Western Mindanao State University

Naga Campus
Sta. Clara, Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay

LIT 102 – WORLD LITERATURE

Instructor:Rodrigo, Jr. A. Batobalunos

Topic: A. Prologue to “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer

Objectives:

1. explain the poetic passage of Chaucer, “The Canterbury Tales ;

2. identify Geoffrey Chaucer and describe the time period in which he wrote The
Canterbury Tales;
3. depict the historical context of the Canterbury Tales, including social structure in the
Middle Ages and Geoffrey Chaucer's life and poetic concerns, and how that
influences the text and informs our interpretation; and
4. Summarize how The Canterbury Tales criticizes social rank, the position of women,
and Church corruption:

Read and brood over:

The Age of Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer was born c1343 in London to a prosperous family of wine-merchants.

Through his father’s connections, he began his official duties as page to the Countess
of Ulster, the wife of Lionel, second son to the king, Edward III. Chaucer subsequently
served as courtier, diplomat and civil servant while also establishing his poetic
reputation. He appears to have travelled widely in Europe during his varied court career.
He married Philippa de Roet, lady-in-waiting to the queen, and sister to Katherine
Swynford, John of Gaunt’s third wife, and flourished under John of Gaunt’s patronage.
His most prolific period of writing was during his time as comptroller of customs for the
port of London, between 1374 and 1386, both Troilus and Criseyde, his finely
constructed poem based on classical and Renaissance sources, and the
early Canterbury Tales, his celebration of the English social landscape, dating from that
time. Chaucer is thought to have died in October 1400, not long after the overthrow of
his royal patron Richard II and the accession of Henry IV, and he was buried in
Westminster Abbey, that being his right as a tenant of the Abbey Close, in what has
become known as Poet’s Corner. His son Thomas had a significant career at the court
of successive kings, and as Speaker of the House of Commons.
The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories, written in the Middle English vernacular,
supposedly told among a group of pilgrims travelling from London to Canterbury.
Chaucer uses the form, possibly based on knowledge of
Boccaccio’s Decameron gained on a visit to Italy in 1373, to provide a highly varied
 portrait of his society, both secular and religious. The journey of the pilgrims, unlike that
of say Homer’s Odysseus or of Dante in the Divine Comedy, is relatively unimportant
compared to the tales themselves where Chaucer’s true interest lies. Entertaining, and
lively, these stories though primarily intended for a literate and courtly audience, exhibit
Chaucer’s wide love of character and humour, and his mix of narrators allows him to
reveal both the scope and complexity of his times. His interest in religion and spirituality
is muted, while his secular delight in the varied lives of men and women is to the fore. A
founding master of English literature, Chaucer was highly valued by subsequent writers,
and set the tone for the later tradition through his social inclusiveness, his pleasure in
the everyday, and his introduction of European cultural elements to an English setting.

https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/English/Canthome.php

The Canterbury Tales, frame story by Geoffrey Chaucer, written in Middle English in

1387–1400

The framing device for the collection of stories is a pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas
Becket in Canterbury, Kent. The 30 pilgrims who undertake the journey gather at the
Tabard Inn in Southwark, across the Thames from London. They agree to engage in a
storytelling contest as they travel, and Harry Bailly, host of the Tabard, serves as master
of ceremonies for the contest. Most of the pilgrims are introduced by vivid brief sketches
in the “General Prologue.” Interspersed between the 24 tales are short dramatic scenes
(called links) presenting lively exchanges, usually involving the host and one or more of
the pilgrims. Chaucer did not complete the full plan for his book: the return journey from
Canterbury is not included, and some of the pilgrims do not tell stories.

