The Age of Chaucer The Age of Chaucer 1349-14001349-1400

I. Major Historical I. Major Historical EventsEvents

A. 1348 the bubonic plague spreads in EnglandA. 1348 the bubonic plague spreads in England 1. between one third and one half of the island population 1. between one third and one half of the island population

died within 18 monthsdied within 18 months 2. fostered a positive English nationalism, abetted by 2. fostered a positive English nationalism, abetted by

mounting hatred of France during the Hundred Years’ War mounting hatred of France during the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453)(1337-1453)

B. loosening of ties between England and the Roman churchB. loosening of ties between England and the Roman church

C. division of parliament into House of Lords and House of C. division of parliament into House of Lords and House of CommonsCommons

D. laboring population becomes a scarce commodityD. laboring population becomes a scarce commodity 1.formerly despised worker finds nobility bidding against each 1.formerly despised worker finds nobility bidding against each

otherother 2. English labor realizes worth and demands economic 2. English labor realizes worth and demands economic

freedoms and reformsfreedoms and reforms

E. new patterns of manufacture and trade emergedE. new patterns of manufacture and trade emerged 1. money was replacing labor service and 1. money was replacing labor service and barterbarter 2. individualism was replacing cooperative 2. individualism was replacing cooperative communitiescommunities

F. reaction to religious and moral ideals (2 F. reaction to religious and moral ideals (2 diametrically opposed reactions)diametrically opposed reactions)

1. some abandoned pretext of piety (clerics 1. some abandoned pretext of piety (clerics brazenly brazenly ignored their vows, some assaulted ignored their vows, some assaulted and murdered and murdered who announced the who announced the merrymaking)merrymaking)

2. others explored more profoundly than 2. others explored more profoundly than ever the ever the depths of faith and the religious lifedepths of faith and the religious life

II. Cultural ConditionsII. Cultural Conditions

A. secularization of English LifeA. secularization of English Life1. first time in over 700 years the most 1. first time in over 700 years the most

intelligent and creative minds of intelligent and creative minds of England were electing a secular rather England were electing a secular rather than a religious careerthan a religious career

2. Churchmen were almost as infected by 2. Churchmen were almost as infected by a new materialism as were the peoplea new materialism as were the people

3. except for the Parson, every 3. except for the Parson, every ecclesiastical figure among Chaucer’s ecclesiastical figure among Chaucer’s pilgrims is gross in all appetites except pilgrims is gross in all appetites except that of self-denying faiththat of self-denying faith

B. Chaucer’s age was the first to manifest a B. Chaucer’s age was the first to manifest a distinctly national expression (English distinctly national expression (English historians frequently refer to the Age of historians frequently refer to the Age of Chaucer as “The End of the Middle Ages”)Chaucer as “The End of the Middle Ages”)

1. called “The Father of English Poetry”1. called “The Father of English Poetry”2. portrayal of uniquely English characters 2. portrayal of uniquely English characters and attitudesand attitudes3. kinship with the modern world3. kinship with the modern world

a. mockery of outworn chivalrya. mockery of outworn chivalryb. his scorn of most previous English writingsb. his scorn of most previous English writingsc. love of ancient pagan myth and storyc. love of ancient pagan myth and storyd. pragmatism and skepticismd. pragmatism and skepticisme. dislike for tyrannical monarchse. dislike for tyrannical monarchsf. curiosity for sciencef. curiosity for scienceg. his warm love for humanityg. his warm love for humanity

C. a large and prosperous middle class was C. a large and prosperous middle class was beginning to play important roles in beginning to play important roles in church and state, blurring traditional church and state, blurring traditional class boundariesclass boundaries

III. LanguageIII. LanguageA.A. until end of 13th century writers using English appear until end of 13th century writers using English appear

apologetic, often have prologues justifying the use of apologetic, often have prologues justifying the use of the “ignorant vernacular”the “ignorant vernacular”

B.B. tone changes early in 14th century – everybody knows tone changes early in 14th century – everybody knows and uses Englishand uses English

