Geoffrey Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer and and

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury TalesOverview of a Life and Overview of a Life and

WorkWork

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Chaucer the manChaucer the man

Born 1345-46 ?Positions held:

Esquire of the royal courtComptroller of customs, port of LondonSoldier, Hundred Years’ WarDiplomat PoetJustice of the peaceMember of Parliament...Etc.!

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Celebrated AuthorCelebrated Author

Among works written:The House of Fame, late 1370s.The Parliament of Fowls, 1380.Boece, Troilus, and Croseyede, 1382-86.The Legend of Good Women, 1385-87.The Canterbury Tales.The Canterbury Tales. This was a 13-year project: begun 1387-92

bulk written 1392-95 latest tales 1396-

1400

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Chaucer’s Life and FamilyChaucer’s Life and Family

Chaucer’s father was a vintner. Chaucer belonged to the upper middle class.He had a wife and children.Well respected among peers and held in high esteem by king; received annual wine supplies, which later increased in sizeLittle is known of his life beyond official duties and achievements.He died in 1400 (October 25?).

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About About The Canterbury The Canterbury TalesTales

A series of stories told by individuals representing a cross-section of medieval English society who undergo a Christian pilgrimage from London to Canterbury.

Told as a game to make the journey less tiresome and grueling, and to see who tells the best tale.

Many different storytellers—some rough, vain, or materialistic; others wise, pious, or noble.

Therefore, many different tales...

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The CharactersThe Characters

The KnightThe MillerThe ReeveThe CookThe Man of LawThe Wife of BathThe FriarThe SummonerThe ClerkThe MerchantThe SquireThe Franklin

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More CharactersMore Characters

The PhysicianThe PardonerThe ShipmanThe PrioressSir TopasMelibeeThe MonkThe Nun’s PriestThe Canon’s YeomanThe MancipleThe Parson

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Structure and ThemesStructure and Themes

A prologue precedes each character’s taleThe prologue introduces the character personallyThe tale reveals more through the character’s chosen subject and treatment of that subject Major themes include morality and genuine vs. false pilgrimage

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The Text in Verse: PrologueThe Text in Verse: Prologue“Here bygynneth the Book of the Tales of Caunterbury.

Whan that Aprill with his shoures sooteThe droghte of March hath perced to the

roote,. . . Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breethInspired hath in every holt and heethThe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne. . . Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;And specially from every shires endeOf Engelond to Caunterbury they

wende,…”          Source: http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~chaucer/teachslf/gp-par.htm

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Pronouncing Vowels in Middle Pronouncing Vowels in Middle EnglishEnglish

Middle EnglishSounds like

Modern y,i “myne, sight” “meet”

e, ee “me, meet, mete” (close e)

“mate”

e “begge, rede” (open e)

“bag”

a, aa “mate, maat” “father”

u, ou “hus, hous” “boot”

o, oo “bote, boot” (close o)

“oak”

o “lof, ok” (open o) “bought”