The Canterbury Tales

The Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer “The Father of English Poetry”

Chaucer’s Three Major Social Groups • Knighthood/Nobility: Knight, Squire • Educated people: Physician, Lawyer • Religious/Spiritual figures: Monk, Friar, Prioress, Summoner, Pardoner • *Chaucer criticizes the corruption/ greed/materialism of religious figures • *Chaucer praises the Parson • Toiling Agricultural classes: Middle class, merchants (cook, miller, reeve, wife of Bath, etc.)

Chaucer’s Medieval Dress Code • In Middle Ages, people had to dress according to social class • Wealthy men wore long tunics • Wealthy women wore long, flowing gowns (not designed for manual labor) • Knights (nobility) could wear fur and gold • Merchants COULD NOT wear fur • Poor- Clothes are old looking, stained, ragged, torn • Clothing style = personality

Medieval Dress Code • People wore layered outfits since homes were not warm and many spent time outdoors • Anyone below the rank of Knight could not wear fur • Women were forbidden from wearing silk head coverings • Members of the Holy Orders (nuns, priests, monks) wore habits that showed which order they belonged to

Social Dress Code: • Activity: Working with a partner, describe THREE different social groups you notice around Lakeland. • 1. Label the social group • Ex: Athletes, Thug, Punk, Emo, Socialite, Scholar • 2. Describe how they dress and explain what the clothing style says about the group’s personality, attitude, beliefs, regard for rules/authority, etc. • 3. Give example of how a person from each social group could break the stereotype in a surprising way • Ex: A “nerd” who loves designer labels Remember, these are stereotypes, so not every person is expected to behave according to these “social norms” of how they dress!

Knight’s Chivalric Code of Medieval England • To protect the weak and defenseless • To fear God and follow rules of the Church • To serve his Lord with valor and strength • To live by honor and for glory • To help orphans and widows • To fight for the welfare of all • Never turn down a challenge from an equal • Always respect the honor of women • To always speak the truth • Always protect a fellow knight • To show disdain for unfairness, rudeness, and meanness

Do-Now: Write in Journal for 5 min • The Knight is described as a character who is chivalrous, noble, and virtuous. What characteristics of “chivalry” do you think still exist in today’s society? • Describe some careers or groups of people who embody “chivalry” in our society.

Do-Now: Write for 5 min in Journal • What characteristics does Chaucer seem to criticize most in the characters he describes in “The Prologue”? • What characteristics does Chaucer seem to praise? • Which character is your favorite so far and why?

Character Analysis: • 1. Who does your character remind you of in everyday society? (It can be a group of people or one individual) Explain how/why. • 2. Which character do you think is the most similar to your character so far in The Canterbury Tales? • 3. Is you character someone YOU would befriend? Would you get along with your character?

Do-Now: Write for 5 min. in Journal • If you had the opportunity to take a “pilgrimage” to a place that is sacred or special to you, where would it be and why? What would you expect to gain from journeying to this place? (Insight, knowledge, adventure, etc.) Explain.

Do-Now: Write for 5 min in Journals • Which character do you like/enjoy the most? Explain why you relate to this character or enjoy Chaucer’s description of him/her. • What social group would this character fit into in today’s society if he/she went to Lakeland? Why?

Greed: Pardoner’s Tale • a. Have you ever been betrayed after telling someone a secret? Can you ever trust other people? Explain. • Describe the impact of greed in “The Pardoner’s Tale” using examples from the text and your own analysis.

The Allegory • Narratives that have both literal and deeper, symbolic meanings • Allegories tell a moral lesson, much like a fairy tale would • Can be found in poetry, novels, plays, and short stories • Exemplum: Serves as an example about preventing vices such as greed, selfishness, deception, etc. • Pardoner’s Tale is an allegory that acts as an exemplum about the sin of “greed”

Archetypal Narrative Storytelling Form • ALLEGORIES SHARE THE FOLLOWING TRAITS: • 1. Characters, events, and other things that come in threes • 2. A test of characters’ morality • 3. A mysterious guide who helps point the right way for a character • 4. A just ending that rewards good or punishes evil

Archetypal Story: The Pardoner’s Tale • Explain how the following traits were seen in “The Pardoner’s Tale” using examples from the reading. • 1. Characters, events, and other things that come in threes • 2. A test of characters’ morality • 3. A mysterious guide who helps point the right way for a character • 4. A just ending that rewards good or punishes evil

What Allegories can you think of?

