The Murder of St. Thomas The Murder of St. Thomas Becket:Becket:

1.1. What was Becket’s position in the church? Who What was Becket’s position in the church? Who appointed him and what kind of power did he appointed him and what kind of power did he possess?possess?

2.2. What was Henry II’s goal in appointing Becket to What was Henry II’s goal in appointing Becket to the position he did?the position he did?

3.3. What did Becket do to anger the king?What did Becket do to anger the king?4.4. Why did the knights kill Becket? What happened Why did the knights kill Becket? What happened

to them?to them?5.5. Based on the article, what made Thomas Becket Based on the article, what made Thomas Becket

worthy of sainthood? Why do you think people worthy of sainthood? Why do you think people would embrace Becket and his tomb as a shrine?would embrace Becket and his tomb as a shrine?

Journal #1 - Journal #1 - Stereotypes Stereotypes

In In The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales Chaucer uses Chaucer uses stereotypes to describe his characters. He stereotypes to describe his characters. He thought it was human nature to judge thought it was human nature to judge people by their looks, or station in life people by their looks, or station in life even if we’re not prejudiced. Explain a even if we’re not prejudiced. Explain a time when you or someone you know time when you or someone you know was affected by stereotyping. What was affected by stereotyping. What happened? Why were you/they judged? happened? Why were you/they judged? How were you/they affected?How were you/they affected?

Introduction to Introduction to The Canterbury The Canterbury

TalesTales

““More often in life the More often in life the journey is more important journey is more important

than the destination.”than the destination.”

The Adventure The Adventure Begins…Begins…

It is It is AprilApril in in EnglandEngland and a group of and a group of 2929 people are on a pilgrimage people are on a pilgrimage

Going to visit the shrine of Going to visit the shrine of St. Thomas a St. Thomas a BecketBecket – people often went on these – people often went on these journeys to signify a “new beginning” and journeys to signify a “new beginning” and an absolvement of their sinsan absolvement of their sins

They are meeting at the They are meeting at the Tabard Inn Tabard Inn and and making a journey of roughly making a journey of roughly 80 miles 80 miles by by foot and horsebackfoot and horseback

The Shrine of St. Thomas The Shrine of St. Thomas BecketBecket

Why the stories?Why the stories? As a means of entertainment, the narrator As a means of entertainment, the narrator

((assumingly Chaucerassumingly Chaucer) suggests they have ) suggests they have a story-telling contest to help to pass the a story-telling contest to help to pass the timetime

Each person on the pilgrimage then tells a Each person on the pilgrimage then tells a story—some are true, some are fictionstory—some are true, some are fiction

Different genres: Different genres: romance, action, horror, romance, action, horror, crude comedies (fabliaux)crude comedies (fabliaux)

Pilgrims on the JourneyPilgrims on the Journey Chaucer uses Chaucer uses common stereotypes common stereotypes in order to depict in order to depict

the characters – for the most part his descriptions were the characters – for the most part his descriptions were cynical and full of sarcasmcynical and full of sarcasm

The genius of The genius of The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales is the is the development of each and every character and the fact development of each and every character and the fact that since it contains that since it contains characters from each of the three characters from each of the three common classescommon classes making it universal—the story of the making it universal—the story of the “everyman”“everyman”

People in the People in the 1414thth century century were obsessed with class, so were obsessed with class, so that person’s station in life determined the kind of that person’s station in life determined the kind of treatment and amount of respect they received. The treatment and amount of respect they received. The class system was known as the class system was known as the “feudal system” in “feudal system” in medieval times.medieval times.

The 14The 14thth Century Class Century Class SystemSystem The AristocratsThe Aristocrats: the highest level, : the highest level,

includes royalty, landowners & the includes royalty, landowners & the wealthywealthy

The ClergyThe Clergy: religious people; included : religious people; included priests, bishops, abbots, parson and priests, bishops, abbots, parson and clerks of the churchclerks of the church

The PeasantsThe Peasants: the lowest class of : the lowest class of people; the working class and servantspeople; the working class and servants

The AristocracyThe Aristocracy KnightKnight SquireSquire YeomanYeoman FranklinFranklin MillerMiller ReeveReeve

The ClergyThe Clergy NunNun MonkMonk FriarFriar ClericCleric ParsonParson SummonerSummoner PardonerPardoner

The PeasantsThe Peasants MerchantMerchant Wife of BathWife of Bath HostHost SkipperSkipper PlowmanPlowman

Vocabulary – Define the Vocabulary – Define the following:following: SundrySundry

MartyrMartyr ChivalryChivalry SquireSquire YeomanYeoman SedatelySedately FriarFriar PersonablePersonable SecularSecular

MaladyMalady PestilencePestilence SufficiencySufficiency TithesTithes RelicRelic PrevaricationPrevarication WrathWrath FabliauxFabliaux VintageVintage