Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales

Geoffrey ChaucerGeoffrey Chaucer

FastwriteFastwrite

What positive things did the church What positive things did the church do for people in midevil times? What do for people in midevil times? What negative things did they do? How has negative things did they do? How has the role of the church changed from the role of the church changed from midevil times to today? midevil times to today?

Geoffrey ChaucerGeoffrey Chaucer

Born in 1343 in LondonBorn in 1343 in London Middle Class: He was a page and Middle Class: He was a page and

personal attendant to nobility. personal attendant to nobility. Early poetry written in FrenchEarly poetry written in French Influenced by Dante, Boccacio: Influenced by Dante, Boccacio:

Poetry was usually read aloudPoetry was usually read aloud Canterbury Tales was written during Canterbury Tales was written during

the last 14 years of his life.the last 14 years of his life.

Middle AgesMiddle Ages

Society had 3 sections: Nobility, the Church, Society had 3 sections: Nobility, the Church, and everyone else.and everyone else.

4 Humors: Diseases were thought to be 4 Humors: Diseases were thought to be caused by one or another of 4 bodily caused by one or another of 4 bodily humors:humors: Blood: Sanguine, hot & moist like airBlood: Sanguine, hot & moist like air Black bile: cold dry like earth, melancholy humorBlack bile: cold dry like earth, melancholy humor Yellow bile: choleric, hot dry like fireYellow bile: choleric, hot dry like fire Phlegm: Phlegmatic, cold and moist like waterPhlegm: Phlegmatic, cold and moist like water

Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales

ChaucerChaucer Wrote in Middle English, which was uncommon and Wrote in Middle English, which was uncommon and

meant that more common people could read itmeant that more common people could read it Was a Catholic but viewed the Catholic church as Was a Catholic but viewed the Catholic church as

corruptcorrupt Was skilled at using adjectives to disguise the Was skilled at using adjectives to disguise the

obsceneobscene Viewed humanity as fallible but essentially good; Viewed humanity as fallible but essentially good;

corruption and power led to downfall of humanity.corruption and power led to downfall of humanity. Suggested that free will was stronger than destinySuggested that free will was stronger than destiny

Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales

Framework Story: One big story Framework Story: One big story holds many small onesholds many small ones Chaucer considered the first father of Chaucer considered the first father of

the short storythe short story Prologue: Gives the setting of the story, Prologue: Gives the setting of the story,

29 pilgrims travel to Canterbury at Easter 29 pilgrims travel to Canterbury at Easter time to visit the shrine to St. Thomas time to visit the shrine to St. Thomas Becket. Each character required to tell two Becket. Each character required to tell two stories.stories.

Literary termsLiterary terms

Midevil Romance:Midevil Romance: Female-Good manners, princess, Female-Good manners, princess, beautiful; The man would save the princess in beautiful; The man would save the princess in distressdistress

Dramatic Irony:Dramatic Irony: Opposite or twist that produces an Opposite or twist that produces an unexpected outcome…audience sees the twist, but unexpected outcome…audience sees the twist, but the character doesn’tthe character doesn’t

Exemplum:Exemplum: Moralized tale, narrative, human interest, Moralized tale, narrative, human interest, moralmoral

Satire:Satire: poke fun at something to bring about reform poke fun at something to bring about reformFabliaux:Fabliaux: Dirty story, focused on women or clergy Dirty story, focused on women or clergy