The use of a pilgrimage as the framing device enabled Chaucer to bring together people
from many walks of life: knight, prioress, monk; merchant, man of law, franklin, scholarly
clerk; miller, reeve, pardoner; wife of Bath and many others. The multiplicity of social
types, as well as the device of the storytelling contest itself, allowed presentation of a
highly varied collection of literary genres: religious legend, courtly romance,
racy fabliau, saint’s life, allegorical tale, beast fable, medieval sermon, alchemical
account, and, at times, mixtures of these genres. The stories and links together offer
complex depictions of the pilgrims, while, at the same time, the tales present
remarkable examples of short narratives in verse, plus two expositions in prose. The
pilgrimage, which in medieval practice combined a fundamentally religious purpose with
the secular benefit of a spring vacation, made possible extended consideration of the
relationship between the pleasures and vices of this world and the
spiritual aspirations for the next. The Canterbury Tales consists of the General
Prologue, The Knight’s Tale, The Miller’s Tale, The Reeve’s Tale, The Cook’s Tale, The
Man of Law’s Tale, The Wife of Bath’s Tale, The Friar’s Tale, The Summoner’s
Tale, The Clerk’s Tale, The Merchant’s Tale, The Squire’s Tale, The Franklin’s
Tale, The Second Nun’s Tale, The Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale, The Physician’s Tale, The
Pardoner’s Tale, The Shipman’s Tale, The Prioress’s Tale, The Tale of Sir Thopas, The
Tale of Melibeus (in prose), The Monk’s Tale, The Nun’s Priest’s Tale, The Manciple’s
Tale, and The Parson’s Tale (in prose), and ends with “Chaucer’s Retraction.” Not all
the tales are complete; several contain their own prologues or epilogues. Probably
influenced by French syllable-counting in versification, Chaucer developed for The
Canterbury Tales a line of 10 syllables with alternating accent and regular end rhyme—
an ancestor of the heroic couplet.

Here comes the SUMMARY:

In April, with the beginning of spring, people of varying social classes come from all over
England to gather at the Tabard Inn in preparation for a pilgrimage to Canterbury to
receive the blessings of St. Thomas à Becket, the English martyr. Chaucer himself is
one of the pilgrims. That evening, the Host of the Tabard Inn suggests that each
member of the group tell tales on the way to and from Canterbury in order to make the
time pass more pleasantly. The person who tells the best story will be awarded an
elegant dinner at the end of the trip. The Host decides to accompany the party on its
pilgrimage and appoints himself as the judge of the best tale.

Shortly after their departure the day, the pilgrims draw straws. The Knight, who draws
the shortest straw, agrees to tell the first story — a noble story about knights and honor
and love. When the Knight finishes his story, the Host calls upon the Monk. The
drunken Miller, however, insists that it is his turn, and he proceeds to tell a story about a
stupid carpenter. At the end of his story, everyone roars with laughter — except the
Reeve, who had once been a carpenter. To get back at the Miller, the Reeve tells a
lowbrow story about a cheating miller. At the end of The Reeve's Tale, the Cook, Roger,
promises to tell a true story, but he doesn't complete his tale.

By now, the first day is rapidly passing, and the Host hurries the pilgrims to get on with
their tales. Using the best legalese that he knows, he calls upon the Man of Law for the
next tale. The Man of Law proceeds to tell the tale of Constancy. The Host is very
pleased with the tale and asks the Parson to relate another one just as good. The
Parson declines, however, and rebukes the Host for swearing and ridiculing him (the
Parson). The Shipman breaks in and tells a lively story to make up for so much
moralizing.

The Wife of Bath is the next to tell a story, and she begins by claiming that happy
marriages occur only when a wife has sovereignty over her husband. When the Wife of
Bath finishes her story, the Friar offers his own tale about a summoner. The Host,
however, always the peacekeeper, admonishes the Friar to let the Summoner alone.
The Summoner interrupts and says the Friar can do as he likes and will be repaid with a
tale about a friar. Nevertheless, the Friar's tale about a summoner makes the
Summoner so angry that he tells an obscene story about the fate of all friars and then
continues with an obscene tale about one friar in particular.

