Canterbury Tales Prologue Vocabulary Words 1 solicitous showing

Canterbury Tales Prologue: Vocabulary Words • 1. solicitous- showing care or concern • 2. garnered- decorated; trimmed • 3. absolution- act of sin or criminal charge • 4. commission- authorization; act of giving authority to an individual • 5. sanguine- confident; cheerful • 6. prevarication- evasion of truth

Literary Analysis • 2 types of characterization • 1. Direct characterization- presents direct statements about a character • 2. Indirect characterization- uses actions, thoughts, dialogue, and description to reveal a character’s personality. • Social commentary- writing that offers insight into society, its values and its customs. • Chaucer provides social commentary about English society in Canterbury Tales

Literary Analysis • Each of major forms of medieval literature represented • 1. romances ( tales of chivalry) • 2. fabliaux (short, bawdy, humorous stories) • 3. allegories ( narratives in which characters represent abstractions such as Pride or Honor) • Also: stories of saints’ lives and sermons • Heroic couplet- Chaucer’s form- pair of rhyming lines with five stressed syllables each • Big reason why Chaucer known as father of English poetry

Geoffrey Chaucer’s background • Very much experience with medieval world • Son of a merchant, soldier, diplomat, royal clerk and page in a royal house • Born into middle class family about 1343 • Served- English Army in France- 1359 - captured + held prisoner • King Edward paid a lot for his release • Married Philippa Pan- lady-in-waiting to queen • Eldest child- Thomas- married noblewoman + acquired great wealth

History of Chaucer’s Writing • Began writing in his 20 s • Practiced skills as he rose through ranks of medieval society • Early poems based on works of European poets • 1 st major work- The Book of the Duchess- 1369 • developed mature style of his own + displayed insight into human character • Canterbury Tales- later years • Inspiration came from participation in his pilgrimage to Canterbury

Clothing Important in Medieval Times • 14 th century- rules based on money • No 1 below rank of knight could wear fur • Merchants could wear same knights only if 5 times wealthier • Women forbidden from wearing silk head coverings • Clothes said a lot about who you, where you fit, and what you aspire to be

The Father of English Poetry • Considered greatest English poet • Shrewd storyteller • Generations of poets writing in English have studied his work for inspiration + learning

Summary of Prologue • Narrator- probably Chaucer • Meets 29 other Pilgrims strat Tabard Inn- London suburb • Harry Bailey- host of Inn- presents challenge: • Each pilgrim tell 2 stories on way to and from Canterbury • Person who tells best story treated to feast held by other pilgrims • Chaucer describes each pilgrim