Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343 – 25 October 1400)

1. Geoffrey Chaucer*Chaucer himself is depicted in the Canterbury Tales as the narrator; he is initially perceived as gregarious and naïve, and later described as silent. His opinions of each character flagrantly show through in the manner in which he writes each tale • Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343 – 25 October 1400) • *Chaucer’s various experiences throughout his life helped to pave the way for the writing of The Canterbury Tale • *began writing as a poet in his twenties, his earliest works being translations of other European  poets                                                               •  *The Canterbury Tales, arguably his most famous work, was believed to be written as an inspiration from his pilgrimage to Canterbury, as he was able to observe a diverse group of people, including • * Only 24 out of 120 stories were told, all composed of various genres of medieval literature • * deemed “The Father of English Poetry” as he was recognized as the greatest English poet of his time • * His cause of death is not quite known, as his tomb was built over one-hundred years following his death and there is little historical record to affirm any distinct cause

2. Geoffrey Chaucer Chaucer was included in the social class of the merchants, along with his parents. They consisted of the middle class. Chaucer was a modest, inquisitive, and gregarious character. He was very intelligent and his gift for writing is evident in his vast variety of works. He is depicted as wearing a dark coverchief on his head, which is similar to a Val that nuns wear. He is also shown dressed in a long, black cloak. He is revealed as having a serious and grave expression along with a fully developed beard. His hair cannot be explained because he is always shown wearing his coverchief.

3. The Pilgrimage from Southwark to Canterbury • 59.4 miles away. • It would have taken at least 4 days to travel this distance back for most people, but Chaucer has his pilgrims do it in 1 day. • They left Southwark in the morning and arrived in Canterbury as the sun was setting. • They rode horses on this pilgrimage. • For Medieval men a pilgrimage was a symbolic journey that represented the course of human life, from one's home on earth to one's true home.

5. The Tabard Inn • The Tabard was an inn established in 1307 by abbot of Hyde, the head of a Benedictine Monastery just outside of England. • It was established to provide a hostile for him when he traveled to England and to accommodate all of the pilgrims heading to England. • These pilgrims traveled to England to see the Shrine of Thomas Beckett in Canterbury Cathedral. • The Tabard was located on the East Side of Borough High street in Southwark, an area on the east- side of London.

6. Canterbury Cathedral • Location • Canterbury Cathedral is located in Canterbury, Kent. • Appearance • One of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England. • Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury • ·      After his death, this became a major pilgrimage destination. Thomas Becket had a falling out with King Henry II, and this led to his murder in the Canterbury Cathedral.

7. Canterbury Cathedral • Canterbury, Kent • Country: United Kingdom of Great Britain • Founded in 602AD by St. Augustine • One of the oldest and most famous Christian structures • It was probably an existing church building from Roman times • The cathedral was set on fire in 1011 by marauding Danes • In 1067 another fire broke out, destroying what was left of the Saxon cathedral • In 1070 Archbishop Lanfranc began to rebuild the cathedral • After Lanfranc, Anslem added the towers abutting the eastern transepts and the crypt, largest of its time in England • Thomas Becket was archbishop in 1162 to death in 1170 • On December 29, 1170 Thomas Becket was murdered in the cathedral by 4 knights because he refused to pardon men he had excommunicated • Still functions as the cathedral for the archbishop of Canterbury

8. What is a pilgrimage? • A pilgrimage is a journey of a pilgrim, especially one to a shrine or a sacred place • During the Medieval times, people would make extensive journey to visit the resting place of saints or to visit sacred relics • Jerusalem and Rome were popular pilgrimage sites during the Medieval period • Many people decided to journey in groups as it was safer to travel in numbers • These journeys would take months, and numerous times, the pilgrims may not return because it was dangerous to travel to an unknown destination • There were several spots along popular pilgrim routes that were hospitable to the travelers • At these resting stops, the pilgrims would eat, rest, drink, and tell stories of their journeys and of the sites they been to • Because faith was very important to the people of the Medieval times, many travelers believed that visiting the site would absolve them of their sins

9. Social Class He was part of the Middle Class Appearance He wore blood red garments with bluish gray in them and they were lined with taffeta (which was used for formal wear). Personality He made most of his money from when plagues struck his country and he tended to rip people off. Gold and money was very important to him. He was somewhat greedy. He was very intelligent in the field of medicine. He knew the cure for any malady that you had. He also was educated in astrology; he could read you your stars and tell you your luck. He knew his medical information by heart but did not know the Bible at all. He was not a very holy man. As for food, he only ate what was nutritious and never ate food for pleasure The Doctor

