Transcript Slide 1

Geoffrey Chaucer
*Chaucer himself is depicted in the Canterbury Tales as the narrator; he is initially
perceived as gregarious and naïve, and later described as silent. His opinions of each
character flagrantly show through in the manner in which he writes each tale
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Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343 – 25 October 1400)
*Chaucer’s various experiences throughout
his life helped to pave the way for the writing
of The Canterbury Tale
*began writing as a poet in his twenties, his
earliest works being translations of other
European poets
*The Canterbury Tales, arguably his most
famous work, was believed to be written as an
inspiration from his pilgrimage to Canterbury,
as he was able to observe a diverse group of
people, including
* Only 24 out of 120 stories were told, all
composed of various genres of medieval
literature
* deemed “The Father of English Poetry” as he
was recognized as the greatest English poet
of his time
* His cause of death is not quite known, as his
tomb was built over one-hundred years
following his death and there is little historical
record to affirm any distinct cause
Geoffrey Chaucer
Chaucer was included in the social class of the
merchants, along with his parents. They consisted of
the middle class.
Chaucer was a modest, inquisitive, and gregarious
character. He was very intelligent and his gift for
writing is evident in his vast variety of
works.
He is depicted as wearing a dark coverchief on his
head, which is similar to a Val that nuns wear. He is
also shown dressed in a long, black cloak.
He is revealed as having a serious and grave
expression along with a fully developed beard. His
hair cannot be explained because he is always shown
wearing his coverchief.
The Pilgrimage from Southwark to
Canterbury
59.4 miles away.
It would have taken at least 4 days to travel this distance back for most
people, but Chaucer has his pilgrims do it in 1 day.
They left Southwark in the morning and arrived in Canterbury as the sun was
setting.
They rode horses on this pilgrimage.
For Medieval men a pilgrimage was a symbolic journey that represented the
course of human life, from one's home on earth to one's true home.
The Tabard Inn
 The Tabard was an inn established in 1307 by abbot
of Hyde, the head of a Benedictine Monastery just
outside of England.
 It was established to provide a hostile for him when
he traveled to England and to accommodate all of the
pilgrims heading to England.
 These pilgrims traveled to England to see the Shrine
of Thomas Beckett in Canterbury Cathedral.
 The Tabard was located on the East Side of Borough
High street in Southwark, an area on the east- side of
London.
Canterbury Cathedral
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Location
Canterbury Cathedral is located in
Canterbury, Kent.
Appearance
One of the oldest and most
famous Christian structures in
England.
Thomas Becket Archbishop of
Canterbury
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After his death, this became a
major pilgrimage destination.
Thomas Becket had a falling out
with King Henry II, and this led to
his murder in the Canterbury
Cathedral.
Canterbury Cathedral
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Canterbury, Kent
Country: United Kingdom of Great Britain
Founded in 602AD by St. Augustine
One of the oldest and most famous Christian structures
It was probably an existing church building from Roman times
The cathedral was set on fire in 1011 by marauding Danes
In 1067 another fire broke out, destroying what was left of the Saxon
cathedral
In 1070 Archbishop Lanfranc began to rebuild the cathedral
After Lanfranc, Anslem added the towers abutting the eastern transepts
and the crypt, largest of its time in England
Thomas Becket was archbishop in 1162 to death in 1170
On December 29, 1170 Thomas Becket was murdered in the cathedral
by 4 knights because he refused to pardon men he had
excommunicated
Still functions as the cathedral for the archbishop of Canterbury
What is a pilgrimage?
 A pilgrimage is a journey of a pilgrim, especially one to a shrine or a sacred
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place
During the Medieval times, people would make extensive journey to visit the
resting place of saints or to visit sacred relics
Jerusalem and Rome were popular pilgrimage sites during the Medieval
period
Many people decided to journey in groups as it was safer to travel in
numbers
These journeys would take months, and numerous times, the pilgrims may
not return because it was dangerous to travel to an unknown destination
There were several spots along popular pilgrim routes that were hospitable
to the travelers
At these resting stops, the pilgrims would eat, rest, drink, and tell stories of
their journeys and of the sites they been to
Because faith was very important to the people of the Medieval times, many
travelers believed that visiting the site would absolve them of their sins
The Doctor
Social Class
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He was part of the Middle Class
Appearance
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He wore blood red garments with
bluish gray in them and they were
lined with taffeta (which was used
for formal wear).
Personality
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He made most of his money from
when plagues struck his country and
he tended to rip people off. Gold
and money was very important to
him. He was somewhat greedy.
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He was very intelligent in the field of
medicine. He knew the cure for any
malady that you had. He also was
educated in astrology; he could read
you your stars and tell you your
luck. He knew his medical
information by heart but did not
know the Bible at all. He was not a
very holy man.
