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Literature in the Middle Ages

Literature in the Middle Ages. Canterbury Tales and Romance. Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales. The Princess Bride. The Canterbury Tales. Collection of narrative poems Historical and social significance: Provides a snap shot of medieval England. The pilgrimage. Was like a vacation

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Literature in the Middle Ages

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  1. Literature in the Middle Ages Canterbury Tales and Romance

  2. Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales The Princess Bride

  3. The Canterbury Tales • Collection of narrative poems • Historical and social significance: • Provides a snap shot of medieval England

  4. The pilgrimage • Was like a vacation • A place where people could be healed • Salvation • Significance of Canterbury

  5. The importance of CBT • Made English language acceptable as a language of literature. • England was a nation of 3 languages

  6. Chaucer’s characters • Characters are all types, named by profession • They are not so much individuals, but representatives of their social class or degree and profession • Fall into three main degrees • Those who worked • Those who prayed • Those who fought

  7. Chaucer’s use of characterization • Perfected the art of characterization • Two basic methods: direct and indirect • Direct characterization: the writer makes explicit statements about a character • Indirect characterization: the writer reveals a character through his or her words, thoughts, and actions and through what other characters think and say about that character • For example, the description of the • Knight, who was a “true and perfect knight” • Chaucer tells us exactly what he wants us • to know

  8. Methods of indirect characterization • Describing how character looks and his attire • Presenting character’s words and actions • Revealing character’s private thoughts • Showing how other characters respond to the character

  9. Chaucer’s indirect characterization • Relies on physiognomy • Belief that a person’s physical characteristics reveal his/her personality • Example: “A fine young squire…with locks as curly as if they had been pressed…He was embroidered like a meadow bright”

  10. Physiognomy Gap-toothed Wife of Bath – the medieval audience knew this meant she was “well traveled.” The high forehead of the Prioress was a hint to the Medieval audience that she was very concerned with her social rank.

  11. Medieval Literary Genres • Courtly Romance = stories of chivalry • Saint’s Legend = story told to educate listeners in the Catholic faith • Exemplum = story told to illustrate the main ideas of a sermon • Fabliau = story told by a common man involved in gross or indecent events • Fable = story told by animals who represent common human failings and ends with a moral

  12. Drama of Middle Ages • Began in the church • Miracle plays = based on saints’ legend • Mystery plays = based on Biblical history • Morality plays = allegories where people represent individual vices and virtues • Taken over by guilds • Very popular and moved outside of church

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