10. The Knight • Distinguishedman • Followed chivalry, truth, honor, generousness, and courtesy • Honored for his noble graces • Successful fighter • Aristocrats or military class • served with distinction in many campaigns • wise, modest and polite • very worthy man • not gaily dressed • wore a fustian tunic stained and dark with smudges where his armor left a mark • not vain • takes the pilgrimage seriously enough to rush to join straight from battle • possessed fine horses

11. The Squire Appearance • Strong and agile • 20 years old • Curly hair • Average height Social Class • Aristocrat or Military Additional Information • Son of the Knight • Brave • Cavalryman • Good rider • Veteran of combat • Devoted to his father

12. The Yeoman • The Yeoman was an archer and worked for a knight or squire. He wore a green hood and coat. His head was like a nut and his face was brown. • He carried arrows with peacock feathers. He knew woodcraft. Yeoman wore a brace on their arm and bore a shield and sword. The yeoman also held a hunting horn. They were proper foresters. • The yeoman was considered a noble, but was the lowest of the noble class. He could be a free man and own a small estate. Yeomen became a class of people that gained a reputation for hard toil.

13. The Prioress (The Nun) Appearance · Has a simple, shy smile · Grey eyes · Very clean · Wears a nice cloak · Has a coral bracelet and a golden brooch Social Class · The clergy as a nun Other Information · Has very good table manners · Very kindhearted, charitable, and respectable · Real name is Madam Eglantyne · Speaks French · Anti-Semitic

14. Appearance Rugged Manly Man In good shape Bald and has a shiny head and face Wears very different robes of the usual monks which was a plain habit and hood but wore gray fur on his sleeves of his cope and a gold pin with a love knot at the end of the hood The gold pin signified that he was not religious because instead of the gold pin it should be a rosary. Social Class Clergy Abbot meaning father, religious title given to the head of the monastery Information Rebellious Ignores rules and lives and controls his own life very unlike monks of the time Hunts and rides horses instead of studying, praying, and working which the rules of the monastery forbids He is believed to have joined the monastery because he wanted be separated from betrayal of people and of women. THE MONK

15. Sergeant at the Law • Very wise • Talked little • Tricked people into thinking he was wiser and busier the he really was • A very good lawyer, could make a fool-proof contract or give a great defense • Knew the law by heart • Took large fees and lived well, middle class • Commissioned by the King of England

16. Sergeant at the Law • He is discreet • He is a able attorney • Wary and wise • Makes people think he is bruiser and wiser that he really is • A very busy man • Wore a homely parti-colored coat with a pin-stripe silken belt • Important in his social class

17. The Summoner Appearance: The Summoner had a fire-red face, with boils all over. He had pimples all over his face, and nothing could get rid of them. He wore garland around his head His breath was wretched because he loved to eat garlic and onions. Social Class: He was in the lower class. His job was to the send those who were arrested for sins to court. Lifestyle: He was a drunken man, and slurred too often, only in Latin. He rarely followed any of the law. He was a scary man and partook in too many sexual activities. He believes he is more knowledgeable than most people.

18. The Cook Name was Roger Skillful Master of his trade Good at cooking Cut on his shin Best dish was Creamed Chicken Pie Trade Class Rude and vulgar man Engages in violent and arguable behavior

19. The Parson • Social Class- the Clergy • Truly knew the gospel and preached it • Disliked extorting the tithe • Gave to the poor out of his own belongings • Nothing stopped him from preaching • A description of physical appearance • is not given because a parson is a • stereotype of the perfect priest.

20. A haberdasher is a person who sells small articles for sewing, such as buttons, ribbons and zippers. In English, haberdasher is another term for a men's outfitter. A haberdasher would sell small accessories, like linens and silks. Another meaning of "haberdasher" refers to a "dealer in, or maker of, hats and caps.” Medieval craftsmen, like haberdashers, belonged to guilds. Each guild had a hall or house to meet in. The members worked together to insure the quality of their work, train apprentices, set prices, care for the sick members of their guilds and the widows and children of deceased members. The men of the guild were wealthy, and their sons were automatically born into the guild.

21. THE PARSON • Wore a tabard, loose jacket. • Poor in his social class, rich in holiness and work. • Stands out as what the parish priest should be. • Lived a perfect life taught others to follow. • Ideal Christian Priest.

22. Pardoner Appearance Long, blonde hair Wears a cap with a holy relic on it Big, bulging eyes Smooth facial skin Social Class Clergy, Freeman, contested status Lifestyle Information A pardoner is one who dispenses papal pardons. He was gentle and patient because of working with the pope.

23. The Doctor• • One of the best of his profession • Could heal almost any illness • Was in very good shape, thin • Has an obsession with gold and finical gain • Believes in study of stars.

