THE CANTERBURY TALESCHARACTERIZATION

SATIRE

Review: The Middle Ages

The Canterbury Tales

Chaucer presents the world as he sees itBegan to write it in 1387 (he had written a large number

of works prior to this)Incomplete (Chaucer died in 1400). “The General

Prologue” and only 22 tales completed; there were supposed to be 120 total

Shows a cross section of Medieval society

The Tales (cont)

It has a frame story of the pilgrimage to Canterbury (80 miles from London) to visit the tomb of the martyr Thomas à Beckett (killed in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170)

Pilgrimages to shrines were mass activities in the Middle Ages, partly because they were as likely to be vacations as religious observances

The Tales (cont.)

26 pilgrims actually described; 29 referenced. The narrator (Chaucer?) is one of the pilgrims for total of 30.

The plan was to tell two tales each on the way to Canterbury and two more tales on the way back (30 pilgrims x 4 tales=120 total tales planned)

A tale is often so well fitted to a pilgrim’s character and opinion that the tale and teller illuminate each other This is one method of characterization.

The Tales are distinguished from other similar types of the period because of the realism of the characters.

General Information

Tabard Inn (the pilgrims leave from there)The owner is called the Host (he is the one who

established the contest---winner gets a free dinner paid for by other pilgrims)

He will be the judge of the best taleThe telling of the tales will help to pass the time more

quickly

The Writing of the Tales

Narrative point of viewThe narrator is actually a character There are suspicions that the author (Geoffrey Chaucer)

does not agree with narrator (the “person” in the story who is telling us what happened). This is done for humorous effects. (It would be similar to having

Homer Simpson or Peter Griffin say something is a good idea – that doesn’t mean the shows’ creators think that way.)

For example, it’s pretty clear the Pardoner is scum, even though the narrator says he is “noble” and that there is no one with equal grace.

The Prologue

The opening lines provide a setting and motivation for the Canterbury pilgrimage

The General Prologue contains all levels of English lifeThe order of the introduction of each pilgrim is important

because it provides the social standing of the different occupations; it begins with the highest social rank and descends in order.

The Prologue:A Cross Section of the Middle Ages?

Highest rank is aristocracy or nobility Knight and his household, including Squire (his son)

and the Yeoman (his servant)PrioressMonkFriar (normally would be in lower class, but he avoided

the poor and the sick and hung out in the company of nobles)

The Prologue: Characters

Commercial Wealthy classMerchant (but no one knows he’s in debt)• Sergeant of Law (used knowledge of law to buy up

foreclosed property)• Clerk (well-educated scholar)• Franklin (rich landowner, loves the food)

The Prologue: Characters

Guildsmen (similar to specialized unions of craftsmen or guilds)

Haberdasher (makes men’s accessories)Dyer (dyes fabric)Carpenter (works with wood)Weaver (makes fabric)Tapestry-maker (makes rugs/carpets/wall hangings [none of them tells a tale]

The Prologue: Characters

Middle-class groupCook (ranked a bit high here, but he is apparently a

master of his trade)Shipman (knowledge of and travels in the world; a

pirate?)Physician (doctor of medicine [much less revered in the

Middle Ages than today])Wife of Bath (included here because of her knowledge

and business)

The Prologue: Characters

Virtuous poor or lower classParson (poor, but practices what he preaches – literally)Plowman (very poor but represents all of the Christian

virtues)

The Prologue: Characters

Immoral lower classManciple (illiterate, skillful at buying food for the

lawyers in the Inns of Court)Miller (vulgar, steals from his customers)Reeve (tells dirty stories and cheats his trusting

master)Summoner (corrupt: takes bribes)Pardoner (corrupt: sells fake pardons and fake

relics)

Characterization

“the artistic representation (as in fiction or drama) of human character or motives”

Like modern authors, Chaucer reveals his characters

1.by telling us directly what the character is like2.by describing how the character looks and dresses3.by presenting the character’s words and actions4.by revealing the character’s private thoughts and

feelings5.by showing how other people respond to the

character

Why care about characterization?

Knowing this will help you better understand and be aware of characterization in political ads, movies, commercials – and you’ll be less likely to be manipulated. How is he

characterized in this ad? And the ladies?

See what I mean?

Satire

“a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn”

“wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly”

Modern satires: South Park, Family Guy, The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, The Onion Weird Al, Borat, Mel Brooks (SpaceBalls, Blazing Saddles)

Chaucer points a lot of satire at members of the clergy. What must he have thought about most church officials at the

time?

The Seven Deadly Sins

Pride is excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity.

Envy is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation. Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which

one requires. Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body. Anger is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts

instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath. Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm

of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness. Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work.

Have we seen all of these in Chaucer’s pilgrims?