Download
1 / 11
E N D
Medieval Journal #5 Other than the news, in what ways does the media present us with political ideas or opinions? Can you think of any TV shows / radio shows / movies that have a political agenda (message)? If politics is such a serious issue, why is it sometimes portrayed through comedy sketches, impersonations and “mock newscasts”? Do you think that these shows/movies are effective? Do they change people’s political opinions?
Popular literature of the Medieval Period • Romance literature included stories of knights riding off to battle / magical quests / saving maidens. • Religious narratives – combining entertaining travel adventures with moral lessons. They often contained allegories. • (allegories = stories in which literal elements represent abstract ideas or moral concepts.) • Towards the end of the medieval period, every day life was written about more. The Black Death brought about many stories of regular people living in cities. • “The Canterbury Tales” covers the full scope of medieval literature – includes romance, religion, moral lessons and regular people.
Political Commentary: A critical discussion of some facet of politics reveled in various forms. The criticism can be openly stated or can hidden in irony and humor. The criticism can also be discussed in various formats: radio, print, television and computer media.
Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales” can be considered a social and political commentary on medieval Britain. His descriptions of the characters reveal much about his feelings towards various aspects of his society. • Chaucer’s characters can be split into 4 categories (although some can fit into more than one)
In your group, study each of the characters in your category (use the textbook and your own notes) Discuss the following questions for your category as a whole (not each character individually) • - Does Chaucer portray these characters in a positive or negative light? Explain you answer with examples from the text.- Are there any specific character traits that are present in all of these characters?- What do you think Chaucer was trying to say about this sector of society? • Be prepared to share your ideas with the rest of the class.
The Wealthy • Extravagant: “He lived for pleasure and always had done.” (The Franklin, line 345) • Talented: “with wonderful agility and strength.” (The Squire, line 86) • Generally good and respectable people: “He was wise and in his bearing modest as a maid.” (The Knight, lines 70-71)
The Merchant Class • Knew their trades (good at their jobs): “He was expert at dabbling in exchanges.” (The Merchant, line 288) • Hard-working: “There was nowhere one so busy as he.” (The Lawyer, line 331) • Frugal (good with money): “he was never rash, whether he bought on credit or paid with cash.” (The Manciple, line 588) • EXCEPTION The Skipper: Dishonest and unmerciful. “The nice rules of conscience he ignored.” (The Skipper, line 408)
The Poor • Talented and hard-working: “As for blancmange, he made it with the best.” (The Cook, line 397) • Charitable / generous: “he would help the poor for love of Christ and never take a penny.” • Joyful: “he was a merry-hearted man.” (The Host, line 777) • EXCEPTION The Miller: Dishonest. “His was a master-hand at stealing grain.” (The Miller, line 578)
The Church • Greedy: “though a widow mightn’t have a shoe, so pleasant was his holy how-d’ye-do he got his farthing from her just the same.” (The Friar, lines 259-261) • Hypocritical: “he’d allow – just for a quart of wine – any good lad to keep a concubine” (The Summoner, lines 667-8) • EXCEPTION The Parson: modest, humble, honest. “he was rich in holy thought and work.” (The Parson, line 489)
