the canterbury tales
TRANSCRIPT
Metrical Tale
a long narrative poem which tells about the lives of ordinary people;
has element of realism; and
told in first person.
Metrical Romance
embodies the ideals of the medieval times (age of chivalry)
talks about the lives and adventures of the nobility, of chivalry and knighthood
Presentation by Katrin Lutao
The Canterbury
Tales
Geoffrey Chaucer
c. 1343-1400 Wrote in the vernacular Served as a soldier, government servant,
and member of Parliament First writer buried in Westminster Abbey
Family
By 1366 Chaucer had married Philippa Pan, who had been in service with the Countess of
Ulster.He had two sons and two
daughters.
Poet’s Corner
England in the Middle Ages
The Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) was the first national war waged by England.
England in the Middle Ages
The Black Death (1348-1349) brought the end of the Middle Ages.
England in the Middle Ages
Lower, middle, and upper-middle classes developed in the cities.
The Orders of Medieval Society
The Tabard Inn
Canterbury Cathedral became a site for pilgrims to offer prayers to St. Thomas.
Today, a modern cross made from swords marks the site of the martyrdom.
A close-up of the altar.
Wife of Bath
excellent seamstress and weaver;
married 5 times; with aggressive
feminism; in fancy/colorful
clothes: scarlet red stockings;
amorous
Stylistic Elements
Frame NarrativeThe Canterbury Tales is a collection of
stories that all fit within one single narrative Narrative Voice
While the tales themselves are narrated by different characters, a scribe writes them down. Various Literary Genres
Chaucer presents many types of literary work: romance, fabliaux, saint story, parable, dialectical discourse, lays, and sermon.
Historic Elements
The pilgrims in Chaucer’s work are truly a motley group. The Canterbury Tales represents a vast representation of people and occupations from the late Middle Ages in England.
The Catholic Church was suffering from corruption, particularly from offences highlighted in The Canterbury Tales, including selling of indulgences and other individual transgressions.
Historic Elements
Ravages of the Black Plague in the 13th and 14th centuries increase the property – and prosperity of farmers. Perpetual need for workers leads to commuting labor force.
Recall that Thomas à Becket was murdered because he refused to appease Henry II by petitioning Rome to get rid of the ecclesiastic courts – or at least to put Henry in charge of them.
Sources
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Poets_corner.jpg/250px-Poets_corner.jpghttp://www.ponyhide.com/mychaelbarratt/graphics/newwork/18.3.11/The-Canterbury-Tales.htmlhttp://molcat1.bl.uk/treasures/caxton/Recordhttp://www.bestfunfacts.com/literature.html