The Middle Ages (1066-1485) The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer (1343 -1400) Known as the Father of English literature, s widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages and the first poet to be buried in Poets’ Comer of Westminster Abbey. ‘While he achieved fame during his lifetime as an author, philosopher, and astronomer, ‘composing a scientific treatise on the astrolabe for his ten-year-old son Lewis, Chaucer also maintained an active career in the civil service as a bureaucrat, courtier and diplomat. Among his many works are The Book of the Duchess, The House of Fame, The Legend of Good Women and Troilus and Criseyde. He is best known today for The Canterbury Tales, + It'sa frame story collection of 24 stories belonging to several literary genres. * Written in Middle English at the end of the 14th century, the book is made up of two parts: 1. The General Prologue, in which Chaucer describes, not the tales to be told, but the People who will tell them, making it clear that structure will depend on the characters rather than a general theme or moral. 2. The stories proper as told by the pilgrims. The tales written in verse are presented as part of a story- telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together on a Journey from Southwark to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. The prize for this contest is a free meal at the Tabard Inn at Southwark on their return, They deal with moral issues and succeed one another so as to give different points of view on the same topic, * Lastly, Chaucer does not pay much attention to the progress of the trip, to the time passing as the pilgrims travel, or specific locations along the way to Canterbury. His waiting seems focused primarily on the stories being told, and not on the pilgrimage itself. * Some of the characters are: ‘The Knight, the Miller, the Reeve, the Cook, the Man of Law, Wife of Bath, the Friar, Monk, Nun's Priest. Written in 1387 till the end of hi Published in 1475 Printed for the first time by William Caxton in 1483,“ From the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales Ji isthe famous and lovely opening of The Canterbury Tales which, in its few lines, reveals some of the general acteristics of the poem as whole. First it should be noted that this kind of forceful rhetorical description of “spring was a typical opening for medieval poems, and, per se, nothing original. And yer its beauly has always ‘ruck readers as realistic (even if all Englishmen know that English Marches are not at all dry as indicated here), Stil his masterly blending of realistic details and a mutitude of conventions, producing a totally original and living whole, is typical of The Canterbury Tales, which has charactors that are certainly types, or clichés, on the ‘one hand, but living people on the other. {Ye nave sipped rough ne-yo talon ino modem English to help students understand Chasers egal and eae soma! We Oe a re clan tea Voezaton snot ends to have ary Merary me, nor does corespondto Chavoer smote orsyme scheme] : see PRE-READING EXERCISES ++ ———— {@ Chaucer opens the Prologue to The Canterbury Tale with a scription of spring, Mako a shor Ist ofthe features of spring that you think he might mention @ Wy do people go on pilgrimages? } st Thomas & Becket was one ofthe most important saints in medieval mes, Refer back tothe Historical Here biginneth the Book of the Tales of Canterbury Whan that Aprill wth his shoures soote ‘The droghte of March hath perced to the rote, ‘And bathed every veine in swich licour Of which vertu engendred is the flour; s Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth Inspired hath in every holt and heeth ‘The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne Hatt in the Ram his halve cours yronne, ‘And smale foweles maken melodio, \o That slepen al the night with open ye (So priketh hem nature in hir corages); ‘Thane longen folk to goon on pilgrimages, ‘And palmores for to seken straunge strondes, ‘To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes; 