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Canterbury Tales

Canterbury Tales. The General Prologue. Canterbury Tales. Written around 1387-1400 Written by Geoffrey Chaucer Soldier Courtier Royal emissary to Europe Controller of customs Justice of the peace Member of Parliament artist. Prologue.

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Canterbury Tales

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  1. Canterbury Tales The General Prologue

  2. Canterbury Tales • Written around 1387-1400 • Written by Geoffrey Chaucer • Soldier • Courtier • Royal emissary to Europe • Controller of customs • Justice of the peace • Member of Parliament • artist

  3. Prologue • Chaucer has the idea to bring together 29 “sondry folk” in a pilgrimage (“by aventure [chance]”) • Represent a wide range of 14th century English society • Makes comprehensive study of humans • Perfect way to present his irony

  4. Prologue • Represent a wide range of 14th century English society • 3 Groups Represent: • Agricultural feudalism • Landownership and service • Knight’s yeoman • Franklin • Urbanization • Change in feudal structure • Doctor • Guildsmen • The Church • One of the most powerful elements in medieval soceity • 9 of pilgrims belong to clergy

  5. Prologue • Each pilgrim • tell two stories on the way to Canterbury • two stories on the way back • Plan proposed by Harry Bailey, host of the Tabard Inn • Teller of best tale is rewarded at the end • A dinner provided by his fellow pilgrims at the Tabard • Harry Bailey is judge

  6. Prologue • Prologue sets the scene and introduces reader to the characters • Between many of the tales Chaucer expounds upon the personalities of the pilgrims. • Number of arguments that prepare for subsequent tales • Some pilgrims introduce a tale with a commentary on his/her own personal life

  7. Prologue • Chaucer’s project was never finished • Only 24 tales exist • Tales were probably composed at various times in Chaucer’s life

  8. Prologue • Begins with a long, rhetorical sentence in “high style” describing spring. • Gradually descends into a more “realistic” style of expository narrative.

  9. Prologue • Group is on its way to the holy shrine of St. Thomas ă Becket • Archbishop of Canterbury • opposed Henry II over the balance between royal and religious power • was murdered in the cathedral • Considered a martyr and later made a saint • His blood was held to contain great curative qualities, restoring health to the sick

  10. The Knight • Was an honorable warrior who fought for Christianity against the heathens. • Appropriate that he is the first pilgrim to be introduced because he stands at the top of the social hierarchy, thus is the most socially prominent person on the journey. • Tells the first story; many offer him compliments. • All of the battles mentioned that he fought in were religious wars of some kind.

  11. The Knight • Prologue’s description: • Worthy man • Loved the following • Chivalry • Fidelity • Honor (good reputation) • Generosity • courtesy • Honored for his worthiness in war

  12. The Knight • Prologue’s description: • Fought in many battles/ had “been at many a noble expedition” • Alexandria • Prussia • Lithuania/Latvia • Russia • Grenada at siege of Algeciras to Belmarye (north Africa) • Morocco • The Mediterranean • Tiemcen • Turkey

  13. The Knight • Prologue’s description: • Even though he was brave, he was prudent • Deportment: “meek as a maid” • Never said any rude word in all his life to any person • Horses were good • Clothing/dress • Not gaudily dressed • Tunic of coarse cloth, stained with rust from his chain mail suit • Has just returned from an expedition

  14. The Knight’s Tale • Probably adapted from Boccaccio’s Teseide • Tale of ideal love and chivalry. • Would be a popular type of tale in Chaucer’s day.

  15. The Knight’s Tale • Premise: • Two Thebian knights, Palamon & Arcite, fall in love with the same woman, Emelye, whom they see only from their prison window in Athens. • Their life-long friendship is immediately disrupted by their rivalry for Emelye. • In time Arcite is released from prison on the condition that he never again set foot in Athens. • Palamon eventually escapes years later.

  16. The Knight’s Tale • The men meet by chance in a grove hear Athens and are about to fight when Theseus and his company interrupt them. • After forgiving the knights for their past, Theseus schedules a tournament (50 weeks later) for the hand of Emelye. • Arcite wins the tournament, but scarcely has had time to claim his fair prize when the misaligned planet Saturn causes him to fall from his horse and die shortly afterward.

  17. The Knight’s Tale • Palamon forgets his ill feelings toward Arcite and retires to Thebes, where he mourns his former friend. • Several years later, Theseus summons Palamon, who is still mourning and wearing black, and gives him Emelye in marriage. • Makes of two sorrows one “parfit joye, lastynge everemo.”

  18. The Knight’s Tale • Not much action in the romance. • Two knights are almost the same • Both • Make speeches declaring their love • Curse their destiny • Pray to their respective gods

  19. The Knight’s Tale • Conflict that a story about medieval knights and their customs would be set in ancient Greece.

  20. Knight • Squire • Yeoman • Prioress • Monk • Friar • Merchant • Clerk

  21. Sergeant • Franklin • Guildsmen • Cook • Shipman • Doctor • Wife of Bath • Parson

  22. Miller • Manciple • Reeve • Summoner • Pardoner • Poet • Host (innkeeper Harry Bailey)

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