Geoffrey Chaucer

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Geoffrey Chaucer

• The Canterbury Tales

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Chaucer

• 1340?-1400
• Son of wealthy London merchant
• Aristocratic education
• Brief military experience
• Court diplomat
• Controller of the Customs in London from
  1374-1386

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Chaucer

• Time of political and religious turmoil
• Known for tolerant inquisitiveness and
  self-effacing modesty
• Wrote in Middle English, closer to modern English
  of Shakespeare

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Canterbury Tales

• Frame story pilgrims traveling to Canterbury to
  pay respects at the shrine of St. Thomas a
  Becket, archbishop murdered by kings men in
  misunderstanding, and therefore considered a
  martyr.
• Each pilgrim is to tell 4 stories 2 on the way
  there, 2 on the way back, but Chaucer did not
  complete this massive endeavor

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Canterbury Tales

• Satire found throughout, but very clear in The
  General Prologues description of pilgrims. Most
  of the pilgrims are unpleasant in some way, and
  almost all of the clergy are corrupt. The Parson
  serves as Chaucers model clergyman, Christ-like
  and selfless.
• Entire work written in rhyming couplets (iambic
  pentameter)
• Millers Tale represents crass vulgarity, Wife of
  Bath displays ironic consequences, Pardoners
  Tale lesson on greed.