The Knight • Appearance: Modestly dressed; wears a stained tunic with smudges from his armor • Indirect Char: Noble, respectful, distinguished, wise, honorable • Praise of Char: He is an honorable Knight • Character’s Actions: • Served nobly in 15 battles protecting England • Rode in Prussia, Lithuania, North Africa , Anatolia, etc. • Always killed his enemy in battle

Squire • Appearance: Young (20), Curly hair, average stature, strong, agile. Wears fresh flowers and colorful attire, short gown with long sleeves • Actions/Deeds: Fiery, lover, valiantly served with cavalry in battle in Flanders, Artois & Picardy ; knows how to joust, dance, and write • Indir. Char: He is passionate, valiant, educated, courteous • Praise/Flaw: Praised for being a good Knight in training and his father’s helper

Yeoman(A free man who owns his own farm) • Appearance: Wore a coat and hood of green; peacock-feathered arrow, gaudy attire; wears his bow, a medal of St. Christopher, a hunting-horn, etc. • Actions/Deeds: Good at woodcraft • Indir. Char: He is very ornate, gaudy, very prepared for an attack since he is armed at all times • Praise/Flaw: He is a good forester and helper of the Knight

Nun • Appearance: Elegant nose, gray eyes, small mouth, wide forehead, graceful attire with trinkets and beads, golden brooch • Actions/Deeds: High ranking nun, smiles very coyly, sings sermons well, speaks daintily in French, good manners and very polite, friendly to others, charitable to animals • Indir. Char: Polite, courtly, proper, sympathetic and sensitive, loving, dainty • Praise/Flaw: Praises her kind heart and good nature, but she is also into social status. She likes material possessions.

Monk(Supposed to live a chaste life with a vow of poverty and obedience) • Appearance: Manly, rides his horse with jingling bridle, wears fine furs, gold pin, fat, bald • Actions/Deeds: Loves to hunt, manly, doesn’t follow religious rules, likes to relax, friendly and jolly, rides a beautiful horse, likes to eat • Indir. Char: Modern, not strictly religious, sporty, rebellious, fun-loving, rich • Praise/Flaw: Praises his happy, relaxed demeanor. • Flaw: He is not serious enough for a Monk. He is too interested in sports and leisure rather than prayer

Friar • Appearance: Keeps his hood filled with pins for curls, white neck, strong, twinkling eyes • Actions/Deeds: He is jolly and festive as a beggar; deals with rich people to make deals; carries gifts to give to women; gets money from rich and poor people to earn profit • Indir. Char: Sweet-talker, smooth, friendly to rich townsfolk; fixes marriages; he absolves people of sins for a gift; sneaky; wealthy • Praise/Flaw: Flaw- he is an opportunist and is money-hungry, selfish, and ruthless. • Praise- he is the best beggar in town and a good money-maker

Merchant • Appearance: Beard, dressed well, wears a beaver’s hat and daintily buckled boots • Actions/Deeds: Acts like he is wealthy but is poor; brags of his deeds; negotiates well; loans, bargains, and exchanges currency • Indir. Char: Cares about appearances; has an ego; not frugal • Praise/Flaw: Flaw- he is not frugal and wastes his money for appearances • Praise- he is a good merchant

Oxford Cleric • Appearance: Skinny, hollow looking, serious, dressed modestly • Actions/Deeds: Studies diligently; reads Aristotle; doesn’t talk much; uses money to buy books • Indir. Char: Serious, frugal, anti-social; not given to worldly pleasures or fine things; respectful and quiet • Praise/Flaw: Praise- he is dignified and quiet; devoted to learning and gladly teaches others

Sergeant of the Law • Appearance: Dresses in a homely coat with a silken belt • Actions/Deeds: Practices law; draws up deeds for property ownership; talks wisely; studies cases of crimes • Indir. Char: Rich; good talker; smart and knowledgeable • Praise/Flaw: Praise- he is smart and retains facts about law and crime • Flaw- he can be long-winded and boring

Franklin (rich landowner) • Appearance: White beard, happy-looking; • Actions/Deeds: Loves to eat and drink; pleasure-seeker; opens his home to all; served as a Parliamentary representative and Sheriff • Indir. Char: Lives life to the fullest, generous, friendly, rich, hard-working • Praise/Flaw: Praise- he is a model citizen and hard worker and is generous as a host

Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter (guild) • Appearance: Dress nicely and are trim and fresh; knives made of pure silver • Actions/Deeds: Act wisely, good workers, social climbers, respect their wives wishes to run for office • Indir. Char: Sophisticated, wise, opportunists • Praise/Flaw: Praise- dignified and hard workers

Cook • Appearance: Has an ulcer on his knee • Actions/Deeds: Good cook- makes a good, thick soup and tasty pie • Indir. Char: Has a good reputation as a cook; not in good health • Praise/Flaw: Praise- good cook • Flaw- his bad knee

