Everything you need to know to read “The Canterbury Tales” - Iseult Gillespie

Summary

The Canterbury Tales, a masterpiece by Geoffrey Chaucer, is a collection of 24 stories told by diverse characters on a pilgrimage to Canterbury. Written in Middle English, it blends humor and satire, offering a window into medieval society. The tales, ranging from romance to bawdy comedy, reflect the social hierarchy and are a testament to Chaucer's genius, leaving the reader to decide the best story.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script discusses 'The Canterbury Tales', a renowned piece of English literature by Geoffrey Chaucer.
• 🎭 It features a diverse cast of characters, each with their own story, reflecting various social classes of medieval society.
• 🗣️ The tales are written in Middle English, a language used between the 12th and 15th centuries, influenced by the Norman Conquest.
• 🏰 The characters embark on a pilgrimage to Canterbury to visit the shrine of St. Thomas Beckett.
• 🏨 They meet at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, where the host proposes a storytelling competition for the best tale.
• 👥 The script highlights the feudal system of medieval society, separating the clergy, nobility, and working classes.
• 🌍 Chaucer's own experiences as a government official and traveler likely influenced the global perspective in 'The Canterbury Tales'.
• 🖋️ Chaucer uses humor and satire to critique the worldviews and language quirks of his characters.
• 📈 The work provides a snapshot of medieval entertainment, with a mix of romance, comedy, and bawdy humor.
• 📖 'The Canterbury Tales' is unfinished, with 24 stories told by 29 pilgrims, leaving the reader to decide the best tale.

Q & A

Who is the main character in the story described in the transcript?

The main character in the story described is not a single person but a collection of characters from 'The Canterbury Tales' by Geoffrey Chaucer.

What is the setting of 'The Canterbury Tales'?

The setting of 'The Canterbury Tales' is a pilgrimage to Canterbury to visit the shrine of St. Thomas Beckett, starting from the Tabard Inn in Southwark.

What is the main theme of the story involving the Miller, the carpenter's wife, and the scholar?

The main theme of the story involving the Miller, the carpenter's wife, and the scholar is trickery and deception used for romantic encounters, with elements of bawdy humor.

What are some of the tricks used by the scholar and the wife to get time alone together?

The scholar and the wife use tricks such as feigning madness, staging a biblical flood, and exposing themselves in public to get time alone together.

Why does the parish clerk sing outside the wife's house every night?

The parish clerk sings outside the wife's house every night because he is lusting after her.

What does the wife do to scare away the parish clerk?

The wife tries to scare away the parish clerk by hanging her rear end out the window for him to kiss.

What is the scholar's response to the clerk's persistence?

The scholar decides to try farting in the same position as the wife when the clerk is waiting with a red-hot poker.

What is the significance of Middle English in 'The Canterbury Tales'?

Middle English is significant in 'The Canterbury Tales' because it was the language used between the 12th and 15th centuries, and the Tales are written in this form, reflecting the language of the time.

How does Chaucer use the characters' language to satirize their worldviews?

Chaucer uses the quirks of the characters' language, such as the ribald humor of the Cook, the solemn prose of the Parson, and the lofty notions of the Squire, to satirize their worldviews.

What is the social commentary in 'The Canterbury Tales'?

The social commentary in 'The Canterbury Tales' includes the satire of different social classes and their worldviews, as well as the exposure of human folly and vice across all levels of society.

Why might 'The Canterbury Tales' be considered unfinished?

'The Canterbury Tales' might be considered unfinished because Chaucer introduces 29 pilgrims with the promise of four stories each, but the work ends without a clear winner or the completion of all the promised tales.

What is the role of the Innkeeper in 'The Canterbury Tales'?

The Innkeeper in 'The Canterbury Tales' proposes a storytelling competition among the pilgrims, offering a free dinner to the one who tells the best tale, thus setting the stage for the Tales.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Introduction to The Canterbury Tales

The paragraph introduces 'The Canterbury Tales' by Geoffrey Chaucer, a collection of 24 stories told by various characters. It describes a humorous anecdote involving a Miller, a carpenter's wife, a scholar, and a parish clerk, highlighting the bawdy and satirical nature of the tales. The paragraph also explains the historical context of Middle English, the language in which the tales are written, and the social backdrop of medieval society, which is reflected in the characters' interactions. The setting of the tales at the Tabard Inn and the pilgrimage to Canterbury is established, along with the competition proposed by the inn's host to determine who tells the best tale.

