Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales

Chaucer’s Life Born to a wealthy wine merchant Was made a page in court Served various kings as a soldier, diplomat, and civil

servant Was well traveled and well-spoken Likely met Boccaccio and Petrarch Stayed mostly in London, but eventually to Kent and

Canterbury Died while working on The Canterbury Tales

History of the Tales Geoffrey Chaucer began writing

the tales around 1387 AD Uncompleted manuscript

published 1400AD, the year he died

First book of poetry purposely written in the English language

Set a precedent and poets from Shakespeare to Dryden and Keats to Eliot owe him a debt of gratitude

Artistry of Form As a work of art it encompasses individuality and

universality Narrative structure allowed Chaucer the freedom to

create a variety of matter in a unified form Many genres incorporated including;

Fabliaux Romance Melodrama Parable And more…

Artistry of Form (cont’d.) Despite being unfinished, clear

indications of a plan Each pilgrim to tell at least two

stories maybe four Chaucer was writing and collecting

whatever occurred to him, but it was likely to find a more firmly constructed structure as it neared completion.

Artistry of Language Chaucer wrote in English It was becoming more solid and widespread He used verse, which was the norm, but

varied it according to his purpose Despite borrowing much of his material, his

use of language injects these tales with new life

Mastery of Character Part of his master rests with creating

characters The characters take turns telling tales They have depth and verisimilitude Characters are created through:

Physical descriptions (some quite graphic)

Characters interacting with each other The tales themselves reflecting character

(often specifically their personalities and motivations)

Merits of Meaning Chaucer is free to use tales to convey multiple

themes Creates a microcosm of medieval English life

(almost a sociological exploration possible) Paints a multifaceted picture of humanity Parodies forms of literature Entertains

Here Bygynneth the Book of the tales of Caunterbury

1: Whan that aprill with his shoures soote2: The droghte of march hath perced to the roote,3: And bathed every veyne in swich licour4: Of which vertu engendred is the flour;5: Whan zephirus eek with his sweete breeth6: Inspired hath in every holt and heeth7: Tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne8: Hath in the ram his halve cours yronne,

9: And smale foweles maken melodye,10: That slepen al the nyght with open ye11: (so priketh hem nature in hir corages);12: Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,13: And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,14: To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;15: And specially from every shires ende16: Of engelond to caunterbury they wende,17: The hooly blisful martir for to seke,