Geoffrey Chaucer and the Middle Ages

1. What is the vernacular? Why did Chaucer write in the vernacular? What effect did this have on the English language?

2. Chaucer’s work illustrates the ______, ______, ______and ______of his day.

3. What are the characteristics of Chaucer’s poetry?

(1) iambic pentameter –

(2) rhyme scheme: the couplet –

(3) satirizes the ______and ______to

expose ______and ______.

(4)uses descriptive and vivid ______to characterize his subjects

4. How does Chaucer develop his characters?

(1)

(2)

(3)

5. What is a pilgrim?

6. Why were pilgrimages important in medieval times?

7. Who was Thomas Becket?

8. Describe the significance of the knighthood to medieval society.

A separate ______in European society.
The ______gave the knights a great deal of ______as they became chivalrous Christian warriors.
By 13th century, the code of ______emerged, demanding courage, military prowess, virtue, and service to God.
A knight had to be ______in order to maintain his position and status.

9. What is the Canterbury Tales?

A collection of stories in a frame story (story within a story) similar to Decameron.
Chaucer planned for ______stories, but completed only ______.
Each ______comes from a different trade, social class, representing different aspect of society.
Pilgrims give different views of the world, different vocabularies, different images for truth.

10. Describe the manuscript of the Canterbury Tales.

11. What is the basic plot of the Canterbury Tales?

A group of pilgrims stay at the ______on their way to the Shrine of Thomas à Becket in______.
Chaucer describes the pilgrims in this company (29), each of whom practices a different trade (often dishonestly).
The host of the Tabard, ______, proposes that he join them as a guide and that each of the pilgrims should tell tales (two on the outward journey, two on the way back); whoever tells the best tale will win a supper, at the other pilgrims' cost when they return.
The pilgrims agree and the next morning the company sets out, pausing at the Watering of St. Thomas, where all draw______, and the Knight is thus selected to tell the first tale.
Chaucer warns his readers that he must repeat each tale exactly as he heard it, even though it might contain______.

12. The General Prologue

Begins with a description of______: Opens in April, at the height of Spring when there is rebirth and fresh beginnings.
The prologue serves to introduce the reader to the______and the ______. Chaucer gives a good physical description of each character.
He satirizes ______and class structure, describing each profession to show how it fails the ideal.
Illustrates the three-fold division of medieval life and ideal figures:
Those who fight (knights)
Those who pray (clergy)
Those who labor (plowman)

13. Describe the idea of courtly love.

14. Describe the social hierarchy of medieval society.

(1) Ruling Class –

(2) Clergy –

(3) Middle Class –

(4) Trade Class –

(5) Peasants –

15. The Corruption of the Church

The ______was the only dominant church in England, Ireland and Europe.
The church grew powerful because it preached that salvation can only come through the______.
At a time when the people were experiencing famine, disease and plague, the church was building expensive cathedrals, demanding tithes from the poor, and preaching against greed.
Another source of this corruption was the sale of ______and the worldliness of some of church leaders.