After the Friar and Summoner finish their insulting stories about each other, the Host
turns to the Clerk and asks for a lively tale. The Clerk tells a story about Griselda and
her patience — a story that depicts the exact opposite of The Wife of Bath's Tale. The
Merchant comments that he has no wife as patient and sweet as Griselda and tells of
tale of a young wife who cheats on her old husband. After the Merchant's tale, the Host
requests another tale about love and turns to the Squire, who begins a tale of
supernatural events. He does not finish, however, because the Franklin interrupts him to
compliment the Squire on his eloquence and gentility. The Host, interested only get in
getting the next story told, commands the Franklin to begin his tale, which he does. The
Franklin tells of a happy marriage.

Then the Physician offers his tale of the tragic woe of a father and daughter — a story
that upsets the Host so much that he requests a merry tale from the Pardoner. The
Pardoner tells a tale in which he proves that, even though he is not a moral man, he can
tell a moral tale. At the end of the tale, the Pardoner invites the pilgrims to buy relics and
pardons from him and suggests that the Host should begin because he is the most
sinful. This comment infuriates the Host; the Knight intercedes between the Host and
the Pardoner and restores peace.

The pilgrims then hear a story by the Prioress about a young martyr. After the
seriousness of this tale, the Host turns to Chaucer and asks him for something to liven
up the group. Chaucer begins a story about Sir Topas but is soon interrupted by the
Host, who exclaims that he is tired of the jingling rhymes and wants Chaucer to tell a
little something in prose. Chaucer complies with the boring story of Melibee.
After the tale of Melibee, the Host turns to the merry Monk and demands a story that he
confidently expects to be a jovial and happy tale. Instead, the Monk relates a series of
tales in which tragedy befalls everyone. The Knight joins in with the Host in proclaiming
that the Monk's tales are too much to bear and requests a merry tale. But the Monk
refuses, and the Host turns to the Nun's Priest and calls for a tale. Thus the Nun's Priest
relates the tale of the barnyard rooster, Chaunticleer, his lady, and a fox. The Second Nun
then offers a tale that befits her station — a retelling of the events in the life of St.
Cecilia.

Suddenly, two men approach the pilgrims. One is a canon; the other his yeoman
(servant). The Host welcomes them and asks whether either has a tale to tell. The
Canon's Yeoman answers that his master has many strange tales filled with mirth and
laughter, yet when he begins to tell of their life and actions, the Canon slips away
embarrassed and frightened.

As the party nears Canterbury, the Host demands a story from the Manciple, who tells
of a white crow that can sing and talk. Finally, the Host turns to the last of the group, the
Parson, and bids him to tell his tale. The Parson agrees and proceeds with a sermon.

(https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/c/the-canterbury-tales/summarynd with Chaucer's

retraction)

Note: For an effervescent understanding, see the Canterbury tales full texts and
translations @ thegoogle.

. ELECTIVE –TEACHING MULTI-GRADE CLASSES

 WL Exercise 1

Name:________________________________________________Score:___________________
Course/Year:__________________________________________ Date: ___________________

Self-Assessment 1

1. Which member of the emerging middle class does Chaucer portray in the
most favorable light? In what way does his description of this character
differ from other members of this class or estate?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________.

2. What do women most hanker in the Tales?

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3. "The Wife of Bath is Chaucer's most completely drawn character." Do you
agree? Why?
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4. "Men in the Tales are largely depicted as nincompoop, blindly and foolishy
adhering to outdated, nonviable, absurd codes of chivalry and honour." Do
you agree? Why?
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5. “It is no wonder that Chaucer retracts the Tales at the end of the work.
They are quite simply lewd." Can we read the Tales as a religious work?
Why?
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6. At what point does a sham become virulent or mephitic? Write an essay
about one Tale of your choice.
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Self-Assessment 2

THINK/SQUARE SHARE

 Looking at the title, what do you

think is the poetic passage or tale all
about?

 What is your first reaction to the tale’s

meaning?

 What stands out to you?

 What do you think is the message of the

tale?

Rated by: __________________________________

Instructor