15 And specially from every shires endo (Of Engelond to Caunterbury they wende, ‘The hooly blistul martir for to seke, ‘That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke. + the April showers. + the west wind, the sun, + birds. + nature in general. __— ses POST-READING EXERCISES +++ @ What clement of spring does Chaucer mention? Write dwn the elfecvactivity ofthe following elements Context section to discover the circumstances of his death in 1170. When April with its sweet showers has penetrated March's dry weather to the root ‘and bathed every vein (of plants) with such liquid whose influence makes flowers grow hen the west wind also with his sweet breath thas breathed in every wood and field into the tender crops and the young sun in Aries has run halt his course’ and small birds are singing that sleep all night with open eyes 0 strongly aro they stimulated by nature; then people desire to go on pilgrimages and pilgrims to seek strange places distant shrines, known in various lands ‘and especially from every part of England to Canterbury they go to visit the holy martyr St Thomas that helped them when they were sick. 7h aan aay sae eaatancn ow a es, 1 ieeaninAg ae 4 What th effect ofa tis om mankind? Whats Chaucer siggesing abou the real rason Tor pong on 2 pilgrimage? Is it only for pious motives?Stee TERT SY ve fe M ee" From The Canterbury. Tales ¢ The Wife of Bath One of the most enjoyable portraits from the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales 3s is that of the Wife of Baih, a vividly drawn figure, representing the rise of a new kind of medieval woman. _ ves PRE-READING EXERCISES e+ ——— 7 {@ Woe down five cuates which you ink might apply toa woman from the mile lasses in he fourteen enti © While you read the extract, consider how [We have suppled a rough trey. tarslaon ito modern Engith 0 hia to rodem Engh; he vation eet niended to have ary rary ‘A good WIF was ther of biside BATHE, But she was somdel deet, and that was scathe, Of clooth-making she hadde swich an haunt, ‘She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt. 5 Inal the parisshe wif ne was ther noon ‘That to the offringe bifore hire sholde goon; ‘And if ther dide, certeyn so-wrooth was she, ‘That sho was out of alle charitee. Hir coverchiefs ful fine weren of ground; 10 Idorste swore they weyeden ten pound. ‘That on a Sonday weren upon hir heed. Hirhosen weren of fyn scarlet reed, Ful strelt yleyd, and shoes ful moiste and newe. Boold was hir face, and fair, and reed of hewe. 15 She was a worthy womman al hir five: Housboundes at chirche dore she hadde five, ‘withouten other compaignye in youthe, - But therof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe. ‘And thries hadde she been at Jerusalem; 20 She hadde passed many a straunge strom; [At Rome she hadde boen, and at Boloigne, In Galice at Seintslame, and at Cotoigne. ‘She koude muchel of wandringe by the weye. Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye. 2 Upon an ambler esily she sat, ‘Ywimpled wel, and on hir heed an hat ‘As brood as is a bokeler or a targe; ‘Afoot-mantel abouts hir hipes large, ‘And on hit feet a paire of spores sharpe. 22 In felaweshipe wel Koude she laughe and carpe. Of remedies of love she knew per chaunce, For she koude of that art the old daunce. 1 Bain’ cy nthe west Tapaiant cari fra dah ade 2 Ypres ad Ghent vo neta conos of he Flesh coh ed, 3 Thecrdorin wna me women nth parish went e the oio zng Nass waste of Mo socal sans. 4 pun chaly hore intandod bom es he cining the We of Bath tr sto Church, eno al chal” means angry, en ag0d tan pound: 45 hie. & merng by the way: annseaton that he Wo of Bath was more Increstog the soa aspect of plgrmages than ply. 7 Wmplos ot covering oa worn Rees rc neck (se ustraon onthe ng. 9 Spur: sharp metal prints sara 10 shoes, used nee Hea 10 © potest the Wife of Bath corresponds to your idea of a medieval woman. op students understand Chaucer's onal and soe some ofthe at no dos tcomespond io Chaucer's ele oye scene] There was a good woman from near Bath But she was a bit deaf, which