Keywords

💡The Canterbury Tales

The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century. It is considered one of the most important works of English literature. The tales are a series of narratives told by a group of pilgrims on their way to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket in Canterbury. Each story is unique and reflects the social status, occupation, and personality of the teller, showcasing Chaucer's ability to blend humor with social commentary. In the script, The Canterbury Tales is described as a work that 'seamlessly blends the lofty and the lowly,' indicating its wide-ranging appeal and thematic diversity.

💡Middle English

Middle English is the stage of the English language that was spoken between the 12th and 15th centuries. It evolved from Old English and was influenced by the Norman Conquest of 1066, which brought increased contact with European languages. The Canterbury Tales is written in Middle English, which is different from modern English but still recognizable, with some archaic symbols like 'yogh.' The script mentions that Middle English was used during the time period when the tales were set, and it serves as a historical window into the language and culture of medieval England.

💡Pilgrimage

A pilgrimage is a journey undertaken for a religious or spiritual reason. In the context of The Canterbury Tales, the pilgrimage is to Canterbury to visit the shrine of St. Thomas Becket, a martyred archbishop. The script describes this journey as the common thread that brings together the diverse cast of characters, allowing Chaucer to explore different social classes and their interactions, which is central to the narrative's exploration of medieval society.

💡Feudal System

The feudal system was the social, economic, and political order of medieval Europe. It was characterized by the exchange of land for service and loyalty between lords and vassals. The script mentions that medieval society followed a feudal system that divided the clergy and nobility from the working classes, such as peasants and serfs. This system is relevant to the video's theme as it sets the backdrop for the social commentary in The Canterbury Tales, where Chaucer critiques and satirizes the different classes within this system.

💡Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer was an English writer, poet, and philosopher, best known for his work The Canterbury Tales. The script describes Chaucer as a government official who traveled extensively during the Hundred Years' War, which may have influenced his 'panoramic vision' of society as reflected in his work. Chaucer's use of satire and his depiction of characters from various social strata make him a central figure in the video's exploration of medieval literature and social commentary.

💡Ribald Humor

Ribald humor refers to coarse, vulgar, or bawdy comedy. The script mentions that The Canterbury Tales includes 'ribald humor' through the use of scatological language, sexual deviance, and slapstick, particularly in the tales told by working-class narrators. This type of humor is integral to the video's theme, as it illustrates Chaucer's ability to entertain while also providing social commentary and satire.

💡Scatological Language

Scatological language refers to the use of vulgar or obscene language related to bodily functions, especially excrement. The script notes that the tales of working-class narrators are 'filled with scatological language,' which is a key aspect of the ribald humor found in The Canterbury Tales. This language is used to shock and amuse, reflecting the earthy and irreverent nature of the stories and their characters.

💡Courtly Love

Courtly love is a medieval European concept of chivalric and sometimes illicit love, typically between a nobleman and a noblewoman to whom he is not married. The script refers to the Knight's tale, which 'riffs on romance' and includes elements of courtly love, chivalry, and destiny. This concept is important to the video's theme as it represents the idealized and romantic aspects of medieval culture that Chaucer both celebrates and satirizes.

💡Dialects

Dialects are variations of a language spoken by different groups or in different regions. The script mentions that The Canterbury Tales includes 'varied dialects,' which serve to highlight the diversity of the characters and their social backgrounds. This use of dialects is significant to the video's theme as it enriches the tapestry of voices and perspectives that Chaucer presents, providing a more comprehensive view of medieval society.

💡Unfinished

The term 'unfinished' refers to the fact that The Canterbury Tales does not have a clear conclusion, as Chaucer introduces more pilgrims and stories than he completes. The script suggests that Chaucer may have been so engrossed in his creations that he 'delayed picking a winner' or was unable to choose a favorite among his characters. This aspect of the work is relevant to the video's theme as it leaves the interpretation open-ended, inviting readers to judge the tales for themselves.

💡Social Commentary

Social commentary refers to the practice of using literature, art, or other forms of expression to critique or reflect on societal norms and issues. The script describes how Chaucer uses the quirks of his characters' language and their worldviews to satirize different levels of society in The Canterbury Tales. This element of social commentary is central to the video's theme, as it showcases Chaucer's ability to entertain while also providing insightful commentary on the medieval social hierarchy.

Highlights

The Canterbury Tales is one of the most esteemed works of English literature.

The work consists of 24 stories, each told by one of Chaucer’s spirited characters.

The Tales are written in Middle English, used between the 12th and 15th centuries.

