The Canterbury

Tales
SO
The Author

SO
 •He was born in
London in the early
1340s

SO•He came from a

merchant family, but
due to his father’s
wealth he became a
page in the
household of Prince
Lionel.
 •He served in the
Hundred Years’ War
both as a soldier and
a diplomat.
SO
•He was sent several
times on important
diplomatic missions
to France and Italy.
 •He held many
important positions as
a government official
such as Controller of
SOCustoms, Justice of
Peace, Clerk of the
Works, etc. which mean
that he could learn a lot
about how things
worked in their country
at that time.
 •He died on October 25,
1400 and was buried at
the Westminster Abbey.

SO•ItElizabeth
is where Queen
I of England,
Isaac Newton, King
Henry V, Charles
Dickens and other
notable people are also
buried.
SO
The Canterbury Tales
The Canterbury Tales documents the
SO
various social tensions in the manner of
popular genre of states satire. However,
the narrator refrains from making overt
political statements, and what he does say
is in no way thought to represent
Chaucer’s own sentiments.
The Canterbury Tales
Estate Satire is a genre of writing from
SO
14th Century, Medieval literary works. The
three Medieval estates were the Church
(those who prayed), the Nobility (those
who fought) and the Peasantry (those who
labored). These were the major social
classes of the time and were gender
specific to men.
The Canterbury Tales
• Chaucer presents the world as he sees it.
SO
• The Canterbury Tales is incomplete.
Chaucer died in 1400, the “General
Prologue” has only 24 tales completed.
The supposed total tales should be 120.
• It shows the cross section of Medieval
society.
The Canterbury Tales
•It has a frame story of the
SO
pilgrimage to Canterbury (80
miles from London) to visit the
tomb of the martyr Thomas
Beckett (killed in Canterbury
Cathedral in 1170).
The Canterbury Tales
•Pilgrimages to shrines were mass
SO
activities in the Middle Ages,
partly because they were as
likely to be vacations as religious
observance.
The Canterbury Tales
•The Canterbury Tales is actually
SO
a story about stories,
twenty-four different tales set
within the overarching tale of
the pilgrimage.
The Canterbury Tales
Frame Story—a story within a story.
SO
• The Outer Frame Story is about the
pilgrims meeting at the Tabard Inn
preparing for the journey to Canterbury.
• The Inner Frame Story would be all the
stories told by the assembled pilgrims
along their journey to and from
Canterbury.
The Tales begin with…
It begins with a prologue. The
SO Chaucer
narrator, presumable
himself, meet 29 other pilgrims at
the Tabard Inn located in the
suburbs of London.
The Tales begin with…
The host of the Inn, Harry Bailey, set a
SO
challenge. Each pilgrim will tell two
stories on the way to Canterbury and
two stories on the return trip. The
person who tells the best tale will be
treated to a feast hosted by other
pilgrims. Harry is the judge.
Medieval Era
In the Prologue,
SO
Chaucer sketches a
brief but vivid
portrait of each
pilgrim, creating a
lively sense of
medieval life during
that time.
The description
may literally
describe an article
of clothing, but
SO
figuratively
symbolical that
implies something
about the
character.
Chaucer used a lot of
satiric statements.
Satire is a literary
SO
composition in verse
or prose, in which
human folly and vice
are held up to scorn,
derision, or ridicule.
Used to evoke change.
In the Prologue,
Chaucer examines the
three segments of
SO
Medieval England:

1. Old Feudal Order

2. The Merchant Class
3. The Ecclesiastical
(Church) Class
The Feudal Class
These are all of the
pilgrims associated
SO
with the feudal class
system like Knights,
Squire, Yeoman, and
Plowman.
The Merchant Class
This was the rising middle
class of the time; towns
SO
and cities were emerging
and therefore
necessitated the need for
skilled services like
Merchants, Man of Law,
Guildsmen and Cook.
The Ecclesiastical
(Church) Class
These were all the
SO
members of the church.
Chaucer is most critical
of this segment of
society. This includes
Prioress, Monks, Friars
and Pardoners.
SO
Characterization
Direct Characterization
SO
It presents direct statements about a
character, such as Chaucer’s
statement that the Knight “followed
chivalry, Truth and Honor..”
Characterization
Indirect Characterization
SO
It uses actions, thoughts and dialogue to
reveal a character’s personality. By saying
“he was not gaily dressed” for instance,
Chaucer suggests that the Knight is not vain
and perhaps takes the pilgrimage seriously
enough to rush to join it straight from
battle.
Irony
Irony is a meaningful contrast between
SO
what is said and what it actually
meant.

Example: Saying, “The best Monk” when

really the monk does not really adhere to
the ideals od a monastic life.
Physiognomy
It is the use of physical appearance to
SO
suggest attributes of a person’s
character or personality.

