Canterbury Power Point

Geoffrey Chaucer
and
The Canterbury Tales
Geoffrey Chaucer
• He is acclaimed not only as “the father of
English poetry” but also the father of
English fiction.
– In short:
• He is considered the father of English literature.
• Chaucer’s name stands second only to that
of Shakespeare.
Early Life
• Born c. 1340
• Son of a prosperous wine
merchant (middle class)
• In mid teens, he was placed in
the service of the Countess of
Ulster so he could obtain more
education and be schooled in
court and society life
• Learned Latin, French and
Italian equipping him for
diplomatic and civil service as
well as enabled him to translate
literary works in all three
languages
Early Life (cont.)
• In 1359 he was captured by the
French at the siege of Reims
during the Hundred Years' War
while serving in English army;
he was ransomed by King
Edward III a year later showing
he was a court favorite.
• Chaucer joined the royal
household and became a trusted
messenger and minor diplomat
As a Royal Messenger
• Chaucer was frequently sent to the continent on

secret business for the King.
• Some of these trips were to Italy where he became
acquainted with the works of the greatest Italian
authors of the early Renaissance period:
Boccaccio, Dante, Petrarch
Other Jobs Chaucer Held…and Learned From...
• Controller of Customs on Wools, Skins and Hides for the Port of

London
– Here he met many types of businessmen, sailors, travelers city folk and
common laborers.
• Clerk of the King’s Works
– While in charge of construction and repairs affecting the royal residences,
he met many guildsmen as well as court officials.
• Deputy Forester of the King’s Forests
– Away from the city, he met peasants, foresters, local clergy and other
country folk
• Representative of the Shire of Kent in Parliament
– He met the rich, the influential and the upper middle class as well as the
higher ranking church officials.
In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer
wrote about the people he had met
along the way. He wrote a prologue
that described the people followed by a
group of short stories “told” by them.
They could be described by:
• Their job
• The type and color of their clothing
• Their “accessories” (jewelry, pets, other portables)
• The way they act
• Their income
• Their “secrets”
• Their status in society as a whole
• The way they speak / their slang or accent
• Their mode of transportation
London
But why go to Canterbury?
One Answer: Religion
• Canterbury has always been
an important religious center
in England because it is the
place of origin of the
Catholic faith in England.
St. Augustine (seen in
stained glass from the
Canterbury Cathedral) was
sent here by Pope Gregory
the Great to establish the
Catholic faith in the country.
Why was religion important?
• It’s the Middle Ages
– Plague
– Warfare
– High Infant Mortality Rate
– Short Life Expectancy
– …and if you were a peasant, you lived your whole life in
harsh conditions
• About the best thing they had to look forward to was
dying and going to heaven
Thus, heaven was often described as
a white shining castle in the sky.
Huh.
Also, Canterbury was a Pilgrimage Site
People of all classes went on pilgrimages to holy sites
to seek miraculous cures, to find forgiveness for their sins, and
to ask for help with finances or other problems.
Canterbury was by far the most popular destination.
Also Canterbury is the site of
The Shrine of
St. Thomas à Becket
Becket was a trusted adviser and friend of King Henry
II. Henry named Becket Archbishop of Canterbury.
Becket’s outspoken style
angered the King. One
day, Henry complained,
“Will no one rid me of
this meddlesome
priest?” Three knights
rode to Canterbury
where they found
Becket at the altar of
Canterbury Cathedral.
Becket was murdered at the altar.
The death of Becket
angered the peasants
who felt his Saxon
heritage made him one
of them.
Canterbury Cathedral became a site for pilgrims
to offer prayers to St. Thomas.
Today, a modern cross made from swords marks the
site of the martyrdom.
England’s Norman rulers had introduced the French
language to England, and it had displaced English for
literary purposes, especially in the upper class. French
was spoken in court circles and by the aristocracy.
Latin was the language of the church. It was used in the

monasteries and the centers of learning.
Therefore, French and Latin were the

languages of the educated.
The fact that Chaucer chose to write in

English (Middle English), rather than
French or Latin like many of his fellow
writers, meant that ordinary folk could
enjoy The Canterbury Tales and their
vivid characters, adding tremendously
to the prestige of the English language.
The late fourteenth century world was still
very much one of the spoken word. Books
were copied by hand and were a rare luxury
until the advent of the printing press 70
years later. The educated elite could read,
but they preferred to hear texts read out
loud for entertainment. The Canterbury
Tales, with their earthy humor and vivid
dialogue, were a runaway success.
The Frame Story
• Chaucer used the structure of the frame
story – or a story within a story.
Chaucer as the Narrator
All of the tales told

by each character
• By using the device of a journey, he was able to naturally bring
together a cross-section of medieval society:
– Feudal
– Ecclesiastical (church)
– Urban
• His tone ranged from comic to ironic to satirical, but always
friendly and warm-hearted.
• Although often considered the first short stories in English
literature, they are written in poetical form – rhymed pairs of five
beat iambic lines, later termed the heroic couplet.
There was a knight, a most distinguished man,
Who from the day on which he first began
To ride abroad had followed chivalry,
Truth, honour, generousness and courtesy.

Chaucer’s Plan ...
• Start with a prologue followed by a
series of stories linked by dialogues
and commentaries
• Each character would tell 2 stories
going and 2 stories returning to the
Tabard Inn in London
– uh… returning from WHERE?
• Canterbury, of course. After all, his
work IS called :
The Canterbury Tales
Chaucer’s Death
• Chaucer died before his plan was completed.

Instead of the proposed 124 stories, he wrote only
24.
• He died in 1400 and was buried in Westminster
Abby, the first poet to be buried in what has
become known as Poets’ Corner.
• The Prologue is considered by historians to be our
best picture of life in 14th century England.
So, let’s travel back to London, to the area called
Southward, and stop at the Tabard Inn.
We’ll meet the characters and hear their stories.
The story begins...

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Geoffrey Chaucer

• Chaucer was frequently sent to the continent on

• Controller of Customs on Wools, Skins and Hides for the Port of

Latin was the language of the church. It was used in the

Therefore, French and Latin were the

The fact that Chaucer chose to write in

Chaucer as the Narrator

All of the tales told

There was a knight, a most distinguished man,

Who from the day on which he first began

To ride abroad had followed chivalry,

Truth, honour, generousness and courtesy.

• Chaucer died before his plan was completed.

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