was a shame ‘She was such an oxpert in cloth making That she was better than thoso of Ypres and of Ghent® Inall the parish there was no woman Who would go to the offering before her* ‘And if anyone did, she would certainly be so angry ‘Thal she lost all charity*. ‘She wore fine headcloths; | suppose they must have weighed ten pounds* ‘The ones she wore on a Sunday on her head. Her stockings were of a fine scarlet red ‘Stretched tightly over her logs, shoes supple and new. Her face was striking and fair and red in colour. ‘She was a worthy (virtuous) woman all her ite: ‘She had had five husbands married in church ‘Apart from other company when she was young, But its not necessary to speak of that. ‘She had been to Jerusalem three times ‘And had crossed many foreign rivers. ‘She had been to Rome and to Boulogne ‘To St James (of Compostella) in Galicia and to Cologne, ‘She knew a lot about wandering by the way* ‘She had a gap between her teeth to tel the truth. ‘She sal upon a slow and comfortable horse, With a fine wimple” and on her head a hat As wide as a shield; ‘A protective cloak around her wide hips ‘And a pair of sharp spurs' on her feet. in company she knew how fo laugh and chat. Of remedies of love she knew all the possitilities Because she knew all the tricks about that game. 48++ POST-READING EXERCISES ke notes about the Wife of Bath: ‘Physical appearance: face. + hips ~ + stockings + wimple... * cloak. Behaviour: ‘+ with the other women in church: + with husbands and lovers "Te Wie fa nana ‘must of Tie Camry + on pilgrimages. Ta, a + social abilities. a eee ‘What do you think these details tell us about her character? How does Chaucer use irony to criticize the Wife of Bath? ‘Why do you think she goes on so many pilgrimages? " POEL oes TEXP.6) 446 a cane “ ? of /Fr6m The-Canterbury/Tales’e The Friar Chaucer atack on he compton o he medeal Church wot umnatedby hs porate he Fl. Chavcer rover otaees the Far Btoclybut uses ony to untn he Pypoctoy and sensual fbi religous tour Ihe acts tig srs ys ees agar to ens see cace oa aug fs Wate cenit ap ree cre eh ee ee orca ean wos PREAEADING EXERCISES Look back th Hinrslcomext seaton (pugs 1-2) and thn atthe son onthe Meeval Church pages 24 25) to ducover tele ofthe Carhart of Farin the forcent cot @ What kind of behaviour do you think would be most appropriate for a Friar? A frere ther was, a wantowne and a merye, Alymytour, a ful solempne man. In alle the ordres foure is noon that kan 80 muchel of daliaunce and fair langage. He hadde maad ful many a mariage (Of yonge wommen at his owene cost. Unto his ordre he was a noble post. Ful wel biloved and famulier was he \With frankeleyns over al in his contree, ‘And eek with worthy wommen of the toun; For he hadde power af confessioun, As seyde hymself, moore than a curat, For of his ordre he was licenciat. Ful swetely harde he confassioun, ‘And plesaunt was his absolucioun: Ho was an osy man to yeve penaunce, Sppaied tole ale of gover. Tae orders fest erorgd In tho 12003 ut by [haucar’s te many lead wed Wes of eon © List your ideas and then see how Chaucer's Friar compares with your description. A Friar’ there was, wanton and merry Licensed to beg in a certain district, a dignified man Inallthe four orders of Friars there was no one who know ‘80 much about flirtation and fine language. He had cartied out many marriages (Of young women at his own cost. He was a noble pillar’ of his order. ‘He was well loved and familiar With all the landowners in his district ‘And also with virtuous women in the town; For he had the power of confession As he said himself, more than the local priest ‘Since he was licensed by his order. He heard confession for sweetly And his absolution was very pleasant: ‘He was an easy man to give penance Tier orders” ot Friar Domincans, Fraelacane Camis, ‘Augustnare, 3 noble pl 19“Ther as ho wiste to have a good pitaunce. For unto a povre ordre for to yive ts signe that a man is wel yshryve: 0 For if he yal, he dorste make evaunt He wiste that a man was repentaunt; For many a man so hard is of