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The Canterbury Tales

The Canterbury Tales. Geoffrey Chaucer. Medieval Era: The Courageous Knight (1066-1485). Characterization Norman Conquest (William the Conqueror) led to Feudal system (class consciousness) Class structure based on land holding Hierarchy of rights and obligations according to social status

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The Canterbury Tales

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  1. The Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer

  2. Medieval Era: The Courageous Knight (1066-1485) • Characterization • Norman Conquest (William the Conqueror) led to Feudal system (class consciousness) • Class structure based on land holding • Hierarchy of rights and obligations according to social status • Serfs worked the land/aristocrats owned the land • Power of the guilds (merchants/artisans) grew; new middle-class emerged

  3. Style • Rhymed verse in Middle English • Individual tales incorporate most of the genre of the day: • Exemplum (moral anecdote), beast fables, romances, fabliaux (metrical tale, ribald and humorous), saints’ legends, Arthurian tales, Bretonlai(brief, narrative poem/song), fairy tale • Representative of growing influence of Continental literature

  4. Background 1066 – The Norman (French) Conquest of England 1086 – Domesday Book, the Norman census and inventory 1096 – The Crusades begin 1170 – Thomas á Beckett is murdered 1215 – Magna Carta signed 1265 – First English Parliament 1300?- Sir Gawain is written 1476 – Caxton’s printing press begins operation in London 1485 – MorteD’Arthurpublished

  5. “Is Chivalry Dead?” • From brutality of the warrior of the Anglo-Saxon age evolved the courteous hero of the Middle Ages. • Chivalric Code reflects changes in society • Growth of religion • Development of loyalty • Rise of women’s status • “Rules of Courtly Love”

  6. What is a knight? • Romanticized View- “knights were bold and steeds were prancing” • Loyal, fearless, persevering, gentle, devout, and humble • Castles, shining armor, powerful steed, rescuing damsels in distress • Understanding the “literary” portrayal of a “hero” is essential before approaching Chaucer’s battle-scarred knight.

  7. Characteristics of Medieval Romance: The fantastic, unreal, supernatural (fighting of monsters) Chivalry (swearing oaths, honor, humility and courage, using bravery, manners and civility) Christian elements, quests

  8. Chaucer’s Bio: Born a member of the rising middle class Trained for career in the court of King Edward III Served in the army Held several government positions Married one of the ladies of the court Buried in Westminster Abbey in the Poet’s Corner

  9. Chaucer’s Works The Canterbury Tales – considered his greatest work One of the first books printed by William Caxton on England’s first printing press Worked nearly 10 years on the Tales Painted the verbal portraits of his pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Thomas á Becket Presented his observations posing as a companion pilgrim while at the same time satirizing and commenting on the people and problems of his age

  10. Discussion: Answer the following questions on the back of handout 11. • Has our opinion of valor and power changed or stagnated? • Society often sets an individual up as a hero when in reality he or she is not. Explain. • What actions in today’s society would be considered “chivalrous”? • What is the possible origin of the action?

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