Canterbury Tales

A framed collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims on their way to Canterbury. Let's look at an introduction

Themes:
Social Class and Convention
Corruption and Exploitation in the Church
Battle of the Sexes (or Old Men and Young Wives, or Who's in Charge?, or What makes a good spouse?)
Lies and Deceit
Courtly Love
What Makes a Good Story?

The are many "types" or "genres" of stories here:
Sermon
Romance Tale
Fabliau
Beast Tale
The Trickster Tricked Tale

Symbols:
Physiognomy
Clothes
Time of Year

The following are tales that you're need to know for the final:
Miller's Tale
Reeve's Tale
Nun's Priest's Tale
The Pardoner's Tale
The Wife of Bath's Tale
The Squire's Tale
The Summoner's Tale
The Clerk's Tale
The Merchant's Tale


Canterbury Tales

Objective: To Demonstrate a thorough understanding of a character and literary devices used in Chaucer by dressing up as one of the characters from The Canterbury Tales and presenting their story.

REQUIREMENTS:

Part 1: You must dress up as the character as described in the Prologue of the poem (note: you should also read very closely the character’s prologue to their own story for it will give you insight into how the character acts, thinks, and relates to the other characters). As part of the presentation you’ll need to discuss what you are wearing and why (or what it represents)? You will also need to present your character traits. What your character is like—what do they believe, how do think of themselves, how do they act towards others or towards God. You may wish to do some research on your character or your character type (example you might wish to look at Friars and what Friars where about and how they where suppose to act and compare those ideas with how your character acts and believes).

Part 2: You’ll need to present your tale to the class. You can do it in one of two ways: 1) D.I. or Dramatic Interpretation of the story (this means you pick the highlights, write a script based on the highlights and act it out). 2) Rewrite the story in your own words and language and present it as a transcript—meaning you read it, but give a dramatic reading
(not just a reading like we do in class)

Part 3: Teach the class the following: 1) what type of literary tale is your story? 2) What does the tale mean (if anything). Connect the tale to a THEME? What does the tale reveal about you character and who your character is? What—if any—kinds of literary devices does your tale use?

Part 4: Make a brief argument why your character won the bet: Who can tell the best story. 

 

We will read sections of the Canterbury Tales - the Prologue, The Wife of Bath's Tale, and The Pardoner's Tale, and one tale of the student's choice.

Canterbury Tales, “The General Prologue” (35 points)

You will find below all the pilgrims mentioned in “The General Prologue.” Be able to answer the following:

1. How does Chaucer characterize each one?  Offer two details with line numbers to support this (include figures of speech or Cicero’s aspects of characterization).
2. Describe Chaucer’s attitude toward each pilgrim.
3. Rank this person in the chart at the end of this handout.

Pilgrim	Chaucer’s Characterization	Two Details	Chaucer’s Attitude
The Knight		1. 2.
Squire		1. 2.
Yeoman		1. 2.
Prioress		1. 2.
Monk		1. 2.
Friar		1. 2.
Merchant		1. 2.
Clerk		1. 2.
Sergeant-at-Law		1. 2.
Franklin		1. 2.
Haberdasher, Carpenter, Weaver, Dyer, Tapestry Maker		1. 2.
Cook		1. 2.
Shipman		1. 2.
Doctor of Medicine		1. 2.
Wife of Bath		1. 2.
Parson		1. 2.
Plowman		1. 2.
Miller		1. 2.
Manciple		1. 2.
Reeve		1. 2.
Summoner		1. 2.
Pardoner		1. 2.
Host		1. 2.

Best Pilgrims	Worst Pilgrims
1.	1.
2.	2.
3.	3.
4.	4.
5.	5.
6.	6.

The Canterbury Tales

General Prologue questions

Answer the following questions based on the general prologue of the tales.

1. What time of year to people “long to go on pilgrimages” and why?

2. Where is the narrator at the start of the prologue?  Who joins him and for what purposes?

3. What plan (which becomes the basis of the frame story) does the host propose to the pilgrims? How do the pilgrims respond to the idea?

4. Chaucer is the master at using physical details – eyes, hair, body type, clothing, complexion – to reveal character. Describe at least three pilgrims whose inner nature is  revealed by their appearance. Use your notes and the text for help.

a.

b.

c.

5. Clearly, Chaucer satirizes the church of his time. Show how this is true by analyzing two characters connected with the church. What “good” or honorable church people does he include to balance his satire?

6. Which of the pilgrims do you think Chaucer idealizes, or hold in high esteem?

7. Why is the Knight first in the General Prologue and first to tell a tale?

8. What makes the Wife of Bath such a colorful and interesting character?

9. Place the pilgrims in section of the table that best suits them.

Clergy	Middle Class/City	Military/Farming

 

Geoffrey Chaucer

Early Years

•Chaucer was believed to be born in 1343

•He may have attended Oxford or Cambridge

•Official records give some biographical details

–Captured in France (1359) during war

–King paid sixteen-pound ransom for release

Family

•Married Philippa Pan in 1366 or 1368

•Wife was a lady-in-waiting to the queen

•Had two sons, possibly a daughter

Career

•Made a comfortable living as a civil servant

–A dozen diplomatic missions to Flanders, France and Italy (1368-87)

–Negotiated marriage between Richard II and daughter of the French King

–Also served as customs official, “Knight of the Shire” and keeper of the Royal Forest - this spot was an important post in Parliament.

Early Poet

•Began writing in his twenties

•Based early works using style of other European poets

•Was one of Britain’s first poets to publish in English

•Considered the “People’s Poet”

Chaucer’s Legacy

•Considered the Father of English poetry in his lifetime

•Even 600 years later, his works are still in print

•Chaucer is buried in Westminster Abbey

•Chaucer’s tomb is the centerpiece of “Poet’s Corner”

The Canterbury Tales

•Written in his later years

•Intended to write 124 tales before his death

•The 24 tales stand as a complete work

•Considered one of Britain’s literary treasures

British Society in the Tales

•Story centers on pilgrimage to Canterbury.

•The church was the center of religion for Britain

•Sacred ground after the assassination of Thomas Becket in 1170

What the Tales Provide

•A cross-section of British life

•Almost all walks of life represented

•Chaucer’s contempt for church is apparent