The Canterbury Tales

1. The Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer

2. Fuedalism, black death, church • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCPp7XWZfHo • http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=FZBRdTSgjjI&feature=endscreen • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdA8DMISJ1o

3. Geoffrey Chaucer • Chaucer was middle class – wine merchant and customs soldier, • wrote in middle English, • has a great sense of humor / irony – he hates pretense in people. • Read Snapshot of an Age p100-101 • Read Before you read p103

4. The Prologue • “The Prologue” introduces the tales and describes each of the Pilgrims. • April – people go to Canterbury to receive blessings of “the holy blissful martyr” – St. Thomas a’Becket’s shrine was supposed to have healing qualities • Narrator – Chaucer – in Southmark at the Tabard Inn awaiting the next day’s journey • 29 people came to the inn – Canterbury pilgrims – each are described briefly • Game for the trip – all will tell 2 stories going and 2 coming back. • The host will select the best one – winner wins a dinner. If all told, there would be 120 stories • Host accompanies group to judge best stories

5. Read Intro page 105 and stop at 106 with The knight

6. The Knight • Aristocracy • Head of a manor in feudal system – protector of weak … • Perfect, genteel, truthful, brave, he is a distinguished man in all ways. He fought in the crusades, rode good horses but dressed plainly: thick cotton coat which was stained by his breastplate. He had come directly from travels • He is going to Canterbury for religious reasons • Chaucer see him as the ideal of chivalry – modest, considerate, and well-mannered • General in military forces

8. The Squire • Aristocracy • The knight’s son, a candidate for knighthood – the knight’s attendant • He is 20, wears flashier clothes, average height, agile, strong, he is proud of his appearance, especially his curly hair and clothes. He sings and composes his own songs and poetry, plays the flute, dresses in a short cloak with long wide sleeves covered with flowers. Rides excellently Sees himself has a lady’s man • Motive – to socialize and meet girls • Chaucer’s attitude – too self- oriented, like all young men – not as wise as his father • Modern equivalent – officer in the military

10. Yeoman • Peasant class • Knight and Squire’s servant • Real Forrester and woodsman, dressed all in green. Carries various weapons (arrows, bow, sword, hunter’s horn, dagger ..)He wears a Christopher medal on his breast – brown complexion short hair • Motive – he is religious, but probably going to serve the Knight and squire • Chaucer sees him as a man you can count on and depend on – always prepared • Foot soldier

12. The PrioressMadame Eglantine • Clergy • Mother Superior of a nunnery – in charge of all the other nuns • Genteel lady excellent manners, has dogs and feeds them well, cries at the sight of pain, wears a gold brooch inscribed (in Latin) “love conquers all” and other jewelry Has a high forehead and puts on the airs of courtly grace. • Motive – probably social • Chaucer sees her as hypocrite with a shallow dedication to her religious duties – she appears unfeeling to those less fortunate • Mother Superior of a nunnery

14. The Prioress is accompanied by another nun (her secretary) and three priests

16. Monk • Clergy • A member of a religious order who has taken vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. This monk supervises the monastery’s estates. Male equivalent of a nun • Loves hunting, good horses and dogs, is fat, has protruding eyes, bald, wears a rare gold pin to fasten his hood, nice boots, fur lined sleeves, tan, loved roasted swan, likes the women. • Social • The monk is a hypocrite but a lot of fun – he neglects his religious duties and indulges in what he wants – not a true monk. • A monk

18. FriarHubert • Clergy • Friars do not live in monasteries, they go out in the world as beggars to preach, help the poor, and cure the sick. One of his duties is to hear confessions and absolve or forgive them with a penance or penalty of prayer, or doing good works. • Has affairs with girls, gets them pregnant, and then marries them off. He believes in money for penance rather than prayer. He frequents taverns more than the poor • To make money – sell penances - social • The lowest of the low – he would take a poor woman’s last coin – instead of helping the poor, he takes advantage of them • Friar

20. Merchant • Middle class • Merchants function as professionals who deal with trade, dealing in commodities that they do not produce themselves • Forked beard, clothes of varied colors, beaver hat, boots neatly fastened, sat proudly on his horse, was opinionated, but he was secretly in debt • To make connections or social • Greedy • Independent store owner

21. Plowman • Peasant class • Tenant farmer – feudalism – perhaps a serf • Description – honest worker, hard worker, does the dirty jobs, helps others, tithes, Parson’s brother. He lived in peace and perfect charity • Motive - religious • Attitude – admires and respects him – what a good honest Christian man should be • Modern Equivalent – poor farmer – tenant farmer

