The Medieval Period 1066-1485

1. Canterbury Tales, Middle English and Chaucer The Medieval Period1066-1485

2. Medieval Period The Middle Ages Spans from 500 – around 1500 A.D. Begins with the collapse of the Roman Empire Also referred to as Dark Ages or Medieval Period Enormous variation in lifestyle, literacy, technology, community organization and values between the early and High Middle Ages We will be concentrating on the latter Medieval Period 1066-1485

3. Life in the Middle Ages Homes of the peasants • very small, cold, damp and dark • Typically only 1 or 2 rooms the whole family shared • For protection from weather /enemies windows were very small openings with wooden shutters • Thatched roofs that were easily destroyed

4. Homes of the Wealthy • More elaborate • Floors were paved or tiled • Tapestries on walls for decoration and warmth • Could afford panes of glass for windows • Big fireplaces, kitchens separate from house to minimize fire hazards

5. Peasants Poor and wealthy both wore wool Peasant men wore tunics Women wore long gowns and sleeveless tunics For outside: cloaks, hats, mittens Outer clothes never laundered Undergarments washed regularly Wealthy Brighter colors, better materials, and a longer jacket length were signs of wealth Elaborate and always changing to fit latest fashion Women wore flowing gowns and elaborate headdresses Fur and jewelry Clothing

6. Noble clothing

7. Health As the populations of cities and towns grew, hygienic conditions worsened • Medical knowledge limited (no health care system) • Many superstitions about health, • Thought disease spread by bad odors • Disease came from sins of the soul; many believed the plague to be divine retribution for sins. • Believed illness could be cured from prayer, meditation and pilgrimages

8. Knights and Chivalry • “Chivalry” comes from French word for horse (cheval) and mounted warrior (chevalier) • Medieval warrior-code: a good knight must be bold and fearless on the battlefield, devout (Christian) and tenderhearted off of it • Expected to be brave to the point of recklessness • Point of honor to never fail the lord or avoid a challenge • Enemy must be treated as an equal • Refuse to strike an unarmed or unprepared foe

9. Makes the knightly warrior as devout and tenderhearted towards women as he was bold and fearless on the battle field Back in the day Right here today • The conduct of well-mannered and sensitive men toward women • The ideals associated with chivalry paved the way for the romantic era and the common idea of romance

10. The Anglo-Normans favored romance • Chivarly+Love+Enchantment = Romance • Ideals of romance came from 3 principal sources • Britain—King Arthur • France—Charlemagne • Rome—Troy

11. Thomas a Becket •An Anglo-Saxon who adopts Norman ways and eventually becomes Archbishop of Canterbury Defends the ideals of the church against King Henry II Is murdered by the King’s knights Becomes a saint of the church and a hero of the people

12. 1340-1400 • Note how it is written in Middle English (MedRendirectory.com)

13. The Life and Times of Chaucer • Acclaimed as, “The Father of English literature” • Founder and embellisher of ornate eloquence • We are indebted to him for the most vivid contemporary description of 14th century England

14. The In's and Out's of Chaucer • He served his country loyally: • courtier, diplomat, civil administrator and translator • His mastery of Latin, French and Italian played an important factor in his development as a writer.

15. The How and Why's of Chaucer • Chaucer spoke in late Middle English • By using this instead of French in his writing he added tremendously to its prestige • The Canterbury Tales was Chaucer’s most ambitious and masterful work, but he died before he completed the tales • Chaucer died in 1400 and was buried in Westminster Abbey • He was the first English poet to be buried in what has come to be known as Poets Corner.

16. Let's Take a Look at Middle English Middle English Our Fadir that art in heuenes Halewid be thi name Thi Kingdom comme to Bi Thi wille done as in heuen so in erthe Gyve to us this dai oure breed ouer other substance And forgyve to us oure dettis As we forgyven to oure dettouris And leede us not in to temptacioun But delyvere us fro yvel Early Modern English Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our dayly bread, And forgyve us our trespasses, Even as we forgyve those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation But delivere us from evil

17. Geoffrey Chaucer The Canterbury Tales

18. The Canterbury Tales • Referred to as the first collection of short stories • Written in poetry rather than prose • Uses rhymed pairs of five-beat iambic lines • In it’s simplest form: • De Dum De Dum De Dum De Dum De Dum • Note how the emphasis is on the second beat • A real-life example: • For I’ll refer me to all things of sense • Count the pair of beats, again the emphasis on the 2nd beat • For I'll refer me to all things of sense • Think you understand—you should be able to write your own sentence using five-beat iambic lines

19. The Canterbury Tales At actual page from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Written entirely in Middle English Prologue is considered the best picture of life in the 14th century A masterpiece of vivid and realistic writing

20. What are The Canterbury Tales? • About pilgrim’s going on a pilgrimage, long journey, to Canterbury • Each pilgrim was to tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and two on the journey back to London • Chaucer died before he completed the stories • This leaves us with 24 stories, out of the 124 he intended to write • It survives in ten fragments; there are no explicit connections between these or any real indication of the order in which Chaucer intended that they should be read

21. The Canterbury Tales Cont. • Through the tales Chaucer represents all aspects of the human condition through his pilgrims • His tone goes from comic to ironic to satirical • Throughout the tales he remains a genial and warm-hearted person who has sympathy for his fellow human beings. • The basic premise for the tales was to demonstrate the human condition of the 14th century through a myriad of characters

22. Canterbury Cathedral A pilgrimage scene from a stained glass window inCanterbury Cathedral.

23. The End • Best, Michael. Shakespeare's Life and Times. Internet Shakespeare Editions, University of Victoria: Victoria, BC, 2001-2005. <http://ise.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/>. Visited October 25, 2008. • MedRendirectory.com, (http://special.lib.gla.ac.uk/exhibns/chaucer/works.html)