Canterbury Tales

How did religious institutions shape the politics, society, and culture of

Europe in the Middle Ages?

Takes place in 14th century England Middle Ages are from 5th century to 15th

centuryRenaissance from 14th century to 17th century

Pilgrimages to seeSaint Thomas a Becketburied in the cathedral atCanterbury, England

The interior of the cathedral was meant to awe and inspire one to a life of piety and tithing. One’s gaze was directed Heavenward so that one forgot the toil of this earth, but not the importance of the church clergy in helping the sinful gain entrance to the hereafter. A hefty sum was extracted from the faithful in the form of “indulgences” which allow the clergy to maintain lavish lifestyles.

Chaucer originally set out to write 120 tales, four for each of his original thirty characters. The tales end after only 24

because then he died (1400)In 1387, each character was

to tell two stories on the way to the cathedral, and two stories on the way back.

The pilgrim who told the best tale would be rewarded with a fine supper at Tabard’s Inn, the place where all set out.

Defined as a story told within another storyOne of the first frame stories recordedThe first was the Decameron by Giovanni

Boccaccio in 1351. This work opens with a description of the

Bubonic Plague (Black Death) and leads into an introduction of a group of seven young women and three young men who fled from Plague ridden Florence for a villa outside of the city walls – telling stories as they traveled.

First story - frameInner

tales

pilgrimage – journey to a holy place for penance, to ask for a miracle or healing, to travel and see places/meet people. company – during a pilgrimage, all kinds of

people meet and become friends.courtly love – fight for an unattainable lady,

always be pure and honest, defend the poor and oppressed, loyalty to a king (and usually to God)Arthurian romance – knights and ladies, round

table (sharing power and responsibility)

Corruption of the Church – wealth in the Catholic church, also lust and gluttony, selling pardons

Fabliaux – comical and often grotesque stories in which the characters most often succeed by means of their sharp wits – bawdy tale.

Physiognomy – a science that judged a person’s temperament/personality on their anatomy and how they look.

Canterbury Tales was written by Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400).Chaucer was an only son born

to wealthy parents.He became a page to the

Countess of Ulster (her husband was King Edward III son)

He then became the Controller of the Customs of hides, skins, and wools.

He served in the Hundred Years War between England and France.

He married Philippa Roet and had two sons.

Old English – 5th century to 11th (Beowulf)Middle English – 11th century to 14th (Canterbury

Tales)Modern English – 15th century to now (Shakespeare)In 1378 Chaucer began to develop his vision of

English poetry that would be accessible to the common people (vernacular) as well as the court (not just in French, Italian, or Latin).

About and for the middle class instead of nobilityCanterbury Tales is a poem - decasyllable line (10

syllables) heroic meter (iambic)