The Canterbury Tales The Middle Ages 1066 1485

The Canterbury Tales & The Middle Ages 1066 -1485

Followed the “Estate System” § There were broad divisions of people in society § 1 st Estate = Clergy: those who prayed § 2 nd = Nobility: those who fought (knights) § 3 rd = Peasantry: those who produced §The rigid divisions began to break down because of growing numbers of. . § 1. Mercantile (traders): the middle class § 2. Intellectuals: trained in literature and writing but didn’t want a career in the church

Interested in Physiognomy The assessment of a person’s character/personality based on their outward appearance § Examples… § Gap-teeth = bold, sexual §Thin = bad temper, irritable § Flaring nostrils = passionate § Pus-filled sores = lechery, drunkenness § High forehead = intelligence, good breeding § White neck = loose, immoral

Humours §Believed the human body was filled with four basic substances, called humours, which are all in balance when a person is healthy §Note: your physical health and personality would be affected if one of these were out of balance

The Four Humours § Blood -- too much = optimistic, cheerful §Yellow Bile -- too much = violent, vengeful §Phlegm -- too much = dull, pale, cowardly §Black Bile -- too much = melancholy

Medieval Dress Codes §Fashion rules depended on your class (whether rich, middle, or poor) §Ex: No one below the rank of knight could wear fur §Ex: Merchants could wear the same clothes as knights only if they were 5 times richer than a knight §Ex: Women can’t wear silk head coverings §Pilgrims clothing reveals: social status, personalities, attempts at modesty or deception

Feudalism (introduced after the Norman Conquest) §The king had plenty of land, but could not control it all. §So the king gave land to lords in exchange for protection, loyalty and $. §Lords then gave their land to knights in exchange for protection, loyalty and $. §Knights let serfs (peasants) work the land he would protect them and give them food and shelter. §Each person had rights and responsibilities.

Chivalry & Courtly Love §It’s a system of ideals and social codes governing the behavior of knights and gentlewomen §Rule of Warfare: Never attack an unarmed opponent §Rule of Courtly Love: Adoring a lady (not necessarily one’s wife) was a means to self-improvement

Knights Should Possess… § Honor § Humility § Sacrifice § Fear of God § Faithfulness § Courage § Graciousness and courtesy to ladies § Were trained from a young age § Upon knighthood, were titled “Sir”

Ideas of Courtly Love… § In its ideal form, it’s non-sexual § A knight adored a lady § Knight might wear his lady’s colors in battle § might glorify her in words / be inspired by her § Still, he couldn’t cross the boundary between courtly love and physical love § Ex. A lord’s wife might be courted by the knights. § Led to an idealized view of women, but did little to improve their actual position

Women in the Middle Ages… §No political rights §Considered “chattel, ” or the personal property of her father or husband. §Subservient to husband, father, or brother §Husband or father’s social standing determined hers §Peasant women: childbearing, housework, hard field work §Noblewomen: childbearing and household supervision

Religion… §Religious relics were huge § People would travel from afar to see the skull of John the Baptist or to see nails from Christ’s hands § Might have to pay to see them (problem? ) §Indulgences -- people could pay to get their deceased relatives out of Purgatory § This was the work of the pardoner §Note: a lot of corruption in the church

§The main duty of a Summoner was do deliver a summons, or order, to appear before the ecclesiastical courts. §He was also often charged with collecting fines for "immoral" behavior §The Summoner could inflict pain on people, get their property, or inflict death on someone. §Shows the power the Catholic church had in those days. §Many people were questioning the authority of the church. §Monks were supposed to live a life of chastity, poverty and obedience § Friars were supported by donations

Other Events the Characters are Involved In… §The Martyrdom of Thomas à Becket (1170) §Killed because he sided with the pope over the king §THIS is where the Pilgrims are going in The Canterbury Tales

Chaucer & The Canterbury Tales §His story gives a full picture of the Middle Ages society §We see… §the estate system §the corruption of the church §their beliefs about physical health and appearance §courtly love Fin.