on various “diplomatic missions in France, Genoa, and Florence. 

in The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer writes about 29 pilgrims and their journey to Canterbury. The pilgrims engage in a story-telling competition in which each has to tell two stories on their way to Canterbury and two more on their way back. It is through these pilgrims and their tales that Chaucer allows the reader to catch snippets of the medieval life.

Literary Piece (Poem)BALLAD OF GENTLENESS

The firste stock-father of gentleness,What man desireth gentle for to be,

Must follow his trace, and all his wittes dress,Virtue to love, and vices for to flee;

For unto virtue longeth dignity,And not the reverse, safely dare I deem,

All wear he mitre, crown, or diademe.

This firste stock was full of righteousness,True of his word, sober, pious, and free,Clean of his ghost, and loved business,Against the vice of sloth, in honesty;

And, but his heir love virtue as did he,He is not gentle, though he riche seem,All wear he mitre, crown, or diademe.

Vice may well be heir to old richess,But there may no man, as men may well see,

Bequeath his heir his virtuous nobless;That is appropried to no degree,But to the first Father in majesty,

Which makes his heire him that doth him queme,All wear he mitre, crown, or diademe. 

Literary Analysis Each Character in the Canterbury Tales

represents a different segment of society in Chaucer’s time. By noting the virtues and faults of each, Chaucer provides Social Commentary. Writing that offers insight into society, its values and its customs.

Time and PlaceIn April, with the beginning of Spring in England

Characters

The Knight – The procession described in the general prologue, and history in the first in the sequence.

The Pardoner – Rides in the very back of the party. And is fittingly the most marginalized character in the company.

The Wife of Bath – Wife has a lot of experience under her belt.

ThemeChristianity