22. Parson • Clergy (peasant) • Parish priest • Very poor, learned, discreet, diligent, patient, kind, fair, generous to the poor, He sets the example for hi parish; gives half his salary away to the needy, does not exact tithes from the poor parishioners, and lives the example before he preaches it. Refuses to make money from church rituals, stays home and watches over his flock • Religious • A true, honorable Christian • An honest small town preacher

23. Miller • Peasant class • A person who operates a mill, a machine to grind a cereal crop to make flour. Milling is among the oldest of human occupations. • Description – big guy. “broad, knotty, and short-shouldered,” strong, red beard, white coat and blus hood, wart on his nose with thick has coming out of it, plays the bag pipe • Motive - social • Attitude – he’s dishonest and cheats people, a boisterous, un-ethical, loud mouth. • Modern Equivalent – miller – working in a factory/ running equipment

24. Manciple • Middle class • He is in charge of the household affairs (property, finances, or other affairs) of the Inner Temple (one of 4 law schools) • Description – uneducated, outwits and makes money off the lawyers he serves • Motive - social • Attitude – dishonest, shrewd, but clever • Modern Equivalent – butler or overseer

25. Reeve • Middle • Manager of an estate whomakes sure that serfs/workers completed their labor on the lord's land. He can impose fines on them if they don’t. • Description – beard shaved close, hair cut round his ears and clipped short in front, legs long and lean. Rode last was once a carpenter, Tenants are afraid of him – wealthier than the lord he serves. • Motive - social • Attitude – dishonest but never been caught – rides last because he trusts no one • Modern Equivalent – foreman or estate mamange on a farm or factory

26. Summoner • Clergy • A Summoner was a man who delivered summonses for alleged public sinners (specifically premarital sex) to appear at the church’s court when accused of public immorality. • Description – fiery-red babyish face covered in white pimples and bumps, close set eyes, infection around his eyebrows, a moth-eaten beard, wine caused him to speak and shout like a madman. Children were afraid of him – stupid but talks Latin to impress people. Loans hi mistress out and is easily bribed (wine). Eats garlic, onions, and leeks. When Chaucer says he’s “friendly and kind, you couldn’t find a better fellow’ he’s being very ironic. • Motive – money, social • Attitude – immoral, frightening, unethical, and stupid • Modern Equivalent – a court official who serves a subpoena

27. Pardoner • Clergy • A medieval ecclesiastic authorized to raise money for religious works by granting papal indulgences to contributors . (Indulgences were sold by the Church to cancel out or remit part of or all of the time that the soul was to spend in purgatory. In this way the person was pardoned for his/her sins.) • Description – Hair is waxy yellow gathered into small bunches on top, it hung thinly spread over his shoulders. Eyes glared, voice small and goat-like, he was beardless. Just returned from Rome with a bag full of pardons – sells false relics – hoodwinks poor people - sings • Motive - money • Attitude – completely unscrupulous – most corrupt of clergy – seems perverted if not impotent – “unmanlike” • Modern Equivalent – corrupt evangelist

28. Host – Harry Bailey • Middle class • Owns the Tabard Inn and will judge the story contest • Description- large / jolly man – very social and playful • Motive – to make money – social (may do this all the time • Attitude - fine • Modern Equivalent – tour director

29. Wife of Bath • Middle class • Weaver, seamstress, horsewoman, professional wife • Jolly, middle aged, she wants to always be first. Her kerchiefs weigh at least ten pounds and he nose is scarlet red. Her face is bold, fair, and red. She has had five husbands and many young men in her youth. She has made many other pilgrimages and enjoys traveling. Gap-toothed, large-hipped, laughs, jokes, knows all the remedies of love, and freely gives advice. • Social • Has a little too much self importance but overall fun company – • Feminist – “cougar”

30. Cook • Trade class • A chief for the guildsmen – traveling for them • He is a master of his trade; he boils chickens with the bones and with flavoring powder and spice; he drank a a lot and had a large sore on his shin. The pus from the sore reminds Chaucer of the white sauce in his best dish of creamed chicken pie. • Job/employment • Gross – wouldn’t want to eat his food due to his running sore. • Cook

31. Oxford Cleric – Student church • Student – working on MA to someday enter the service of the church • Thin clothes almost in rags because he buys books instead of clothes and food. Is quiet, but when he does speak, he does so with dignity and moral virtue. • Knowledge • An honorable man; much admired by the other people on the pilgrimage. Honest • Student at seminary.