The Canterbury Tales & The Middle Ages 1066-1485

1. The Canterbury Tales & The Middle Ages 1066-1485

2. Followed the “Estate System” • There were broad divisions of people in society • 1st Estate = Clergy: those who prayed • 2nd = Nobility: those who fought (knights) • 3rd = Peasantry: those who produced • The rigid divisions began to break down because of growing numbers of.. • 1. Mercantile (traders): the middle class • 2. Intellectuals: trained in literature and writing but didn’t want a career in the church

3. Interested in Physiognomy The assessment of a person’s character/personality based on their outward appearance • Examples… • Gap-teeth = bold, sexual • Thin = bad temper, irritable • Flaring nostrils = passionate • Pus-filled sores = lechery, drunkenness • High forehead = intelligence, good breeding • White neck = loose, immoral

4. Humours • Believed the human body was filled with four basic substances, called humours, which are all in balance when a person is healthy • Note: your physical health and personality would be affected if one of these were out of balance

5. The Four Humours • Blood -- too much = optimistic, cheerful • Yellow Bile -- too much = violent, vengeful • Phlegm -- too much = dull, pale, cowardly • Black Bile -- too much = melancholy

6. Medieval Dress Codes • Fashion rules depended on your class (whether rich, middle, or poor) • Ex: No one below the rank of knight could wear fur • Ex: Merchants could wear the same clothes as knights only if they were 5 times richer than a knight • Ex: Women can’t wear silk head coverings • Pilgrims clothing reveals: social status, personalities, attempts at modesty or deception

7. Feudalism (introduced after the Norman Conquest) • The king had plenty of land, but could not control it all. • So the king gave land to lords in exchange for protection, loyalty and $. • Lords then gave their land to knights in exchange for protection, loyalty and $. • Knights let serfs (peasants) work the land and he would protect them and give them food and shelter. • Each person had rights and responsibilities.

8. Chivalry & Courtly Love • It’s a system of ideals and social codes governing the behavior of knights and gentlewomen • Rule of Warfare: Never attack an unarmed opponent • Rule of Courtly Love: Adoring a lady (not necessarily one’s wife) was a means to self-improvement

9. Knights Should Possess… • Honor • Humility • Sacrifice • Fear of God • Faithfulness • Courage • Graciousness and courtesy to ladies • Were trained from a young age • Upon knighthood, were titled “Sir”

10. Ideas of Courtly Love… • In its ideal form, it’s non-sexual • A knight adored a lady • Knight might wear his lady’s colors in battle • might glorify her in words / be inspired by her • Still, he couldn’t cross the boundary between courtly love and physical love • Ex. A lord’s wife might be courted by the knights. • Led to an idealized view of women, but did little to improve their actual position

11. Women in the Middle Ages… • No political rights • Considered “chattel,” or the personal property of her father or husband. • Subservient to husband, father, or brother • Husband or father’s social standing determined hers • Peasant women: childbearing, housework, hard field work • Noblewomen: childbearing and household supervision

12. Religion… • Religious relics were huge • People would travel from afar to see the skull of John the Baptist or to see nails from Christ’s hands • Might have to pay to see them (problem?) • Indulgences -- people could pay to get their deceased relatives out of Purgatory • This was the work of the pardoner • Note: a lot of corruption in the church

13. The main duty of a Summoner was do deliver a summons, or order, to appear before the ecclesiastical courts. • He was also often charged with collecting fines for "immoral" behavior • The Summoner could inflict pain on people, get their property, or inflict death on someone. • Shows the power the Catholic church had in those days. • Many people were questioning the authority of the church. • Monks were supposed to live a life of chastity, poverty and obedience • Friars were supported by donations

14. Other Events the Characters are Involved In… • The Martyrdom of Thomas à Becket (1170) • Killed because he sided with the pope over the king • THIS is where the Pilgrims are going in The Canterbury Tales

15. Chaucer & The Canterbury Tales • His story gives a full picture of the Middle Ages society • We see… • the estate system • the corruption of the church • their beliefs about physical health and appearance • courtly love Fin.