Introduction to Old and Middle English: Part II Chaucer‘s time and life April 21, 2006 Andreas H. Jucker
Introduction to Old and Middle English:
Part II
Chaucer‘s timeand life
April 21, 2006Andreas H. Jucker
ahj/Winter semester 2005/06D
ialo
gue
An
alys
is
Geoffrey Chaucer’sCanterbury Tales
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
ahj/Winter semester 2005/06D
ialo
gue
An
alys
is
Geoffrey Chaucer Early 1340s: Chaucer born 1348/49: Black death 1359: Soldier in the king’s army 1372/73: First journey to Italy 1374: Controller of customs 1378: Second journey to Italy 1385: Justice of Peace in Kent 1389-91: Clerk of the king’s word 1391: Deputy forester in Somerset 1400: Chaucer dies
ahj/Winter semester 2005/06D
ialo
gue
An
alys
is
Chaucer’s London
Pearsall, Derek. 1992. The Life of Geoffrey Chaucer. Oxford: Blackwell, p. 20.
ahj/Winter semester 2005/06D
ialo
gue
An
alys
is
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales The manuscript Genre of the Tales: Collection of stories
The General Prologue Genre of the General Prologue: Estates satire Those who fight (e.g. the knight) Those who pray (e.g. the parson) Those who labour (e.g. the ploughman)
ahj/Winter semester 2005/06D
ialo
gue
An
alys
is
Social hierarchy ofChaucer’s England
First estate Second estate Third estate
Clergy Aristocracy Rural commons Urban commons Landless commonsKing, Queen
Archbishop Duke, DuchessBishop Earl, CountessMajor Abbot Baron, Lady Mayor of LondonAbbot, Prior Knight, Banneret,
LadyAlderman of London,Mayor of great town,major legal officer
Archdeacon,Dean
Knight, Bachelor Other mayor or civic orlegal officer, greatmerchant
Priest, Master ofArts
Squire Lesser merchant
Monk, Friar Franklin,Yeoman
Craftsman Yeoman (servant)
Husbandman Journeyman Groom (servant)Cottar Apprentice Page, Laborer
Vagrant
Source: Jeffrey L. Singman and Will McLean. 1995. Daily Life in Chaucer’s England. Westport: Greenwood, 23.
ahj/Winter semester 2005/06D
ialo
gue
An
alys
is
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
The Ellesmere
Chaucer
ahj/Winter semester 2005/06D
ialo
gue
An
alys
is
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (LZW) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
ahj/Winter semester 2005/06D
ialo
gue
An
alys
is
Chaucer’s Canterbury pilgrims
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
The Knight
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
The Prioress
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
The Friar
ahj/Winter semester 2005/06D
ialo
gue
An
alys
is
Chaucer’s Canterbury pilgrims
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
The Wife of Bath
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
The Parson
ahj/Winter semester 2005/06D
ialo
gue
An
alys
is
Reassertion of English c. 1250 first treatise on teaching French as a foreign language to children
1258 King Henry III issues first proclamation since the Norman Conquest in English
1337-1453 Hundred Years’ War: animosity towards everything French
1348-1350 Black Death 1362 Parliament opened for the first time in English
1381 Peasants’ Revolt 1340?-1400 The life of Geoffrey Chaucer
ahj/Winter semester 2005/06D
ialo
gue
An
alys
is
Towards an English standard 1423 The records of parliament in English
c.1430 Town and Guild documents in English
1476 William Caxton’s printing press in Westminster
1499 Publication of English-Latin word list
ahj/Winter semester 2005/06D
ialo
gue
An
alys
is
Middle English Dialects
Northern
East Midland
South EastSouth West
West Midland
Source: Burnley 1983: xvi
ahj/Winter semester 2005/06D
ialo
gue
An
alys
isStandardisation:The rise of East Midland Time: end of 14th century and 15th century
Intermediate position between North and South
Large, populous and prosperous area (Oxford), Cambridge London (political and cultural centre) Chancery clerks Caxton‘s printing press (1476)