“The Canterbury Tales” and the History of 14 th Century England

1. “The Canterbury Tales”and the History of 14th Century England Including the biography of Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)

2. Medieval Social Theory • England was made up of three “estates” or classes (similar to that of the feudal system) • The Nobility • The Church • The Commoners

3. The Nobility • Composed of a small hereditary aristocracy • Mission on earth was to “rule over and defend the body of the politic” (people). • Usually had most of the money and land ownership

4. The Church • Look after the spiritual welfare of the people. • Usually divided amongst the people, but Christianity comprised most of the religion of the people.

5. The Commoners • Provided the work and labor to sustain the society • Agricultural workers • Fishermen • Merchants

6. Medieval Riddle #1 Oft I must strive with wind and wave, Battle them both when under the seaI feel out the bottom, a foreign land. In lying still I am strong in the strife;If I fail in that they are stronger than I, And wrenching me loose, soon put me to rout.They wish to capture what I must keep. I can master them both if my grip holds out,If the rocks bring succor and lend support, Strength in the struggle. Ask me my name!

7. Answer to Medieval Riddle #1 An Anchor

8. Social Change at the end of the 14th Century • World changing more rapidly • Different social classes were intermarrying • Some merchants becoming richer than land owners • Brought about economic, social, and political change • Emergence of the “Middle Class”

9. Hundred Years War • Takes place between France and England from 1337-1453 (116 years all together) • Times of peace in between, but roughly 100 years of warfare between the two. • English Kings were descendants of the French Kings (Invasion of England by the Normans in 1066) • French kings upset that English kings had more land then them, so the went back and forth about who could control which lands and how much

10. “The Black Death” • Also called the “Black Plague” or “Bubonic Plague of the 14th Century” • Killed nearly one-third (1/3) of Europe’s entire population from 1347-1351 A.D. • Caused upheaval against various religious and social groups including: Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Foreigners, Beggars, etc. • Slowed the progress of the Hundred Years War

12. Medieval Riddle #2 In former days my father and mother, Abandoned me dead, lacking breath Or life or being. Then one began, A kinswoman kind, to care for and love me;Covered me with her clothing, wrapped me in her raiment, With the same affection she felt for her own; Until by the law of my life's shaping, Under alien bosom I quickened with breath. My foster mother fed me thereafter, Until I grew sturdy and strengthened for flight. Then of her dear ones, of daughters and sons, She had the fewer for what she did.

13. Answer to Medieval Riddle #2 A Bird

14. Geoffrey Chaucer • Born in London, 1343, son of a wine merchant • Grew up in “London Vintry,” where ships docked with wines from France and Spain • Grew up during the Hundred Years War & Black Death Pandemic • Grew up around various people from different walks of life • Learned new languages: French & Latin

15. Geoffrey Chaucer • Chaucer becomes apprenticed to nobility • Fine Schooling at the Count of Ulster • Learned etiquette and manners • Followed a strict Christian practice • Worked on keeping books during the Hundred Years War for Edward III • Becomes ambassador and travels to Spain, France, Italy, etc. and learns more languages and skills

16. Pilgrimage to Canterbury The pilgrimage from Southwark (Southern part of London) to Canterbury took 10-14 days depending on weather conditions and number of travelers.

17. The Canterbury Tales • Idea contrived originally in 1386 • Story was to be a collection of 120 stories that were told by various pilgrims on a pilgrimage. (30 pilgrims: 2 stories on the way there, 2 stories on the way back) • Published version: 24 stories (2 in prose, 22 in verse) • Pilgrimage was for Thomas à Becket • Archbishop of Canterbury that was murdered at his cathedral in 1170 A.D.

18. The Canterbury Tales • Tales were told by characters from different classes and “walks of life” • Idea was to give the readers a perspective with respect to values and characteristics ascribed to particular social or economic groups (middle class, religious officials, etc.) • Stories are competitive, follow various formats, different tones, different narrators, etc. • The stories reflect the values of the characters that orated them.

19. Medieval Riddle #3 A lonely wanderer, wounded with iron, I am smitten with war-blades, sated with strife,Worn with the sword-edge; I have seen many battles, Much hazardous fighting, oft without hopeOf comforts or help in the carnage of war Ere I perish and fall in the fighting of men.The leavings of hammers, the handiwork of smiths, Batter and bite me, hard-edged and sharp;The brunt of the battle I am doomed to endure. In all the folk-stead no leech could I findWith wort or simple to heal my wounds; But day and night with the deadly blowsThe marks of the war-blades double and deepen. What am I?

20. Answer to Medieval Riddle #3 A Shield

21. “General Prologue” • Introduction of the story • Introduction of the characters • Special emphasis placed on characterization • Physical appearance, clothing, accessories, behaviors, etc. • Understanding their place with regard to social status is indicative of what kind of story they are likely to produce. • Allows reader to establish moral judgments

22. Seven Deadly Sins • One of the underlying motifs in the tales is the use of the Cardinal Sins • Wrath • Pride • Envy • Greed • Gluttony • Sloth • Lust • Through elaborate characterization, nearly all of Chaucer’s pilgrims were seemingly guilty of one or more of these sins. • Emphasis of sin was based on physical appearance, behavior, monetary situation, and/or allusion to sexual perversion. Are you a sinner?????