Example: Think of evil stepmother figures

in Disney movies. Their harsh, angular
appearance always hint at their malevolent
motives.
The Types of Tales
The Canterbury Tales
SO
showcase the different views
of the world portraying
different truths.
The Types of Tales
Allegory SO
a story with purpose of
teaching a moral lesson.
The Types of Tales
Characters and events represents
abstract qualitiesSO
and ideas. The
writer intends a secondary
meaning. Characters are often
personifications of abstractions like
greed, envy, etc.
The Types of Tales
Romance SO
It is a story focusing on the
episodic adventures of
knights and the challenges
they face.
The Types of Tales
Fabliau SO
It deals with the basic human
needs of sex, food and
money.
Characters
SO
Direct Characterization
(Explicit Details)
1. What the character looks like.
SO
2. How the character acts or behaves.
3. Personality or character traits (e.g.
charming, confident, dependable, arrogant,
greedy, etc.)
4. How other characters react to the character.
5. Things the character likes.
Indirect Characterization
(Inferences)
1. What the character values.
SO
2. What the character believes in.
3. Character’s personality traits or character
flaws.
4. Determining if the author likes a character
and considers them positive or normal.
5. Determining if the author dislikes a
character and considers them immoral.
The Knight (Lines 43-80)
Military (good guy)
He is an ideal, tried and
SO
true, proven in battle,
adherent to chivalry,
dress in modest and far
from overdone, A Man
of Action and does
what is expected of
him.
The Squire (Lines 81-102)
Military (good guy in training)
He appears conscious,
SO
having the qualities of
an artist, seems to have
a passionate quality
associated with the
youth. His father is a
fighter but he is in a
romantic figure.
The Yeoman (Lines 102-121)
Middle Class (good guy)
He is the attendant of the
SO
esquire. Dressed in green;
carries peacock arrows
and a bow and wears a
bracelet to protect his
arm; a sword, a shield
and a dagger. He is a
hunter, outdoorsman, a
wood worker.
The Prioress (Lines 122-168)
Clergy (Greed and Pride)
She is the “appearance of
culture” in masked SO
sarcasm. Cares about
animals, not people. Loves
worldly possessions of
God. Perfect table
manners ae a vehicle to
demonstrate the gluttony
of a un.
The Monk (Lines 169-211)
Clergy (Greed)
Nearly all about the
monks contradicts moralSO
values of his position. He
defies the single task of his
job—to serve St.
Augustine. He breaks
monastic rules having no
guilt. Pervert and selfish.
The Friar (Lines 212-279)
Clergy (Lust and Greed)
Possesses corruption in
the clergy (bribery),SO
having such charm does
not make one a good
person. He have
manipulative and selfish
attitude, a drinker and
womanizer and
opportunistic.
The Merchant (Lines 280-294)
Middle Class (Misguided Good Guy)
A well-dressed person
SO
(appearance vs. reality).
He tries to come off as
prosperous, but really
owes money (fraud). He
is Cleverish. They are
known for ingenuity and
work ethics.
The Clerk (Lines 295-311)
Middle Class (Idealized Good Guy)
A student-nod to the
SO
writer; keeper of books;
pure intellectuality. He is
formal and extremely
respectful—glad to learn
and teach. He is a
“starving artist”
spending all his money
to books.
The Lawyer (Lines 319-341)
Middle Class (Envy)
He is fond to falsity
and posturing. SO
Pretending is part of
human
nature—believes
himself to be much
more important than he
is. He is also discreet
and cautious.
The Franklin (Lines 341-379)
Middle Class (Envy and Pride)
He always have food and
drink ready at his house
SO
(hospitality, expert in “living
well”). A Parliamentary
representative for the
country. A Social
climber—styles himself as
important; projects himself
as an image of success.
The Craftsmen (Lines 371-388)
Working Class (Envy)
A carpenter,
haberdasher, dyer,
weaver and tapestry
SO
maker. A dressed
more mightily than
their rank suggests
wealth and success.
The Cook (Lines 389-397)
Working Class (Gluttony)
Described as perhaps the
SO
most qualified of all the
characters. Chaucer’s
pursuit to elevate the
states of the common
man. Every man’s work
is equally important for
society to function.
The Shipman (Lines 398-520)
Middle Class (Greed)
Sarcasm—”And certainly
SO
he was a good fellow”
followed by perfect
example of his dishonesty
(thieving). This man was
hardened by the world, a
cynic. He is experienced,
but made cruel by it.
The Doctor (Lines 421-454)
Middle Class (Greed)
Physically healthy
but not spiritual, SO
rarely reads the Bible;
loves money. He
manipulates the facts
about profit.
The Wife of Bath (Lines 455-486)
Middle Class (Pride and Lust)
The “Professional
Wife”. Wears fancySO
clothes that are bit
ridiculous. She had
been all over (worldly
and promiscuous).
She “knew the
remedies of love”.
The Parson (Lines 487-538)
Clergy (Ideal and Good Guy)
An unselfish,
charitable, a good SO
example. “If gold rusts,
what shall you do?” He
gives money to the
poor, lives in poverty
but is rich in holy
thought and deeds.
The Plowman (Lines 539-555)
Working Class (Good Guy)
The parson’s brother
and ideal worker;
known for being
SO
industrious. He lives in
peace and helps out
neighbors. He loves
God and pays his tithes.
The Miller (Lines 561-584)
Working Class (Greed, Lust, Wrath)
A strong, big-mouthed
person. Warts are
evident all around his
SO
face. He is uncivilized
and interrupts civilized
behaviors, disrupts
order and eventually
tells his tale out of turn.
The Manciple (Lines 585-604)
Working Class (Greed)
He is smart though
uneducated, gets SO
provisions for college
or court. Know for
being illiterate but
was able to cheat even
the smartest of
lawyers.
The Reeve (Lines 605-640)
Working Class (Lust and Greed)
A steward of manor. He
SO
steals from his master.
Though shrewd, he
knows all his master’s
secrets plots and rules
whom to fear. The foil
to Miller, a Reeve is
small.
The Summoner (Lines 641-688)
Middle Class (Greed and Sloth)
He brings those
SO
accused of breaking the
law to court. He has a
scarred face that
children fear of, which
reflects his soul. He is
always drunk, irritable
and eats smelly food.
The Pardoner (Lines 689-734)
Clergy (Greed and Sloth)
A personification of
SO
evil; he sells fake holy
relics. He extorts
money by preaching
about sin of greed. A
clean-shaved man but
have a unmanly
attitude.
Chaucer’s Prologue
•Chaucer believes that falsity can be
SO
found in most people.
•Chaucer has no problem with religion
himself, but has contempt for hypocrisy
that is found in religious figures.
•Chaucer has an admiration for anyone
who does a good job.
How are you going to
compareSO Chaucer’s
time to our current
social trend?
The Knight’s Tale

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The Miller’s Tale

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The Wife of Bath’s
Tale
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The Pardoner’s Tale

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The Canterbury
Tales
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