Geoffrey Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales Mrs. Postin English IV

Geoffrey Chaucer • Born around 1343 in London • Son of a middle- class wine merchant • Became a page in the royal household when he was a teenager. • Mundane jobs BUT- he was exposed to proper speech, manners, and the shortcomings of the upper-class.

Geoffrey Chaucer • In his twenties, Chaucer was appointed as a court official, and he continued to hold government posts for the rest of his life. • Throughout his life Chaucer held posts as: • Soldier • Courtier (often in company of royalty, wanting favor) • Royal emissary to Europe (representative of government) • Controller of Customs • Justice of the Peace • Member of Parliament

Geoffrey Chaucer • At one point, while Chaucer was at war, he was kidnapped by the French and was ransomed for 16 pounds (about $25)! • Side-note: 16 pounds was almost 8x the average yearly wages of a laborer at the time! • Chaucer served at the courts of three reigning monarchs.

Geoffrey Chaucer Needless to say… he was a pretty important person! But why are we studying him?

Geoffrey Chaucer • Because he was the Father of English Poetry!!

Geoffrey Chaucer • Chaucer made the English Language of the time (Middle English) respectable. • Most literary works of the time were written in Latin or French. • English was considered the language of the “common people.” • This is why Geoffrey Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales helped to solidify English as the national language.

The Canterbury Tales • Through Chaucer’s traveling as a diplomat, he became fluent in Latin, French, and Italian in addition to English. • In Italy he was introduced to Giovanni Boccaccio who wrote the Decameron. • Chaucer was an admirer of Boccaccio and copied some of his style for his Canterbury Tales… Specifically using a “Frame Story” (story within a story)

The Canterbury Tales • Written at the end of the 14thCentury, The Canterbury Tales depicts Medieval life at the time. • The Canterbury Tales is a frame story which includes a Prologue and then various addition tales that complete the work. • Chaucer first sets up the frame (The Prologue) and then proceeds to tell the story in numerous tales.

The Canterbury Tales • The Canterbury Tales were never completed. • Chaucer originally wanted to have 120 tales included with The Prologue. • At his death, Chaucer had completed 24 tales.

The Prologue • Chaucer had the idea to bring together 29 characters on a Pilgrimage to St. Thomas Becket’s Shrine. • Who remembers the story of St. Thomas Becket? • Henry II (fought with him over church’s rights) • Religious Differences • Murder in the Church (killed by 4 knights; cut off top of head) • Martyr- holy blood (Declared by Catholic church 1173) • 200th year anniversary of his death happened during Chaucer’s lifetime

The Prologue • By placing his characters on a Pilgrimage to Becket’s tomb, Chaucer enables us to see a wide variety of medieval lifestyles and classes. • Which we will discuss • Chaucer writes The Prologue in Iambic Pentameter • Which is what? • 10 syllable line stressed then unstressed • What other famous British Poet used this?

The Prologue The Prologue begins in “ High Style,” describing Spring in a romantic way, then digresses to more realistic and natural verse.

Geoffrey Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales