#1 – Storytelling Why do we tell stories? In what situations? What

makes a good story?#2 – Medieval Times

What do you know about the medieval period? What was life like? What role did the church play in people’s lives? What problems did people face?

#3 – Love and Marriage What do you think most women want? Most men? Is

it something different? Was it the same hundreds of years ago?

Geoffrey Chaucer

Known as the father of English literatureBorn between 1340 and 1345Father was a wealthy wine merchantChaucer received a well-rounded

education.Chaucer’s father secured him a position at

court in the household of Elizabeth, Countess of Ulster, who was the wife of King Edward III’s second son. Important opportunity for a medieval youth Would have secured him a successful future

Favored by the monarchy for his diplomatic work Sent to Italy Most likely where he became acquainted with the works

of Petrarch and Dante, which influenced his writingPublished 4 works between 1370 and 1386

The Book of the Duchess The Parliament of Fowls The House of Tame Troilus and Criseyde

First poet buried in the “Poets’ Corner” of Westminster Abbey Supervised construction of this monument

The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer’s masterpiece, was never completed Began in 1387 Ended with Chaucer’s death on October 25, 1400

Kings and nobles had all power politically.The Catholic church had all power spiritually.Most were poor farmers struggling to survive.Corruption abounded in government and the

church.Labor shortage due to The PlagueThe Canterbury Tales was well-received by

the public.The work departed from the norm.

The belief existed that all good literary work was modeled off of something already in existence.

Important works were usually written in Latin or French; Chaucer wrote in English

29 pilgrims plus Chaucer, who is the Narrator, and the Host

Leaving from The Tabard Inn outside London

Traveling to the shrine of St. Thomas à Becket

Read The General Prologue and The Knight’s Tale, Part 1 and answer corresponding questions.

1. They are going to ask for the saint’s help and healing.

2. He possesses the highest social standing among the pilgrims.

3. The knight’s son is the squire and his servant is the Yeoman.

4. She is friendly and entertaining. She seems to be working very hard at pretending to be elegant.

5. She is wealthy and it also indicates a level of worldliness.

6. He eats well and has a degree of wealth. He spurs and possibly hunts. He is a member of a religious order, but is also wealthy. His main interest is hunting.

7. Religious institutions of the time allowed for many to live a comfortable lifestyle without requiring a special devotion from them.

8. Chaucer is using indirect characterization: he describes who the Friar knew and how he spent his time.

9. His uses skillful begging to earn his living. He cares nothing about what he is supposed to be doing or what he believes in terms of the clergy. He is supposed to be helping the poor and widows.

10. The Franklin likes food and drink. He loves to entertain. He’s involved with community affairs and has been a judge, a sheriff, and Parliamentary rep. The Cleric likes books of philosophy.

These men are part of the new rising middle class comprised of successful, affluent, skilled workers.

11. The wives are skilled social climbers who urge their husbands to run for office. The fact that the men are stylishly dressed show that they either agree with their wives or are being prodded by their wives.

12. The Doctor watches people’s stars rather than treating their illnesses in an attempt to get money.

13. They should all behave with these traits of integrity, kindness, and generosity like the Parson.

14. He is attributing the traits of an animal to the Miller: those of slovenliness and cunning. He has traits of loquacity, belligerence, lecherousness.

*Summoner acts drunkenly and unintelligently. He will allow immoral activity to go on, provided he gets paid to look the other way.

*Pardoner is dishonest and has tricked country folk and made fools of the priests and congregation.

15. He is concerned that they will be riding without much to amuse them.

What is love? What makes for a good relationship?

The Art of Courtly Love Andreas Capellanus Eleanor of Aquitaine

Certain rules Love comes into a person through the eyes

Not a meeting of the minds Exclusively based on adultery Love is always increasing and decreasing

Jealousy is a good thing Makes the men better

Totally benefits the man Go-betweens are used

http://cla.calpoly.edu/~dschwart/engl513/courtly/courtly.htm

http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~chaucer/special/authors/andreas/de_amore.html

Women are on a pedestalConstantly testedLoosely connected with the Church

Fighting for the CrusadesLoyalty to your lordCarrying yourself

Must look good Brave and selfless Fight in someone’s name Strong sense of ethics Generous

Not usually what happened – persona

Idealized images of how people in the higher classes behave, especially in love and war

Love is inspired by perfect beauty and virtue.

All characters deal with one another in completely chivalrous ways.

The settling of a quarrel through a test of combat

Everyone is perfect Fictionalized version of good people Creates communities Nationalism

Describe the variety of occupations, the degree of wealth, the level of education, and the beginnings of political power represented among the pilgrims.

Contrast a corrupt clergymen from the Prologue with the Parson.

Select three characters from the Prologue whom Chaucer seems to be satirizing.

What do you think of how the two men fall in love with Emily? Why do authors use love at first sight in stories?

Why is the Knight the first person to tell his tale?

Complete worksheet.

Read The Knight’s Tale, Parts 2, 3, and 4 and answer corresponding questions.

Have you ever had to fight for something you loved or felt passionate about? How did it turn out? Did you feel the ends results were fair? Explain why or why not.

Rota FortunaeThe goddess Fortuna

spins the wheel at random

Found in Dante’s Inferno and The Canterbury Tales

Used to educate illiterate masses

Found in medieval art and in windows of cathedrals

RegnoI reign

RegnaviI have

reigned

Sum sine regno

I am without a kingdom

RegnaboI shall reign

Explain the features in this tale which characterize it as a romance.

How did the Knight seem to define love?How does the Knight’s story fit with what

you know about him from the Prologue and with what he values?

What role do the gods play in this tale?

With a partner, look for instances of where Fortune’s wheel is found in The Knight’s Tale thus far. Discuss its purpose in the story.

Read The Miller’s Prologue and Tale and answer corresponding questions.

Is revenge ever sweet? Does it ever have any purpose? Or does it only create more trouble?

Fabliau A short tale, usually vulgar, with a quick funny

ending. The Merchant’s Tale is also an example of this.

Contrast The Knight’s Tale with The Miller’s Tale.

Fully describe the character Absalom.

Contemplate Chaucer’s reason for including such a crude tale and the response medieval audiences may have had to the story.

Read The Nun’s Priest’s Prologue and Tale and answer corresponding questions.

Why have authors used animals to teach lessons in literature? What can they accomplish that human beings perhaps cannot?

Allegory – an extended metaphor in which a person, abstract idea, or event stands for itself and for something else It usually involves moral or spiritual concepts which

are more significant than the actual story. Examples

Milton’s Paradise Lost George Orwell’s Animal Farm

Parody – a humorous or satirical imitation of a person, event, or serious work of literature designed to ridicule in nonsensical fashion or to criticize by clever duplication

With the treatment and role of women being an important theme throughout The Canterbury Tales, explain why it’s appropriate that Chaucer would tell this tale.

Explain how the Nun’s Priest’s Tale fits the requirements for a beast fable.

“Woman is man’s joy” (Page 159)Reference to Adam and Eve (Page 161)False flatterers (Page 162)Fortune (Page 164)

This tale could be looked at as a parody or an allegory. With your group, take a stance and back up your position with examples from the book.

Read The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale and answer corresponding questions.

Make a list of words that you feel adequately describe the Wife of Bath.

What religious attitudes about women are attacked by the Wife of Bath?

What is ironic about her anger against these attitudes?

Argues that it is not possible to remain a virgin, and also support marriage (Page 167)

Argues the use of sexual organs (Page 168)

Doesn’t condemn virginity, but says it’s not for her (Page 169)

A contradiction She uses the same arguments that men use to

degrade women. Says women are good liars (Page 170) Nags her husband (Page 174) Suffers “through his lust and pretend enjoyment” for

“profit” (Page 174)Is she a stereotype or is she an

empowered woman?Says that all women truly want is control

over their husbands (Page 187)

Examine the debate over the Wife being a stereotype of women or an empowered female character. With your group, look for specific examples of how the Wife fits your side of the argument. You will then write your findings on the board and share with the class.

