GEOFFREY CHAUCERGEOFFREY CHAUCER “THE CANTERBURY TALES”“THE CANTERBURY TALES”

““As Newton numbered As Newton numbered the stars, and as the stars, and as

Linneus numbered the Linneus numbered the plants, so Chaucer plants, so Chaucer

numbered the classes numbered the classes of men…”of men…”W. BlakeW. Blake

WHY ARE WHY ARE THE TALESTHE TALES STILL STILL POPULAR?POPULAR?

They give a wonderful picture of society in the They give a wonderful picture of society in the fourteenth century. Chaucer includes all types fourteenth century. Chaucer includes all types of people in his books: the Knight, The Miller, of people in his books: the Knight, The Miller, the Pardoner and so onthe Pardoner and so on

The Tales The Tales deal with topics and emotions which deal with topics and emotions which still interest us today. Through his stories, still interest us today. Through his stories, Chaucer discusses the “war” between men and Chaucer discusses the “war” between men and women, reveals the morals of the personages.women, reveals the morals of the personages.

The Tales The Tales form an important part of the form an important part of the development of literature in England. Chaucer development of literature in England. Chaucer has a title of “the Father of English Literature”.has a title of “the Father of English Literature”.

SummarySummary A group of pilgrims are A group of pilgrims are

travelling from travelling from the the Tabard InnTabard Inn in London in London to the shrine of to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Thomas Becket in Canterbury. On the Canterbury. On the way, they decide that way, they decide that each traveller should each traveller should tell a story – about tell a story – about love, marriage, war, love, marriage, war, jealousy, magic.jealousy, magic.

A view of the A view of the Canterbury CathedralCanterbury Cathedral

The KNIGHT’S TALEThe KNIGHT’S TALE ““There is no law in love” (Arcite)There is no law in love” (Arcite) Two friends Arcite and Palamon Two friends Arcite and Palamon

fell in love with fair Emily when fell in love with fair Emily when saw her through the window in saw her through the window in the prison. When released, fight the prison. When released, fight for their love, forgetting about for their love, forgetting about friendship. During the friendship. During the competition Arcite was injured competition Arcite was injured and died. Emily married and died. Emily married Palamon.Palamon.

A French illumination of Emily A French illumination of Emily being watched by Palamon and being watched by Palamon and Arcite.Arcite.

The topics The topics the knight touches uponthe knight touches upon

Being a representative of aristocracy, the Being a representative of aristocracy, the knight touches upon some subjects which are knight touches upon some subjects which are quite typical for the class: love, the feeling of quite typical for the class: love, the feeling of adoration to the Fair Lady, chivalry. adoration to the Fair Lady, chivalry.

LOVE: “…my own lady, whom I must love and LOVE: “…my own lady, whom I must love and serve until I die!”serve until I die!”

THE FAIR LADY: “That Emily, lovelier to look THE FAIR LADY: “That Emily, lovelier to look upon//than is the lily on its stalk of green…”upon//than is the lily on its stalk of green…”

CHIVALRY: “…as I’m a knight;//And I’ll bring CHIVALRY: “…as I’m a knight;//And I’ll bring arms enough for you and me;//Choose you the arms enough for you and me;//Choose you the best, and leave the worst for me.” “Now both best, and leave the worst for me.” “Now both of you must swear an oath to me// That you will of you must swear an oath to me// That you will never do my country harm…”never do my country harm…”

Stylistic analysis of Stylistic analysis of The Knight’s The Knight’s TaleTale The knight’s speech is high-The knight’s speech is high-

flown and rather pathetic: “I beg flown and rather pathetic: “I beg you, for the love of God, submit you, for the love of God, submit with patience to our goal…” with patience to our goal…” “Well may I die in despair and “Well may I die in despair and distress// Farewell my life, my distress// Farewell my life, my joy, my happiness…”joy, my happiness…”

It’s quite obvious that the knight It’s quite obvious that the knight is a skillful story- teller, as he is a skillful story- teller, as he uses a lot of “connectors” to uses a lot of “connectors” to make the story more vivid: make the story more vivid: “Once on a time, as old histories “Once on a time, as old histories tell us…””But all these things I tell us…””But all these things I must pass over now”must pass over now”

Most frequently used stylistic Most frequently used stylistic devicesdevices

PersonificationPersonification: “And cruel Anger, red as burning : “And cruel Anger, red as burning coal,//The pickpocket; and Fear with visage coal,//The pickpocket; and Fear with visage pale…” “…till Fortune chose her time to spring pale…” “…till Fortune chose her time to spring her trap”. “It’s a true saying, neither Love or her trap”. “It’s a true saying, neither Love or Power//Willingly brooks a rival or compeer…”Power//Willingly brooks a rival or compeer…”

AllusionsAllusions: “…a great head of Minotaur which he : “…a great head of Minotaur which he killed in Crete”. “He fought with Creon, who was killed in Crete”. “He fought with Creon, who was king of Thebes…” “Caesar’s and Nero’s murders king of Thebes…” “Caesar’s and Nero’s murders were portrayed”were portrayed”

ComparisonComparison: “…fierce as a lion drew his sword”. : “…fierce as a lion drew his sword”. “With green waves bright as glass…” “Palamon “With green waves bright as glass…” “Palamon felt as if a cold sword slid// Suddenly through his felt as if a cold sword slid// Suddenly through his heart”.heart”.

EpithetsEpithets: “with cheerful heart”, “radiant Lady”, “a : “with cheerful heart”, “radiant Lady”, “a florid complexion”, “with a deathlike face”.florid complexion”, “with a deathlike face”.

THE MOST FREQUENTLY USED STYLISTIC DEVICES

SYNTACTICAL DEVISYNTACTICAL DEVIССESES Parallel constructions: “Nor was the porter, Parallel constructions: “Nor was the porter,

Idleness, passed by,// Nor yet the folly of Idleness, passed by,// Nor yet the folly of king Solomon,// Nor the enormous strength king Solomon,// Nor the enormous strength of Hercules…”of Hercules…”

Rhetorical questions: “And who but he// Rhetorical questions: “And who but he// Feels twofold grief and pain?Feels twofold grief and pain?

Row of questions: ”And said: “Why do you Row of questions: ”And said: “Why do you look so deathly pale?// What is the matter, look so deathly pale?// What is the matter, cousin? Are you ill?// Who has upset you? cousin? Are you ill?// Who has upset you? Why did you cry out?’’Why did you cry out?’’

Inversion: “Many a wealthy kingdom he had Inversion: “Many a wealthy kingdom he had won…” “And delaying no longer, fort he won…” “And delaying no longer, fort he rode…” rode…”

ConclusionConclusionChaucer is the master of Chaucer is the master of character drawing. He character drawing. He describes not only the describes not only the behavior or appearance of behavior or appearance of men but also fills their men but also fills their speech with words which speech with words which characterize them as characterize them as representatives of a representatives of a certain class (knight – certain class (knight – high-flown speech, miller high-flown speech, miller – slang and so on).– slang and so on).

The beginning of the The beginning of the Prologue from a mid-Prologue from a mid-fifteenth-century fifteenth-century manuscript of manuscript of THE THE CANTERBURY TALESCANTERBURY TALES