his here, He may nat wepe, athogh lym soore smerte, ‘Therfore in stede of wepynge and preyeres fon moote yeve siver tothe povre freres. His typot was ay farsed ful of knyves ‘And pynnes, for to yeven faire waves. ‘and certeinly he haddo a murye note: Wel koude he synge and pleyen on a rote; «0 OF yeddyngos he baar outrely the pris His nekke whit was as the flour-de-s; ‘Therto he strong was as a champioun. He knew the tavernes wel in ovory toun ‘And everich hostiler and tappestere os Bet than a lazar or a beggostere: For unto swich a worthy man a& he ‘corded nat, as by hs facultee, ‘To have with sike lazars aqueyniaunce, itis nat hones, it may nat avaunce, 19 For to deelen with no swich poral, But al with riche and selleres of vital {And over al, ther as profit sholde ase, CCurteis he was and lowely of servyse. ‘Ther nas no man nowher so vertuous. 1s He was the beste boggero In is hous; ‘And yat a certeyne ferme for the graunt; ‘Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his haunt For thogh a wydwe hadde noght a sho, ‘So plesaunt was his in principio, so Yet wolde he have a ferthyng, er he went. tis purchas was wel bette than his rente. ‘And rage he Koude, as it were right a whelp. in fove-dayes ther koude he muchel help, For ther he was nat Iyk a cloysterer ss With a thredbare cope, as is a povre scoler, But he was lyk a maister or a pope. Of double worstede was his semycope, ‘That rounded as a belle out af the presse. Somuhat he lipsed, for his wantownesse, «To make his englissh sweete upon his tonge\ ‘And in his harpyng, whan that he hadde songe, tis eyen twynkled in his heed aryaht, ‘As doon the sterres in the frosty nyght. This worthy Iymytour was cleped Huberd. gain or hardeip,abstnence om some 9223 Fe bu eve for he Fan te gh ot Deasure fr reigous casa re concerts harsh or Aen man, 8 ig of psec) ‘5 euros wie ty ower, § Hour e Fores tw champion refed 1 16 that of fusing ithe knew he would receive a good offering. Because to give money to a poor order Isa sign that a man is truly penitent’; For if he gave, tho Friar was ready fo declare That he knew that a man was repentant; For many men are so hard of heart That they will nt cry even though they are in pain. ‘Therefore instead of orying and prayers Men may give money to the poor Frias. Fis cloak was ful of knives ‘And pins to give to beautiful women. ‘And he certainly had a merry note: He knew how to sing well and play the harp: Ho was an excollont ballad-singer. His neck was white as tho fleur-desis* ‘And he was as sirong as a champiort. Ho knew the taverns well in every town ‘And every pub-owner and barmaid Better than lepers’ or beggars: For such a virtuous man as he could Could not be allowed, because of his position, To know such lepers itis not respectable, there's no profit In associating with such poor wretches ‘But only with the rich and provision merchants. ‘And i there was a chance of personal gain Courteous he was and lowly of service 00. ‘There was no one more virtuous than he. He was the first beggar in his house; ‘And gave a certain ront for his license: ‘None of his brothers came there; For evon ifa widow had no shoes His In principiot was so pleasant That he would have a farthing before he went. He eamed a fot from his begging ‘And he knew how to be playful ike a PUPPY. ‘He was of great help on days for setting disputes, For he was not ike a monk in his cloister With an old, worn cloak lke @ poor scholar, But he was like a master” or @ pope. His clothes were richly made ‘And kept their perfect shape. He had a slight speech defect due to affectation To make his English sweet upon his tongue ‘And when he played the harp and sang Fis eyes really twinkled in his head Like stars on a frosty night This worthy tar was called Huberd. 7 Tepes: seen wi -aepisy pa wars Ta rere oad rest any rue people woul el hem) 0 icipte” an, te. Degering of St Jre's Gospel ln OW 1 ar Pcas te wor ars wes these words ae ahs ae rin, canmunsatng 0 ers the word of Ga Sey alse wed pit as 2 feo. : 9. choise hs butdng where a monk Wes 9 aston urvery raul fa chor 20