Read The Friar’s Prologue and Tale and answer corresponding questions.

How often do you encounter people who are not what they seem? Have you ever had someone like this in your life? What were the repercussions and consequences of this person’s influence? Did the person ever experience hardship because of his or her actions?

Medieval exemplum – a dramatic part of a sermon that illustrates the central idea; a tale of immoral behavior with a moral ending

Common theme of a corrupt political official getting what he deserves

In what ways can this tale be considered an example of a fabliau?

Why is it ironic that the Friar accuses the Summoner of avarice?

“Nothing good can be said about a summoner.” (Page 193)

Uses spies (Page 194)Could be bought and bribed (Page 195)“Despised” title (Page 196)Agrees to terms with the devil (Page 199)Summoner is taken to hell (Page 201)

Write your own version of The Friar’s Tale, attacking a modern day celebrity or political figure for their actions.

Read The Summoner’s Prologue and Tale and answer corresponding questions.

In your day to day life, you most likely encounter hypocrisy in some form or another. How do you deal with such things? Do you find hypocrisy especially rampant in a particular area (a profession, a group of people, etc.)?

Also known as WycliffismMedieval heresy

Attacked the idea that religious power came through hierarchy

Piety was what mattered A holy layperson had as much power as a priest True community was about the community of the

faithfulOriginated in the 1370s or early 1380s in

Oxford with the followers of John WycliffeLollards were persecuted after The

Peasants’ Revolt in 1381

Was considered a threat to the government and the church

Protests against the wealth, the power, and the pride of the clergy

Discredited transubstantiation The belief that the Eucharist actually changes into

the body and blood of ChristFavored consubstantiation

The belief that the body and blood of Christ exists alongside the Eucharist (bread and wine). The bread and wine does not become the body and blood.

Based on the definitions you’ve received so far (fabliau, exemplum, allegory, parody, etc.), what genre do you think this story fits into? Why?

What has happened to the friendly feud between the Summoner and the Friar?

Work with a partner to list other instances of political or social movements that grew out of distrust for the social climate. Think of history, throughout the world and in America. How did these upheavals end? Was change granted? Or was the movement shut down by the people in power?

Read The Merchant’s Prologue, Tale, and Epilogue and answer corresponding questions.

The tales we’ve read deal a lot with relationships, namely love and marriage. In your experience, what are some of the issues/events that can doom a relationship? Are there certain things that can doom a relationship from the start?

This story is another example of a fabliau. A short tale, usually vulgar, with a quick funny

ending.Love triangles

The Knight’s Tale Emily is compared to a lily and a rose.

Page 22 The Miller’s Tale

Alison is compared to honey and apples. Page 67

The Merchant’s Tale May is compared to the month of May.

Page 255

Why would the Wife of Bath approve of May’s behavior?

Do you feel sorry for January in the end? Was he better off not knowing the truth?

What does this tale tell you about the standards of beauty in Chaucer’s time?

Compare and contrast the love triangles found in each story in your group. You will write your findings on the board and share with the class.

Read The Franklin’s Prologue and Tale and answer corresponding questions.

What does it mean to have honor? How important is a person’s word in our day and age? Is it still important?

How does Dorigen fit into the medieval concept of womanhood?

Why would the Franklin, a member of the middle class, tell the story of the nobility?

Contrast the description of marriage in The Franklin’s Tale with the description of marriage in The Wife of Bath’s Tale.

Read The Pardoner’s Introduction, Prologue, and Tale and answer corresponding questions.

In our current society, greed can be hard to define. What do you think some of the fundamental differences are between being greedy and merely being ambitious? Is there any difference at all, or is the want to be successful just a natural human inclination?

Explain in detail the moral lesson conveyed in The Pardoner’s Tale.

Give a full character description of the pilgrim Pardoner.

This tale warns against such vices as avarice, gluttony, sloth, and most notably greed. Write a modern day exemplum that places money as the root of all evil. Include characters, dialogue, and make the moral lesson clear.