Geoffrey Chaucer & The Canterbury Tales

1. Geoffrey Chaucer&The Canterbury Tales

2. CHAUCER’S LIFE: • Born in London,1343 • Middle-class family; father was a wine merchant • Chaucer read a great deal & received some education and legal training • Became a page to an eminent family • Became a government official serving three kings: Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV

3. Chaucer was a prisoner during the 100 Years War—the king (Edward III) contributed to his ransom Continued to serve the king & have his protection. Served as an ambassador, justice of the peace & in Parliament Although writing playing a major role in Chaucer’s life, work came first

4. Father of English Poetry Chaucer is often referred to as the ‘father of English poetry’ With few exceptions, it was not fashionable for serious poets to write in English – the language of literature was still Latin Chaucer composed in the vernacular – everyday language spoken in London

5. Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey Chaucer was the first of the great English writers to be gathered into what is known as Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey.

6. THE CANTERBURY TALES

7. The Italian influence: Chaucer traveled to Italy in 1372 & 1378 He was influenced by the poetry of Dante & Petrarch, and the stories of Boccaccio Both Boccaccio’s Decameron& Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales use a framing device – a group who fled plague ravaged Florence & a group on a religious pilgrimage – it is within these frames that the characters tell their stories

8. An unfinished work The Canterbury Tales, begun in 1387, was never completed Still, just the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales is sufficient to place Chaucer among the greatest of English authors

9. The Canterbury Tales provides a portrait of late medieval English life, introducing the audience to a diverse group of travelers on a spring pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket at Canterbury Cathedral.

10. Rhyme & Rhythm The Canterbury Tales is written in iambic pentameter, reflecting the natural rhythm of spoken language Written in rhyming couplets that are not end-stopped; so-called “open couplets”

11. Is it Chaucer? There is speculation that the poet/narrator is Chaucer himself The narrator introduces us to 29 other pilgrims (travelers), each of whom is to tell four stories and asks us not to “condemn” him for giving an honest account.

12. SATIRE A kind of writing that ridicules human weakness, vice or folly, or what the author sees as dangerous religious, political, moral or social standards.

13. CHARACTERIZATION Direct Tells us directly what the characters are like Describes how the characters look and dress

14. Indirect Presents the characters words & actions Reveals characters private thoughts & feelings Shows how others respond to the characters