British Class Structure 1066 AD

1. British Class Structure1066 AD as seen in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales “The General Prologue” Click on the knight to advance slides  Source for text: Wikipedia & SparkNotes

2. Framework • Chaucer planned a “framework narrative” with 120 tales. • Two tales were to be told by each pilgrim on the way to Canterbury and two on the return trip. • Before his death, Chaucer only completed 22 tales and left 2 fragments.

3. What were the classes in Chaucer’s time in Britain? Click on the classes above to advance the slides!

4. Ruling Class • Knight • An honorable warrior who fought for Christianity against the heathen. • Squire • The knight’s son; a lusty youth.

5. The Knight’s Prologue & Tale • Two prisoners in a battle between Thebes and Athens, Arcite and Palamon, duel for the love of Emily, a maiden of Athens. • The story introduces typical ideas of knighthood: courtly love, chivalry, and ethical dilemmas. • The Miller’s Tale, a bawdy and comedic tale, is a direct antithesis to the Knight’s Tale.

6. Clergy Class • Monk • A fat, bald, lover of hunting and luxury who rejects work or study. • Prioress • Worldly superior of a nunnery, accompanied by another nun and three priests. • Summoner • A lecherous cleric who permits parishioners’ licentious behavior – for a price.

7. Clergy Class • Friar • A merry monk who is an accomplished beggar for his own gain. • Parson • A poor, diligent cleric who aids parishioners with his own funds. • Pardoner • The Summoner’s companion who sells allegedly holy relics and pardons from Rome.

8. Middle Class • Merchant A pompous businessman who talks honestly while actually practicing illegal moneylending. • Franklin • A wealthy landholder and civic leader fond of excellent food. • Reeve • The crafty manager of a lord’s property. • Oxford Student/Clerk • The threadbare scholar who prefers philosophy to riches

9. Middle Class • Doctor • A learned practitioner with a love for gold. • Wife of Bath • A vivid, gap-toothed widow who has enjoyed many pilgrimages and five marriages. • Sergeant-at-Law • One of a select group of lawyers

10. The Wife of Bath’s Prologue & Tale • These give insight into women’s roles in Chaucer’s times • This tale is included in the “marriage group,” which includes tales from the Clerk, Merchant, and Franklin. • The Wife of Bath has been married five times and justifies each one. • Her tale deals with a young knight in King Arthur’s court who commits a crime.

11. Trade Class • Cook • The private cook for the Parish Guild members. • Guildsmen • Wealthy tradesmen; members of the same parish guild. Includes the Habersdasher, Carpenter, Weaver, Dyer, and Tapestry Maker. • Manciple • A shrewd kitchen supervisor.

12. Peasant Class • Miller • A wealthy, broad, and brawny tradesman; talkative and bawdy. • Skipper/Shipman • An accomplished sailor and drinker. • Yeoman • Servant to the Squire. • Host • The commanding, genial innkeeper who proposes that each pilgrim tell stories

13. The Miller’s Prologue & Tale • The Miller is drunk and interrupts the Monk, who is about to give the next tale. • John, a carpenter, has taken a young wife, Alison, and is also renting a room to a student, Nicholas. • Alison is unfaithful to her husband and Nicholas tricks the foolish carpenter into believing that the second flood is coming. John spends the night in a tub, waiting for the flood to come, leaving Alison and Nicholas alone. • Absalon, a parish clerk, is also in love with Alison. He begs Alison for a kiss and this is when all the mayhem ensues!