Name ______English 3A

Prelude to The Canterbury Tales

The Journey

You are about to go on a journey through the Middle Ages in 14th Century England to a land called Canterbury. Along the way, you will meet lots of quirky characters who have very unique stories to tell. Among them are a Knight, Doctor, Friar, Nun, Monk, Cook, Merchant, Cleric, Miller, a Pardoner, and a Wife of the town of Bath. Don’t let their appearances fool you though, because not all are as innocent as they seem! It is up to you to make your judgment of each character as told through the Host in the frame story The Canterbury Tales.

Geoffrey Chaucer: (1343-1400)

  • The author of The Canterbury Tales
  • Born into a middle-class family and later experienced life in aristocratic society
  • Was the son of a merchant, page in a royal house, soldier, diplomat, and royal clerk
  • Examined human character and personality traits in people of all social backgrounds
  • Although a writer and poet, his main job was working as a court officer for the king- first Edward III, then Richard II, and Henry IV.
  • Married one of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting, Philippa Pan
  • Considered to be the “Father of English Poetry” and recognized as a talented storyteller
  • Buried in Westminster Abbey in recognition of his literary contributions, a huge honor

The Canterbury Pilgrimage:

Pilgrimage: A long journey to a shrine or holy site, undertaken by people who wish to express their devotion

  • Pilgrimage: Chaucer himself went on a pilgrimage to Canterbury to visit Canterbury Cathedral where former Archbishop, and laterSaint Thomas a’ Becket was murdered in 1170 by order of King Henry II.
  • Miracles were said to take place at the shrine of St. Thomas, which attracted many pilgrims
  • Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales after witnessing many people from all walks of life make the pilgrimage to Canterbury from his home in London
  • During a time of political disharmony, Chaucer wrote his tales as a satirical social commentary on corruption, greed, immorality, and the flaws that all humans possess.

Premise of The Canterbury Tales

  • Chaucer’s frame story begins with a group of pilgrims gathering at the Tabard Inn near London in preparation of a pilgrimage to Canterbury to see the shrine of St. Thomas a’ Becket
  • The host of the Tabard Inn proposes that each person tell a story along the way to pass time on the journey
  • The Host judges the storytelling competition so that the person who tells the best story gets a free dinner at his Inn at the end of the journey
  • His fictitious characters and their tales vary from cautionary tales; crude, humorous tales; advice on love and marriage; to heroic tales about good deeds. (Only 24 of Chaucer’s tales were finished and still exist)

Social Stereotypes and Commentary:

  • Each character embodies a different social stereotype from moral, to immoral characters who are pleasure-seekers, materialistic, jokesters, and hypocrites.
  • Chaucer either glorifies, criticizes, or pokes fun at the flaws of all people and shows that no one is perfect
  • Descriptions of clothing highlight the social status and personality of characters from modest to immodest and deceptive
  • Ex: The Wife of Bath wears finely woven clothing “of the finest scarlet red” which shows her love of material things
  • Ex: The Knight wears a coarse tunic that is “stained and dark” showing that he is modest, since most knights wore fur and gold
  • The Knight is the highest character on the social ladder (no members of aristocracy are on the journey)
  • Most characters are middle class, regular people (Doctor, Franklin, Wife of Bath, Pardoner, Miller, Cook, etc.)

Characterization:

  • Direct Characterization: presents direct statements about a character from descriptions of clothing to comments about one’s personality
  • Ex: The Host tells us that the Knight “followed chivalry”
  • Indirect Characterization: uses actions, thoughts, dialogue, and description to reveal a character’s personality.
  • Ex: By saying a character wears “blood-red garments…lined with taffeta” we can imply that the character is not modest and likes material possessions