24. The Merchant Appearance · Forking beard · Motley Dress · Beaver hat · Buckled boots · Sat high on his horse Social Class · Free, High status non-noble Info important to lifestyle · An expert at currency exchange

25. The Wife of Bath • A deaf but intelligent woman • · A very skilled tailor, a person who creates clothes • · She wore very heavy kerchiefs • · Her shoes were soft and new • · Bold, beautiful face but a little reddish • · She had five husbands • · She was alone during her childhood • · Skilled in traveling • · She had spaces in her teeth • · She had large hips that was covered by a mantle • · Likes to laugh and talk to others • · She knew how to flirt very well • · She was the type that couldn’t keep her man down. She was too outgoing.

26. The Wife of Bath · A bold, handsome woman, deaf in one ear and gap toothed · As a seamstress, she is dressed rather extravagantly in scarlet colored clothes · She is a worldly woman, having seen many different places · After living with five different husbands, she is experienced and well versed in the games of love. · Through her experiences, she has gained intellect, independence, and the ability to provide for herself

27. Wise, fit to be noble Trim and fresh, silver knives had money Clothe making profession All artisans. They are dressed in the livery, or uniform, of their guild. The narrator compliments their shiny dress and mentions that each was fit to be a city official. Demonstrate the pride associated with being a guild member successful people Guilds are professional organizations for craftsmen The characters are proud of their wealth and display it with ornate objects The wives enjoyed the status of the husbands Gave the women social recognition Demonstrate the pride associated with being a guild member belonged to a guild (associations of tradesmen, somewhat powerful in this time period) dressed luxuriously their wives are demanding and controlling, were social climbing The Weaver

28. Appearance Elderly Gentleman Bearded Wears a long cloak and hat Social class Trader Steward for a law school in London authorized to buy provisions (food or other necessities) Relevant Information Never rash Illiterate Wiser than thirty lawyers he feeds Cunning Cheated well-educated lawyers by putting aside a tidy little sum for himself Came from Inner Temple All carters follow his example in buying Used to watch the market carefully Go in first do he did well in shopping Manciple

29. The Miller • The Miller was a broad, well-muscled man who could easily wrestle a ram. • The Miller’s job was to grind wheat into flour using large rocks which constituted his large musculature. The Miller was so adept at his trade that he could tell the quality of grain simply by feeling it. • The Miller’s social standing was with the lot of the Peasants. However, because of his wealth, not as much as a noble’s, he was held with higher regard among the peasants.

30. Appearance Wore a tabard(loose jacket) smock He would not have been dressed up in nice clothes because of his occupation and he might have smelled from carrying manure Occupation He worked in fields He dug corn and carried manure Social Class The Plowman’s social class is considered to be among the virtuous poor or lower class He was extremely poor but represented all the Christian values and virtues Relevant information to the lifestyle of the pilgrim He was a good worker who was religious He lived in peace and charity and treated his neighbor with much respect Plowman helped the poor and was always charitable He was the Parson’s brother He always paid his tithes and they were on time and in full Plowman

31. Friar Social Class: clergy Jolly, Festive Pale-skinned Strong Happy and sturdy voice Good singer and hurdy-gurdy Sparkly eyes His name was Hubert. Courteous His job didn’t make him wealthy but he knew how to make a profit He wasn’t like the friar’s before him Limiter Most Mellow of the Four Orders Match maker to many girls Got many girls in trouble Was able to hear confessions Forgiving to all people Made a decent living Knew taverns and inns best Easily got money from people Deceiving, Immoral Made a profit off of all that he did for people. Wore a robe

32. Reeve Reeve was a slender man He had a beard shaven to the best of his ability; it was as clean-shaven as he could get it to be His hair looked as if it were cut by clippers; cut around the ears long legs and was very lean short temper could be angered very easily belonged to the middle class. Good writer carpenter An administrative officer (high rank)

33. The Franklin • Franklin means “free man” • White-bearded and red-faced • - Like Santa Claus • Wealthy gentleman farmer but was not born noble • Middle Class • Loves food • - House seemed to snow meat and drink • Enjoys good living • Well-liked by other pilgrims

34. The Host: Harry Barley Appearance • Bright eyes • Wide body • Manly • Very handsome Social Class • Trader class Information • Joyful man • Kind-hearted • Generous in giving food and drink • Invented the idea of telling the stories of the pilgrimage • Offers dinner to the pilgrim who tells the best story • Maintains peace • Guides the trip

35. The Franklin • A medieval wealthy land owner. • His beard was white as a daisy-petal. • Sanguine, high colored, and benign. • He was a free man; He didn’t serve a lord but was not a noble. • He lived in pleasure believing that happiness is the most important goal in life. • He is a connoisseur of food and wine, so much so that his table remains laid and ready for food all day.