Skipper • Appearance: Wears a woolen gown and a dagger on a lanyard; tan skin, beard • Actions/Deeds: Rides a farmer’s horse poorly; shows no mercy on prisoners fighting overseas • Indir. Char: Ruthless, uncompassionate • Praise/Flaw: Praise- he is wise and never loses to an enemy; Flaw- he is heartless

Doctor • Appearance: Wears blood-red garments and fine silk taffeta • Actions/Deeds: Knowledgeable in astronomy, surgery, medicine; uses stars/astronomy to cure illnesses; prescribes medicines to cure the humors; loves gold • Indir. Char: Good doctor; knowledgeable; not religious; somewhat corrupt; wealthy, but stingy with money • Praise/Flaw: He uses stars and voodoo to cure patients, but doesn’t look at their condition; He is sinful and loves gold

Wife of Bath • Appearance: Gap-toothed, large hips, and partially deaf • wears nice fabric garments • wears a kerchief on her head • nice shoes • bold and attractive looking; red face • Actions/Deeds: Makes cloth skillfully; had 5 husbands; has travelled to Jerusalem, Rome, and other pilgrimages; dances; gives advice on love • Indir. Char: Adventurer, bold, saucy, loves men, friendly, talkative • Praise/Flaw: Praise- she is fun-loving and bold • Flaw: Hot-tempered; married many times

Parson • Appearance: Poor looking, • Actions/Deeds: Preaches God’s gospel; kind-hearted; very giving to parishioners; doesn’t like taking money from others; visits people in need; never judges people for their sins; a shepherd who watches over his flock • Indir. Char:Religious; good person; not materialistic and cares little for money; honest; good role model of piety and devotion • Praise/Flaw: Praise- he is the best parson/priest around. He is a perfect example of a virtuous, religious man

Plowman • Appearance: Wears a loose jacket, not dressed well; dirty from working the land • Actions/Deeds: Helps his brother, the Parson and is a good worker; follows the Gospel; loves God and others; helps the poor • Indir. Char:Honest and virtuous • Praise/Flaw: Praise- he is a good man who follows his religious beliefs and serves as a good example for others

Miller • Appearance: Heavy; stocky man; strong and brawny; red beard; nose has a wart; wide nostrils; wears a sword and buckler; big mouth • Actions/Deeds: He steals grain; likes to show off his strength- breaking down door hinges; wrestles well; tells stories of his corruption; plays bagpipes often • Indir. Char:He is a trouble-maker; prone to fighting; show-off; tough guy • Praise/Flaw: Flaw- he is corrupt and mischievous

Manciple • Appearance: (he’s not wealthy) • Actions/Deeds: In charge of buying/storing books and provisions for Court of Law; can’t read, but is not foolish; good decision-maker; frugal with money • Indir. Char: Very meticulous; careful; frugal; wise; good decision-maker • Praise/Flaw: Praise- he knows more than the educated people

Reeve • Appearance: Old, sickly, thin; short hair and beard; looks like a priest; thin legs • Actions/Deeds: Runs his master’s land; Stores grain neatly; judges crops/grain from rainfall; better bargainer than his lord; knowledgeable about farming • Indir. Char: Good farmer; hard-worker; smart and can’t be outwitted by others; serious/tough • Praise/Flaw: Praise- good worker and smart

Summoner • Appearance: Red-faced; face has boils; narrow eyes; thin beard; scary looking; wears a medallion and head wreath • Actions/Deeds: Lecherous, dirty man; loves to get drunk; talks in Latin when drunk; loud; likes garlic and wine; brings people to court for sins, but lets people pay him wine to absolve them of sleeping with concubines/girlfriends (sinful!) • Indir. Char: Immoral; doesn’t follow rules of order or law; indulgent/lavish; obnoxious • Praise/Flaw: Flaw- he is corrupt and dishonest • Praise- he is easy-going and nice to people

Pardoner • Appearance: Long hair as yellow as wax; bulging eyes; doesn’t wear a hood; wears a holy relic on his cap; no facial hair • Actions/Deeds: Rides with Summoner; just visited Rome; absolves people of sins for a fee; carries around false versions of Our Lady’s veil and a goblet of St. Peter’s and religious relics • Indir. Char: He is a liar; sneaky; loves money • Praise/Flaw: Flaw-he is corrupt and a liar • Praise- he acts like a nobleman and tells good stories

Host • Appearance: Bright eyes; heavy set; • Actions/Deeds: Serves fine food and wine; speaks boldly; talks of sport and funny things • Indir. Char: Friendly; warm to others; bold and blunt; merry; likes to be entertained; good leader • Praise/Flaw: Praise- he is a good host; likes to be amused and merry

The Canterbury Tales