Review: The Middle Ages

1. Review: The Middle Ages The Canterbury Tales Characterization satire

2. The Canterbury Tales • Chaucer presents the world as he sees it • Began to write it in 1387 (he had written a large number of works prior to this) • Incomplete (Chaucer died in 1400). “The General Prologue” and only 22 tales completed; there were supposed to be 120 total • Shows a cross section of Medieval society

3. The Tales (cont) • It has a frame story of the pilgrimage to Canterbury (80 miles from London) to visit the tomb of the martyr Thomas à Beckett (killed in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170) • Pilgrimages to shrines were mass activities in the Middle Ages, partly because they were as likely to be vacations as religious observances

4. The Tales (cont.) • 26 pilgrims actually described; 29 referenced. The narrator (Chaucer?) is one of the pilgrims for total of 30. • The plan was to tell two tales each on the way to Canterbury and two more tales on the way back (30 pilgrims x 4 tales=120 total tales planned) • A tale is often so well fitted to a pilgrim’s character and opinion that the tale and teller illuminate each other • This is one method of characterization. • The Tales are distinguished from other similar types of the period because of the realism of the characters.

5. General Information • Tabard Inn (the pilgrims leave from there) • The owner is called the Host (he is the one who established the contest---winner gets a free dinner paid for by other pilgrims) • He will be the judge of the best tale • The telling of the tales will help to pass the time more quickly

6. The Writing of the Tales • Narrative point of view • The narrator is actually a character • There are suspicions that the author (Geoffrey Chaucer) does not agree with narrator (the “person” in the story who is telling us what happened). • This is done for humorous effects. (It would be similar to having Homer Simpson or Peter Griffin say something is a good idea – that doesn’t mean the shows’ creators think that way.) • For example, it’s pretty clear the Pardoner is scum, even though the narrator says he is “noble” and that there is no one with equal grace.

7. The Prologue • The opening lines provide a setting and motivation for the Canterbury pilgrimage • The General Prologue contains all levels of English life • The order of the introduction of each pilgrim is important because it provides the social standing of the different occupations; it begins with the highest social rank and descends in order.

8. The Prologue:A Cross Section of the Middle Ages? Highest rank is aristocracy or nobility • Knight and his household, including Squire (his son) and the Yeoman (his servant) • Prioress • Monk • Friar (normally would be in lower class, but he avoided the poor and the sick and hung out in the company of nobles)

9. The Prologue: Characters Commercial Wealthy class • Merchant (but no one knows he’s in debt) • Sergeant of Law (used knowledge of law to buy up foreclosed property) • Clerk (well-educated scholar) • Franklin (rich landowner, loves the food)

10. The Prologue: Characters Guildsmen (similar to specialized unions of craftsmen or guilds) Haberdasher (makes men’s accessories) Dyer (dyes fabric) Carpenter (works with wood) Weaver (makes fabric) Tapestry-maker (makes rugs/carpets/wall hangings [none of them tells a tale]

11. The Prologue: Characters Middle-class group • Cook (ranked a bit high here, but he is apparently a master of his trade) • Shipman (knowledge of and travels in the world; a pirate?) • Physician (doctor of medicine [much less revered in the Middle Ages than today]) • Wife of Bath (included here because of her knowledge and business)

12. The Prologue: Characters Virtuous poor or lower class • Parson (poor, but practices what he preaches – literally) • Plowman (very poor but represents all of the Christian virtues)

13. The Prologue: Characters Immoral lower class • Manciple (illiterate, skillful at buying food for the lawyers in the Inns of Court) • Miller (vulgar, steals from his customers) • Reeve (tells dirty stories and cheats his trusting master) • Summoner (corrupt: takes bribes) • Pardoner (corrupt: sells fake pardons and fake relics)

14. Characterization • “the artistic representation (as in fiction or drama) of human character or motives” • Like modern authors, Chaucer reveals his characters • by telling us directly what the character is like • by describing how the character looks and dresses • by presenting the character’s words and actions • by revealing the character’s private thoughts and feelings • by showing how other people respond to the character

15. Why care about characterization? • Knowing this will help you better understand and be aware of characterization in political ads, movies, commercials – and you’ll be less likely to be manipulated. • How is he characterized in this ad? And the ladies? • See what I mean?

16. Satire • “a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn” • “wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly” • Modern satires: • South Park, Family Guy, The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live • The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, The Onion • Weird Al, Borat, Mel Brooks (SpaceBalls, Blazing Saddles) • Chaucer points a lot of satire at members of the clergy. • What must he have thought about most church officials at the time?

17. The Seven Deadly Sins • Pride is excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity. • Envy is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation. • Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires. • Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body. • Anger is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath. • Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness. • Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work. • Have we seen all of these in Chaucer’s pilgrims?