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As for food, he only ate what was
nutritious and never ate food for
pleasure
The Knight
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Distinguished man
Followed chivalry, truth, honor,
generousness, and courtesy
Honored for his noble graces
Successful fighter
Aristocrats or military class
served with distinction in many
campaigns
wise, modest and polite
very worthy man
not gaily dressed
wore a fustian tunic stained and dark
with smudges where his armor left a
mark
not vain
takes the pilgrimage seriously enough
to rush to join straight from battle
possessed fine horses
The Squire
Appearance
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Strong and agile
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20 years old
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Curly hair
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Average height
Social Class
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Aristocrat or Military
Additional Information
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Son of the Knight
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Brave
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Cavalryman
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Good rider
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Veteran of combat
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Devoted to his father
The Yeoman
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The Yeoman was an archer and worked for a knight
or squire. He wore a green hood and coat. His head
was like a nut and his face was brown.
He carried arrows with peacock feathers. He knew
woodcraft. Yeoman wore a brace on their arm and
bore a shield and sword. The yeoman also held a
hunting horn. They were proper foresters.
The yeoman was considered a noble, but was the
lowest of the noble class. He could be a free man
and own a small estate. Yeomen became a class of
people that gained a reputation for hard toil.
The Prioress (The Nun)
Appearance
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Has a simple, shy smile
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Grey eyes
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Very clean
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Wears a nice cloak
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Has a coral bracelet and a golden
brooch
Social Class
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The clergy as a nun
Other Information
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Has very good table manners
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Very kindhearted, charitable, and
respectable
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Real name is Madam Eglantyne
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Speaks French
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Anti-Semitic
THE MONK
Appearance
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Rugged
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Manly Man
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In good shape
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Bald and has a shiny head and face
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Wears very different robes of the
usual monks which was a plain habit
and hood but wore gray fur on his
sleeves of his cope and a gold pin
with a love knot at the end of the
hood
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The gold pin signified that he was not
religious because instead of the gold
pin it should be a rosary.
Social Class
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Clergy
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Abbot meaning father, religious title
given to the head of the monastery
Information
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Rebellious
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Ignores rules and lives and controls
his own life very unlike monks of the
time
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Hunts and rides horses instead of
studying, praying, and working
which the rules of the monastery
forbids
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He is believed to have joined the
monastery because he wanted be
separated from betrayal of people
and of women.
Sergeant at the Law
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Very wise
Talked little
Tricked people into thinking
he was wiser and busier the
he really was
A very good lawyer, could
make a fool-proof contract or
give a great defense
Knew the law by heart
Took large fees and lived well,
middle class
Commissioned by the King of
England
Sergeant at the Law
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He is discreet
He is a able attorney
Wary and wise
Makes people think he is
bruiser and wiser that he
really is
A very busy man
Wore a homely parti-colored
coat with a pin-stripe silken
belt
Important in his social class
The Summoner
Appearance:
The Summoner had a fire-red face, with boils all over.
He had pimples all over his face, and nothing could get rid of
them.
He wore garland around his head
His breath was wretched because he loved to eat garlic and
onions.
Social Class:
He was in the lower class.
His job was to the send those who were arrested for sins to
court.
Lifestyle:
He was a drunken man, and slurred too often, only in Latin.
He rarely followed any of the law.
He was a scary man and partook in too many sexual activities.
He believes he is more knowledgeable than most people.
The Cook
Name was Roger
Skillful
Master of his trade
Good at cooking
Cut on his shin
Best dish was Creamed Chicken Pie
Trade Class
Rude and vulgar man
Engages in violent and arguable behavior
Social Class- the Clergy
Truly knew the gospel and
preached it
Disliked extorting the tithe
Gave to the poor out of his own
belongings
Nothing stopped him from
preaching
A description of physical
appearance
is not given because a parson is a
stereotype of the perfect priest.
A haberdasher
is a person who sells small articles for sewing, such as
buttons, ribbons and zippers. In English, haberdasher
is another term for a men's outfitter. A haberdasher
would sell small accessories, like linens and silks.
Another meaning of "haberdasher" refers to a "dealer
in, or maker of, hats and caps.”
Medieval craftsmen, like haberdashers, belonged
to guilds. Each guild had a hall or house to meet in.
The members worked together to insure the quality of
their work, train apprentices, set prices, care for the
sick members of their guilds and the widows and
children of deceased members. The men of the guild
were wealthy, and their sons were automatically born
into the guild.
THE PARSON
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Wore a tabard, loose
jacket.
Poor in his social class,
rich in holiness and work.
Stands out as what the
parish priest should be.
Lived a perfect life taught
others to follow.
Ideal Christian Priest.
Pardoner
Appearance
Long, blonde hair
Wears a cap with a holy relic on it
Big, bulging eyes
Smooth facial skin
Social Class
Clergy, Freeman, contested status
Lifestyle Information
A pardoner is one who dispenses papal
pardons.
He was gentle and patient because of
working with the pope.
The Doctor
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One of the best of his profession
Could heal almost any illness
Was in very good shape, thin
Has an obsession with gold and finical gain
Believes in study of stars.