C.C. in 1362 parliament ordered all lawsuits to be in 1362 parliament ordered all lawsuits to be conducted in English (rather than French)conducted in English (rather than French)

D.D. Royalty resisted abandoning French, the language of Royalty resisted abandoning French, the language of prestigeprestige

E.E. Richard II addressed mob during Peasants’ Revolt in Richard II addressed mob during Peasants’ Revolt in English and had to listen to the order in English that English and had to listen to the order in English that deposed himdeposed him

F.F. speeches of Henry IV claiming the throne were speeches of Henry IV claiming the throne were delivered in Englishdelivered in English

G.G. by Chaucer’s day French in England had become by Chaucer’s day French in England had become outmodedoutmoded

IV. Chaucer (1340-1400)IV. Chaucer (1340-1400)

A.A. first great poet of English literaturefirst great poet of English literature1. one of the greatest love poems in any 1. one of the greatest love poems in any language, language, TroilusTroilus, would have secured him , would have secured him a place among the major poets.a place among the major poets.

B. not captive of any special moral or political B. not captive of any special moral or political or social ideas, or of any set of mannersor social ideas, or of any set of manners

C. rarely gave way to judgments or C. rarely gave way to judgments or condemnationscondemnations

D. Chaucer’s Canterbury pilgrims present D. Chaucer’s Canterbury pilgrims present realistic gallery of individualistic realistic gallery of individualistic competitors in a money-haunted societycompetitors in a money-haunted society

E. Chaucer product of a mercantile classE. Chaucer product of a mercantile class1. a page to the wife of the king’s son1. a page to the wife of the king’s son

2. captured in France and ransomed a year later2. captured in France and ransomed a year later

3. became squire in king’s household, traveled 3. became squire in king’s household, traveled extensivelyextensively

a. brought him into direct contact with the a. brought him into direct contact with the Italian Renaissance, probably acquired Italian Renaissance, probably acquired manuscripts of works by Dante Petrarch, and manuscripts of works by Dante Petrarch, and other new verse formsother new verse forms

4. became responsible for maintenance of royal 4. became responsible for maintenance of royal palace and other propertiespalace and other properties

5. buried in Westminster Abbey, since ringed by 5. buried in Westminster Abbey, since ringed by graves of later English writers, known as the graves of later English writers, known as the Poets’ CornerPoets’ Corner

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury TalesI. FrameworkI. Framework

A. Pilgrimages to CanterburyA. Pilgrimages to Canterbury1. As early as the 3rd century, pious Christians journeyed to the Holy Land for 1. As early as the 3rd century, pious Christians journeyed to the Holy Land for

spiritual reinforcement spiritual reinforcement

2. medieval travel limited the number of palmers (wore a sprig of palm to show 2. medieval travel limited the number of palmers (wore a sprig of palm to show they had journeyed to Palestine)they had journeyed to Palestine)

3. holy places were sought within western Europe and in England, most famous 3. holy places were sought within western Europe and in England, most famous shrine was that of Canterbury, contained the relics of St. Thomas a Becketshrine was that of Canterbury, contained the relics of St. Thomas a Becket

a. Becket was 12th century French cleric who rose to a high secular a. Becket was 12th century French cleric who rose to a high secular position under Henry II, becoming chancellor of England, position under Henry II, becoming chancellor of England, then Archbishop of Canterburythen Archbishop of Canterbury

b. became a vigorous supporter of the church against the monarchb. became a vigorous supporter of the church against the monarch c. 10-year struggle reached apex with a Christmas Day sermon in 1170, c. 10-year struggle reached apex with a Christmas Day sermon in 1170,

in which Becket condemned and excommunicated many of king’s in which Becket condemned and excommunicated many of king’s supporterssupporters

d. Henry II bitterly reproached his followers saying “Not one will deliver d. Henry II bitterly reproached his followers saying “Not one will deliver me from this lowborn priest!”me from this lowborn priest!”

