middle ages/canterbury tales
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THEMIDDLE
AGES5th-15th century
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MEDIEVAL GOVERNMENT
Norman Rule ends 1154 Henry II
Conflict with the ChurchThomas Becket =
archbishopBecket defies king, sides
with the PopeHenry’s knights murder
BecketAtone holy pilgrimage
to Becket’s tomb
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MEDIEVAL GOVERNMENT, CONT.
Richard IMilitary expeditions King John inherits debts
JohnTries to raise taxes on barons, resisted
England on brink of civil war
Avoiding trouble Magna Carta Promises not to tax land without
meeting First restrictions on royal power
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MEDIEVAL LITERATURE Dramas, poetry, romances, ballads
Medieval life, knights, love, outlaws Dramas:
Church sponsored plays- Bible storiesMorality plays ordinary people, moral
lessons 1454- Printing press church scribes
Chaucer = one of first worksprinted in England
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GEOFFREY CHAUCER
1343?-1400 Considered the greatest English poet in
his own lifetime Merchant class, father = vintner Servant to aristocratic household
Career administrating just below aristocracyAble to observe all kinds of peopleWindow overlooking pilgrim road
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THE CANTERBURY TALES
Moves literature beyond themes of courtly love and knightly adventures
Cross-section of medieval society Exchange of tales among pilgrims
journeying to the shineof Thomas Becket
Humor, realism
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THE PROLOGUE Tabard Inn, in a suburb of London Narrator + 29 other pilgrims Inn host, Harry Bailey, sets a challenge
Each pilgrim must tell 2 stories on the wayto Canterbury and 2 on the way back. The personwho tells the best tale will be treated to a feast.
Pilgrims accept, Bailey joins to judge
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CHAUCER’S CHARACTERS
Chaucer writes of rank and stereotypesBUT presents them as real people, individuals who defy categorizing i.e.: outward appearances suggest one
thing, Chaucer reveals some other truth e.g.: Outside Merchant = wealthy
Inside Merchant = secretly deep in debt
Great insight into lives ofmedieval people
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SOCIAL COMMENTARY
Writing that offers insight into society, its values, and its customsChaucer notes virtues and faults of
his characters Each character in The
Canterbury Tales represents a different segment of society
Supposed to be 120 tales, only 24 written
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CHARACTERIZATION Direct: presents direct statements
about a characterE.g.: the Knight “followed chivalry / Truth,
honor…” Indirect: uses actions, thoughts, and
dialogue to reveal a character’s personalityE.g.: “he was not gaily dressed” suggests
that the Knight is not vain and takes the pilgrimage seriously enough to rush straight from battle
“Show vs. Tell” = Indirect vs. Direct
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CHAUCER’S CHARACTERIZATION EXAMPLE