The Merchant
Appearance
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Forking beard
Motley Dress
Beaver hat
Buckled boots
Sat high on his horse
Social Class
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Free, High status non-noble
Info important to lifestyle
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An expert at currency exchange
The Wife of Bath
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A deaf but intelligent woman
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A very skilled tailor, a person who
creates clothes
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She wore very heavy kerchiefs
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Her shoes were soft and new
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Bold, beautiful face but a little
reddish
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She had five husbands
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She was alone during her childhood
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Skilled in traveling
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She had spaces in her teeth
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She had large hips that was
covered by a mantle
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Likes to laugh and talk to others
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She knew how to flirt very well
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She was the type that couldn’t keep
her man down. She was too outgoing.
The Wife of Bath
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A bold, handsome woman, deaf in one
ear and gap toothed
As a seamstress, she is dressed rather
extravagantly in scarlet colored clothes
She is a worldly woman, having seen
many different places
After living with five different husbands,
she is experienced and well versed in
the games of love.
Through her experiences, she has
gained intellect, independence, and the
ability to provide for herself
The Weaver
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Wise, fit to be noble
Trim and fresh, silver knives
had money
Clothe making profession
All artisans.
They are dressed in the livery,
or uniform, of their guild.
The narrator compliments their
shiny dress and mentions that
each was fit to be a city official.
Demonstrate the pride
associated with being a guild
member
successful people
Guilds are professional
organizations for craftsmen
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The characters are proud of
their wealth and display it with
ornate objects
The wives enjoyed the status
of the husbands
Gave the women social
recognition
Demonstrate the pride
associated with being a guild
member
belonged to a guild
(associations of tradesmen,
somewhat powerful in this time
period)
dressed luxuriously
their wives are demanding and
controlling, were social
climbing
Manciple
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Appearance
Elderly Gentleman
Bearded
Wears a long cloak and hat
Social class
Trader
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Steward for a law school in
London
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authorized to buy
provisions (food or other
necessities)
Relevant Information
Never rash
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Illiterate
Wiser than thirty lawyers he
feeds
Cunning
Cheated well-educated
lawyers
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by putting aside a tidy little
sum for himself
Came from Inner Temple
All carters follow his
example in buying
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Used to watch the market
carefully
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Go in first do he did well in
shopping
The Miller
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The Miller was a broad, well-muscled man who
could easily wrestle a ram.
The Miller’s job was to grind wheat into flour using
large rocks which constituted his large musculature.
The Miller was so adept at his trade that he could
tell the quality of grain simply by feeling it.
The Miller’s social standing was with the lot of the
Peasants. However, because of his wealth, not as
much as a noble’s, he was held with higher regard
among the peasants.
Plowman
Appearance
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Wore a tabard(loose jacket) smock
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He would not have been dressed up in
nice clothes because of his occupation
and he might have smelled from
carrying manure
Occupation
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He worked in fields
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He dug corn and carried manure
Social Class
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The Plowman’s social class is
considered to be among the virtuous
poor or lower class
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He was extremely poor but
represented all the Christian values
and virtues
Relevant information to the lifestyle of
the pilgrim
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He was a good worker who was
religious
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He lived in peace and charity and
treated his neighbor with much
respect
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Plowman helped the poor and was
always charitable
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He was the Parson’s brother
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He always paid his tithes and they
were on time and in full
Friar
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Social Class: clergy
Jolly, Festive
Pale-skinned
Strong
Happy and sturdy voice
Good singer and hurdy-gurdy
Sparkly eyes
His name was Hubert.
Courteous
His job didn’t make him
wealthy but he knew how to
make a profit
He wasn’t like the friar’s before
him
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Limiter
Most Mellow of the Four
Orders
Match maker to many girls
Got many girls in trouble
Was able to hear confessions
Forgiving to all people
Made a decent living
Knew taverns and inns best
Easily got money from people
Deceiving, Immoral
Made a profit off of all that he
did for people.
Wore a robe
Reeve
Reeve was a slender man
He had a beard shaven to the best of his ability; it was as clean-shaven
as he could get it to be
His hair looked as if it were cut by clippers; cut around the ears
long legs and was very lean
short temper
could be angered very easily
belonged to the middle class.
Good writer
carpenter
An administrative officer (high rank)
The Franklin
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Franklin means “free man”
White-bearded and redfaced
- Like Santa Claus
Wealthy gentleman farmer
but was not born noble
Middle Class
Loves food
- House seemed to snow
meat and drink
Enjoys good living
Well-liked by other pilgrims
The Host: Harry Barley
Appearance
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Bright eyes
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Wide body
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Manly
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Very handsome
Social Class
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Trader class
Information
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Joyful man
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Kind-hearted
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Generous in giving food and drink
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Invented the idea of telling the
stories of the pilgrimage
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Offers dinner to the pilgrim who tells
the best story
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Maintains peace
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Guides the trip
The Franklin
•A medieval wealthy land owner.
•His beard was white as a daisy-petal.
•Sanguine, high colored, and benign.
•He was a free man; He didn’t serve a lord but was not a
noble.
•He lived in pleasure believing that happiness is the most
important goal in life.
•He is a connoisseur of food and wine, so much so that his
table remains laid and ready for food all day.