The Canterbury Tales

I. Geoffrey Chaucer

Son of vinter Held civil service positions Well-travelled Read English, Latin, Italian, and

French His work was popular He was praised for making

English suitable for poetry

II. The Tales Begun: 1386Begun: 1386 Planned: 120 talesPlanned: 120 tales Completed: 22 and 2 fragmentsCompleted: 22 and 2 fragments Remaining: 80 manuscriptsRemaining: 80 manuscripts Most highly decorated: Ellesmere ManuscriptMost highly decorated: Ellesmere Manuscript Variety of genres: general prologue is estates Variety of genres: general prologue is estates

satire satire Pilgrimage as a framing device for talesPilgrimage as a framing device for tales Conventional springtime openingConventional springtime opening ErnestErnest and and game – game – instruction and entertainmentinstruction and entertainment

III. Pilgrimage Very popular to go on pilgrimageVery popular to go on pilgrimage Pilgrims often want to Rome or JerusalemPilgrims often want to Rome or Jerusalem Canterbury CathedralCanterbury Cathedral: shrine to Thomas a : shrine to Thomas a

BecketBecket ReasonsReasons

Hope of heavenly rewardHope of heavenly reward PenancePenance PubsPubs

People went in groups for safetyPeople went in groups for safety

IV. The Three EstatesThose who work Those who fight Those who pray

V. Pilgrim descriptions

Show social rankShow social rank Show moral and spiritual conditionShow moral and spiritual condition Include many of the followingInclude many of the following

PhysiognomyPhysiognomy Clothes (array)Clothes (array) WorkWork HobbiesHobbies FoodFood HumourHumour

VI. Four Humours

Black bileBlack bile Cold and dry; earth; melancholyCold and dry; earth; melancholy

BloodBlood Hot and moist; air; sanguineHot and moist; air; sanguine

Yellow bileYellow bile Hot and dry; fire; cholericHot and dry; fire; choleric

PhlegmPhlegm Cold and moist; water; phlegmaticCold and moist; water; phlegmatic

VII. “Gentilesse”

The firste stok, fader of gentilesse—The firste stok, fader of gentilesse—

What man that desireth gentil for to beWhat man that desireth gentil for to be

Must folowe his trace, and alle his wittes dresseMust folowe his trace, and alle his wittes dresse

Vertu to love and vyces for to flee.Vertu to love and vyces for to flee.

For unto vertu longeth digniteeFor unto vertu longeth dignitee

And noght the revers, saufly dar I deme,And noght the revers, saufly dar I deme,

Al were he mytre, croune, or diademe.Al were he mytre, croune, or diademe.

Attribution

Sounds are from the Sounds are from the Chaucer Chaucer MetapageMetapage audio audio pagepage General Prologue: Alan BaragonaGeneral Prologue: Alan Baragona ““Gentilesse”: Alan BaragonaGentilesse”: Alan Baragona