e. four knights took statement as a royal command, embarked e. four knights took statement as a royal command, embarked for England, invaded the cathedral, and slaughtered the archbishop in the for England, invaded the cathedral, and slaughtered the archbishop in the midst of a servicemidst of a service f. the blood of the martyr was reported to produce miraculous curesf. the blood of the martyr was reported to produce miraculous cures

4.4. by Chaucer’s time pilgrimages had become by Chaucer’s time pilgrimages had become scandalous to some, medieval man likes the scandalous to some, medieval man likes the variety and excitement of travel, but expense variety and excitement of travel, but expense and difficulties of travel prevented tourism, and difficulties of travel prevented tourism, except when a pilgrimage was the reasonexcept when a pilgrimage was the reason

5. medieval pilgrimage frequently buried its 5. medieval pilgrimage frequently buried its religious purpose under gaietyreligious purpose under gaiety

6.6. Most of Chaucer’s band seem to be enjoying the Most of Chaucer’s band seem to be enjoying the April release from winter bondage, original pious April release from winter bondage, original pious purpose shines in Parson, Plowman, and Knightpurpose shines in Parson, Plowman, and Knight

7. Chaucer conducts 2 fictions simultaneously, that 7. Chaucer conducts 2 fictions simultaneously, that of the individual tale, and that of the pilgrim to of the individual tale, and that of the pilgrim to whom he has assigned itwhom he has assigned it

II. The PrologueII. The PrologueA.A. Chaucer gives number of pilgrims, including himself, as thirty Chaucer gives number of pilgrims, including himself, as thirty

(with “preestes thre,” perhaps a later scribal error, (with “preestes thre,” perhaps a later scribal error, accompanying the Prioress,, actually gives a count of 32)accompanying the Prioress,, actually gives a count of 32)

B. En route pilgrims overtaken by the Canon’s Yeoman, who B. En route pilgrims overtaken by the Canon’s Yeoman, who relates a story and would make the total 33relates a story and would make the total 33

C. Chaucer intended a total of 120 stories, but wrote only 24, 4 C. Chaucer intended a total of 120 stories, but wrote only 24, 4 unfinishedunfinished

D. innkeeper, acts as master of ceremonies, purposes the plan of D. innkeeper, acts as master of ceremonies, purposes the plan of each pilgrim recounting two stories on the way, and two on the each pilgrim recounting two stories on the way, and two on the return, the best raconteur then being treated to a mealreturn, the best raconteur then being treated to a meal

E. Harry Bailly, “oure hooste,” appears to have been a real E. Harry Bailly, “oure hooste,” appears to have been a real person, the others unclear, but strongly probably were living person, the others unclear, but strongly probably were living modelsmodels

F. Pilgrims widely representative of class and F. Pilgrims widely representative of class and occupationoccupation

1. peasants (majority of population, seldom could afford to leave 1. peasants (majority of population, seldom could afford to leave land) – Plowmanland) – Plowman

2. royalty and hereditary lords, highest rank of society – the 2. royalty and hereditary lords, highest rank of society – the Knight and the SquireKnight and the Squire

3. regular clergy, rank just below the Knight’s class – the 3. regular clergy, rank just below the Knight’s class – the Prioress, the Nun’s Priest, the MonkPrioress, the Nun’s Priest, the Monk

4. secular clergy – Parson4. secular clergy – Parson5. landed gentry – Franklin5. landed gentry – Franklin6. learned professions – Man of law, Doctor of Physic6. learned professions – Man of law, Doctor of Physic7. mercantile class – Merchant, the five Guildsmen, and in a way, 7. mercantile class – Merchant, the five Guildsmen, and in a way,

the Wife of Baththe Wife of Bath8. student – Clerk of Oxford8. student – Clerk of Oxford9. Minor officialdom – the Reeve, Manciple, Summoner9. Minor officialdom – the Reeve, Manciple, Summoner10 contemporary soldier – the Yeoman10 contemporary soldier – the Yeoman11. the seaman – the Shipman11. the seaman – the Shipman12. specialized trade – Cook, Miller12. specialized trade – Cook, Miller13. scoundrelly Pardoner rounds out the group13. scoundrelly Pardoner rounds out the group