The Canterbury The Canterbury TalesTales

By Geoffrey ChaucerBy Geoffrey Chaucer

Here bygynneth the Book of Here bygynneth the Book of the Tales of Caunterbury…the Tales of Caunterbury…

Geoffrey Chaucer’s Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales is a is a frame frame storystory about an unrelated group of about an unrelated group of twenty-nine twenty-nine pilgrimspilgrims traveling traveling together on a pilgrimage. together on a pilgrimage.

Chaucer's original plan for Chaucer's original plan for The The Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales projected about projected about 120 stories, two for each 120 stories, two for each pilgrimpilgrim to tell on the way to to tell on the way to CanterburyCanterbury and two more on the way back.and two more on the way back.

Where are they going and why?Where are they going and why?

A A pilgrimagepilgrimage = traveling to a sacred = traveling to a sacred place for the purpose of place for the purpose of penancepenance. . 

PenancePenance = most often the saying of = most often the saying of prayers, giving of alms or other acts prayers, giving of alms or other acts to make up for sins. to make up for sins.

Take a Take a virtual pilgrimagevirtual pilgrimage at: at:http://http://

crusades.boisestate.edu/vpilgrim/crusades.boisestate.edu/vpilgrim/

Thomas `a BecketThomas `a Becket Archbishop of CanterburyArchbishop of Canterbury Assassinated in 1170Assassinated in 1170 Resulted in a backlash Resulted in a backlash

against the English monarchyagainst the English monarchy Thomas was martyred; he Thomas was martyred; he

became St. Thomas.became St. Thomas. Chaucer’s pilgrims are on their Chaucer’s pilgrims are on their

way to visit his shrine in way to visit his shrine in The The Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales..

Genre ofGenre of Canterbury Tales Canterbury Tales = = Estates SatireEstates Satire

Widespread genre in Widespread genre in medieval Europemedieval Europe

Aim is to give an analysis of Aim is to give an analysis of society in terms of hierarchy, society in terms of hierarchy, social function, and moralitysocial function, and morality

Society is divided into three Society is divided into three estates: those who fight, those estates: those who fight, those who pray, those who laborwho pray, those who labor

Chaucer provides an ideal for Chaucer provides an ideal for each of these estates…who each of these estates…who are they?are they?

There is one pilgrim that does There is one pilgrim that does not fit into any of these not fit into any of these groups. Who is he?groups. Who is he?

What is the goal of satire? What is the goal of satire?

The aim of satire is to The aim of satire is to reform society by pointing reform society by pointing out folly or viceout folly or vice

Optimistic assumption…if Optimistic assumption…if you know what is you know what is good/right, you will do itgood/right, you will do it

What is the satirist’s What is the satirist’s dilemma?dilemma?

Those members who Those members who appreciate satire already get itappreciate satire already get it

Those members who do not Those members who do not get it will not recognize selves get it will not recognize selves in the portraits and will miss in the portraits and will miss the point. They will assume the point. They will assume that satire is meanspirited.that satire is meanspirited.

Howdy, Pilgrims…Howdy, Pilgrims…

General Prologue gives us an General Prologue gives us an anatomy of societyanatomy of society

We can tell something about We can tell something about morality, rank, etc. from external morality, rank, etc. from external featuresfeatures

External appearance is a sign of External appearance is a sign of intangible qualities of a person…still intangible qualities of a person…still a factor today (aka dressing the part)a factor today (aka dressing the part)

Pilgrims are individuals, not Pilgrims are individuals, not groups, but they are known by groups, but they are known by their professionstheir professions

Individualizing details are rare; Individualizing details are rare; most are in some way most are in some way connected with what that connected with what that particular pilgrim ought—and particular pilgrim ought—and usually fails—to dousually fails—to do

A Virtual Tour of A Virtual Tour of CanterburyCanterbury

http://www.hillside.co.uk/tour/http://www.hillside.co.uk/tour/