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III. The Medieval Period

III. The Medieval Period. Introduction 1. the medieval mind—”post apocalyptic” 2. bad times / hard times. A. Introduction to Medieval Literature. The allegorical mind --seeing the great code --spiritual reality behind the physical world

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III. The Medieval Period

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  1. III. The Medieval Period • Introduction 1. the medieval mind—”post apocalyptic” 2. bad times / hard times

  2. A. Introduction to Medieval Literature • The allegorical mind --seeing the great code --spiritual reality behind the physical world • The concept of God in the medival culture • The concept (personification) of Death

  3. B. Chaucer: the Father of English Literature

  4. B. Chaucer • Biographical background • Father of English Literature—Why? a. b. c.

  5. B. Geoffrey Chaucer • The Canterbury Tales • The use of the “frame story” device 1. what it is 2. Chaucer’s Frame Story a. The frame is as important b. pilgrims are a cross section of med- ieval life

  6. The travelers at the Tabard Inn

  7. 3. The Canterbury Tales • The Art of the Canterbury Tales a. b. c.

  8. 4. The Prologue • Characters as types • Rich detail • Allegorical level of the pilgrims and their journey

  9. 5. The Pardoner’s Tale • What was a pardoner? 1. 2. • Chaucer’s Pardoner –a complete fraud

  10. 6. The Miller’s Tale • What is a miller? • The genre—fablieau • Two stock plots

  11. 7. The Reeve’s Tale • Response to the Miller • What is a reeve? • The unity of the tale’s theme with the frame’s theme

  12. 8. The Wife of Bath’s Tale

  13. 8. The Wife of Bath’s Tale • The Character of the Wife of Bath (what’s Bath?) 1. archetypal (Venus and Mars) 2. married five times (nos. 1, 2, and 3— elderly and dominated) no. 4—cheated, but she brought him back by pretending her own affair

  14. 8. Wife of Bath’s Tale (continued) no. 5—the only one she truly loved (he was young) and who made her miserable • worldly, honest, plain-spoken, sexual (uses it for pleasure and for power) • Fifth marriage (to Jankin) mirrors the marriage in the tale

  15. 8. Wife of Bath • The Tale 1. the tale mirrors the pilgrim 2. medieval romance 3. character of the knight (all men)--ugly

  16. 8. Wife of Bath’s Tale 3. character of the knight (all men)--ugly no honor no respect no gratitude no courage snobbish thinks only of self

  17. 8. Wife of Bath’s Tale 4. character of the old woman *reflection of the Wife *rebukes knight’s snobbery three ways: 5. Main theme of the Tale

  18. 8. Wife of Bath • Fairy Tale aspect a. b. Conclusion: What Makes Chaucer great?

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