canterbury tales eng 273: world literature. history written by geoffrey chaucer (1343-1400)...
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CANTERBURY TALESENG 273: World Literature
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History• Written by Geoffrey Chaucer
(1343-1400)• “Father of English Literature”
• Written in Middle English• Established Vernacular as a
Legitimate Language for Writing• Previously Latin, French
• Depicts Medieval English Society• Social Stratification• Christianity
• Including Corruption
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Canterbury• Pilgrimage was very important
during the Middle Ages• Rome, Jerusalem• Display of faith (and a vacation)
• Canterbury was a popular destination for the English because it was nearby
• The location includes a shrine to “Saint” Thomas Becket • Archbishop of Canterbury• Murdered in the cathedral in 1170
due to conflict with King Henry II• Canonized as a Saint by the Pope
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Three Estates• Nobility
• Represented by the Military
• Clergy
• Laborers
• The Canterbury Tales is an “estates satire”• Attempts to highlight the
negative aspects of the social system with humor
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Changes in the English Language• Old English
• Beowulf• https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooj25_j3k1E
• Middle English• The Canterbury Tales
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahuT-JwxIa8
• Elizabethan English• Shakespeare
• Modern English
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Plot• 29 Pilgrims are on their way to
Canterbury in April
• The meet at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, England
• The Narrator joins them• He describes each one
• The Host suggests a storytelling contest on the way to and from Canterbury• Each Pilgrim will tell two stories each way• The winner would receive a meal paid for
by the rest of the group when they get back
• The Host agrees to go along to judge the contest
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Plot Continued• Prologue
• Introduces the idea of the pilgrimage• Introduces the Narrator• Introduces each of the characters• Introduces the storytelling contest
• Individual Stories• Prologue
• Gives more information about the character
• Story• Many different forms, messages, etc.
• There are 24 stories total – the work is unfinished
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Characters• Narrator (Chaucer?)
• Introduces the other characters in order of social status (Nobility, Clergy, Laborer)
• Knight• His Son the Squire• Yeoman
• Prioress (Madame Eglantine)• Nun and Priest
• Monk• Friar (Hubert)
• Friars are beggars
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Characters Continued• Merchant• Oxford Student• Man of Law• Franklin• Five Guildsmen
• Haberdasher, Carpenter, Weaver, Dyer, Tapestry-Maker
• Cook• Skipper• Physician• Wife of Bath
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Characters Continued• Parson• Plowman (Parson’s Brother)• Miller• Manciple
• In charge of the purchase and storage of food at places like universities or monasteries
• Reeve• Chief Magistrate in an area
• Summoner• Delivers charges to people who were
accused of wrongdoing by the church
• Pardoner• Sells Indulgences
• Tavern Host (Harry Bailly)
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Key Themes• Significance of Courtly Love
• Christian Ideals versus Worldly Values
• Corruption in Christianity
• Social Roles in Medieval England
• Tension between how the character should fulfill his/her social role and how he/she behaves• How Physical Description Reveals
Character Traits
• Duty of Pilgrimage versus Pleasure of Story Telling• Destination versus Journey