Middle English evolved from Old English due to increased contact with European romantic languages after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

The cast of the Tales first meet at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, embarking on a pilgrimage to Canterbury.

The host of the Inn proposes a competition for the best tale, promising dinner to the winner.

Medieval society followed a feudal system, dividing the clergy and nobility from the working classes.

Chaucer spent most of his life as a government official, traveling throughout Italy, France, and England.

Chaucer uses the quirks of the characters’ language to satirize their worldviews.

The varied dialects, genres, and literary tropes make the work a vivid record of Medieval entertainment.

The Knight’s tale riffs on romance, while the tales of working-class narrators are generally comedies.

The Canterbury Tales is unfinished, with the prologue introducing 29 pilgrims and promising four stories each.

Chaucer may have been so fond of his characters that he couldn't choose a winner, leaving the decision to the readers.

The Tales seamlessly blend the lofty and the lowly, showcasing Chaucer's panoramic vision.

The work includes stories of feigned madness, staged biblical floods, and public exposure as tricks for lovers to be alone.

The Tales feature a variety of narrators, from familiar Medieval figures to less recognizable characters.

Chaucer satirizes no level of society in the Tales, making it a rich source of social commentary.

Readers continue to delight in the work for its variety and the opportunity to judge the best tale themselves.

Transcripts

A portly Miller, barely sober enough to sit on his horse,

rambles on about the flighty wife of a crotchety old carpenter

and the scholar she takes as her lover.

To get some time alone together,

the scholar and the wife play various tricks

that involve feigning madness,

staging a biblical flood,

and exposing themselves in public.

But the parish clerk is also lusting after the wife,

and comes by every night to sing outside her house.

This becomes so tiresome that she tries to scare him away

by hanging her rear end out the window for him to kiss.

When this appears not to work,

her scholar decides to try farting in the same position,

but this time, the clerk is waiting with a red-hot poker.

This might all sound like a bawdy joke,

but it’s part of one of the most esteemed works of English literature ever created:

The Canterbury Tales,

which seamlessly blends the lofty and the lowly.

The work consists of 24 stories,

each told by one of Chaucer’s spirited characters.

Narrators include familiar Medieval figures

such as a Knight,

a Clerk,

and a Nun,

and the less recognizable Reeve,

and Mancible,

and others.

The Tales are written in Middle English,

which often looks entirely different from the language spoken today.

It was used between the 12th and 15th centuries,

and evolved from Old English

due to increased contact with European romantic languages

after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

Most of the Middle English alphabet is still familiar today,

with the inclusion of a few archaic symbols,

such as yogh, which denotes the y,

j,

or gh sound.

The loquacious cast of the Tales first meet at the Tabard Inn in Southwark.

They have a journey in common:

a pilgrimage to Canterbury to visit the shrine of St. Thomas Beckett,

a martyred archbishop who was murdered in his own Cathedral.

Eager and nosy for some personal details,

the host of the Inn proposes a competition:

whoever tells the best tale will be treated to dinner.

If not for their pilgrimage,

many of these figures would never have had the chance to interact.

This is because Medieval society followed a feudal system

that divided the clergy and nobility from the working classes,

made up of peasants and serfs.

By Chaucer’s time,

a professional class of merchants and intellectuals had also emerged.

Chaucer spent most of his life as a government official

during the Hundred Years' War,

traveling throughout Italy and France, as well as his native England.

This may have influenced the panoramic vision of his work,

and in the Tales, no level of society is above mockery.

Chaucer uses the quirks of the characters’ language –

the ribald humor of the Cook,

the solemn prose of the Parson,

and the lofty notions of the Squire –

to satirize their worldviews.

The varied dialects, genres, and literary tropes

also make the work a vivid record

of the different ways Medieval audiences entertained themselves.

For instance, the Knight’s tale of courtly love,

chivalry,

and destiny

riffs on romance,

while the tales of working-class narrators are generally comedies

filled with scatological language,

sexual deviance,

and slapstick.

This variation includes something for everyone,

and that’s one reason why readers continue to delight in the work

in both Middle English and translation.

While the narrative runs to over 17,000 lines,

it's apparently unfinished,

as the prologue ambitiously introduces 29 pilgrims

and promises four stories apiece,

and the innkeeper never crowns a victor.

It’s possible that Chaucer was so caught up in his sumptuous creations

that he delayed picking a winner -

or perhaps he was so fond of each character

that he just couldn’t choose.

Whatever the reason,

this means that every reader is free to judge;

the question of who wins is up to you.