1. Geoffrey ChaucerThe Canterbury Tales

2. St. Thomas a’ Becket “Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest” Killed on Dec. 29th 1170 The Archbishop of Canterbury Becket disagreed with King Henry II and was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral There have been several miracles in this cathedral

4. 1387 Chaucer wrote a free-verse poem about a pilgrimage to St. Thomas a’ Becket’s shrine. The Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer

5. The Canterbury Tales Chaucer’s characterization was unlike anything ever written before. He creates a human encyclopedia by describing physical and social mannerisms; he also explores the beliefs and morals of each character. A pageant of 14th century life Every class variation is represented except the highest (nobility) and the lowest (serfs): Upper Class, Learned Professions, Landed Gentry, Medieval Manor People, Mercantile Class, Guildsmen, Laborer After Chaucer introduces all of the characters, each one will tell a two tales on their way to the Shrine of Thomas a Becket

6. April, Tabard Inn The 29 “pilgrims” spending the night at the Tabard Inn. The Narrator says he will describe and repeat everything he hears no matter how offensive. The Host proposes that each pilgrim tell 2 tales on the way there and back. The best tale will win dinner at the Inn The General Prologue

7. Chaucer’s Attitude Some ideals that Chaucer treats seriously Knight, Clerk, Parson, Plowman Some he pokes fun of Prioress, Monk, Wife of Bath Some he says very little about and gives no personal view of The Prioress’ entourage Some are not very good: a little negative Shipman, Manciple Some are hardened sinners Friar, Pardoner, Summoner

8. The Characters Character is revealed in the portraits of the pilgrims, their tales, and their behavior or remarks along the way. Five specific methods of characterization: Radix Trait Touchstone Line Glimpse of the spiritual interior person through physical description; outward blemished suggest inner blemishes Conscious use of hyperbole, usually used to create bias Disparate (incongruous) detail, particularly used on the “bad guys”

9. Chaucer He must have been a man of a most wonderful and comprehensive nature, because, as it has been truly observed of him, he has taken into the compass of his Canterbury Tales the various manners and humour (as we now call them) of the whole English nation in his age. John Dryden, 1700