the canterbury tales j.l. ilsley high school english 12 eras and ages
TRANSCRIPT
The Canterbury The Canterbury TalesTales
J.L. Ilsley High SchoolJ.L. Ilsley High School
English 12English 12
Eras and AgesEras and Ages
Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)1400)
WriterWriter PoetPoet DiplomatDiplomat EducatorEducator PhilosopherPhilosopher HusbandHusband FatherFather Father of English Father of English
LitLit
The BookThe Book
One of the original One of the original works of English works of English LiteratureLiterature
Chaucer was the Chaucer was the first to argue that first to argue that there there couldcould be a be a literature in literature in English, as opposed English, as opposed to Latin or Greek.to Latin or Greek.
The ManuscriptThe Manuscript
Published Published beforebefore the the printing pressprinting press
Hand-letteredHand-lettered
Illuminated Illuminated ManuscriptManuscript
Stylized initial Stylized initial lettersletters
The StoryThe Story
Pilgrimage to Pilgrimage to CanterburyCanterbury
Knight, Miller, Nun, Knight, Miller, Nun, Monk, Merchant, Monk, Merchant, Cook, Physician, Wife Cook, Physician, Wife of Bath, etc.of Bath, etc.
Stories while travelingStories while traveling
The LanguageThe Language Written in “Middle Written in “Middle
English”English”
Anglo-Saxon Anglo-Saxon (Germanic) with (Germanic) with Latin and French Latin and French thrown inthrown in
Wait till you hear it!
And prively he caughte hire by the queynte,
And seyde, "Ywis, but if ich have my wille,170 For deerne love of thee, lemman, I spille."
And heeld hire harde by the haunchebones,And seyde, "Lemman, love me al atones,Or I wol dyen, also God me save!"And she sproong as a colt dooth in the trave,
175 And with hir heed she wryed faste awey,And seyde, "I wol nat kisse thee, by my fey!Why, lat be," quod she, "lat be, Nicholas,Or I wol crie 'out harrow' and 'allas!'Do wey youre handes, for youre curteisye!"
180 This Nicholas gan mercy for to crye,
And spak so faire, and profred him so faste,
That she hir love hym graunted atte laste,
Ans swoor hir ooth, by seint Thomas of Kent,
That she wol been at his comandement,
185 Whan that she may hir leyser wel espie.
"Myn housbonde is so ful of jalousie
That but ye wayte wel and been privee,
I woot right wel I nam but deed," quod she.
"Ye moste been ful deerne, as in this cas."
190 "Nay, therof care thee noght," quod Nicholas.
"A clerk hadde litherly biset his whyle,
But if he koude a carpenter bigyle."
And thus they been accorded and ysworn
To wayte a tyme, as I have told biforn.
195 Whan Nicholas had doon thus everideel,
And thakked hire aboute the lendes weel,
He kiste hire sweete and taketh his sawtrie,
And pleyeth faste, and maketh melodie.
The Miller’s TaleThe Miller’s Tale After the Knight’s After the Knight’s
Tale (which was Tale (which was chivalrous)chivalrous)
He was drunkHe was drunk
He was naughtyHe was naughty
He was the comic He was the comic reliefrelief
The StoryThe Story Young woman Young woman
(Alison), rich older (Alison), rich older husband (John)husband (John)
Pretty girl, loved by Pretty girl, loved by the young men in the young men in the communitythe community
Seduced by Seduced by Nicholas, but also Nicholas, but also loved by Absolomloved by Absolom
The Miller’s Tale, The Miller’s Tale, ContinuedContinued
Nicholas dupes Nicholas dupes Alison’s husband by Alison’s husband by convincing him that convincing him that there is going to be a there is going to be a Biblical flood; the Biblical flood; the husband hides in a husband hides in a tub on the roof.tub on the roof.
Absolom serenades Absolom serenades Alison, but she isn’t Alison, but she isn’t interested. She and interested. She and Nicholas are cruel to Nicholas are cruel to him.him.
In the end…In the end… Nicholas gets the Nicholas gets the
girl, but also gets girl, but also gets “hurt”“hurt”
Absolom gets his Absolom gets his feelings hurtfeelings hurt
John falls off the John falls off the roof in his tub; roof in his tub; neighbours think neighbours think he’s nutshe’s nuts
Alison remains a hoAlison remains a ho
Let’s Read an Excerpt!Let’s Read an Excerpt!
Questions for Reading – Copy and Questions for Reading – Copy and complete for Wednesdaycomplete for Wednesday
How is Alison described in “The Miller’s Tale”? How is Alison described in “The Miller’s Tale”? (Include some of the animals and plants that (Include some of the animals and plants that Alison is compared to, and discuss her looks.)Alison is compared to, and discuss her looks.)
How does Absalom try to “woo” Alison?How does Absalom try to “woo” Alison? How does astrology feature in this story? Who How does astrology feature in this story? Who
makes predictions based on the stars? Who makes predictions based on the stars? Who believes them?believes them?
Cite a tricky line or passage from “The Miller’s Cite a tricky line or passage from “The Miller’s Tale.” What strategies did you use to make Tale.” What strategies did you use to make meaning?meaning?
What is the What is the themetheme of “The Miller’s Tale”? of “The Miller’s Tale”? What is Chaucer saying about marriage, What is Chaucer saying about marriage, youth, or love?youth, or love?
Works CitedWorks Cited
http://www.vmi.edu/fswebs.aspx?http://www.vmi.edu/fswebs.aspx?tid=34099&id=34337tid=34099&id=34337
http://www.librarius.com/cantales.htmhttp://www.librarius.com/cantales.htm http://www.wwnorton.com/college/http://www.wwnorton.com/college/
english/nael/noa/audio.htmenglish/nael/noa/audio.htm http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/
~chaucer/teachslf/milt-par.htm~chaucer/teachslf/milt-par.htm http://www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/http://www.umm.maine.edu/faculty/
necastro/chaucer/ct/milt/necastro/chaucer/ct/milt/