1. Metrical Tale
 a long narrative poem which
tells about the lives of
ordinary people;
 has element of realism; and
 told in first person.

2. Metrical Romance
 embodies the ideals of the
medieval times (age of
chivalry)
 talks about the lives and
adventures of the
nobility, of chivalry and
knighthood

3. Presentation by Katrin
Lutao
The Canterbury
Tales

4. Geoffrey
Chaucer
 c. 1343-1400
 Wrote in the vernacular
 Served as a soldier, government
servant, and member of Parliament
 First writer buried in Westminster Abbey
Famil
y
By 1366 Chaucer had married Philippa
Pan, who had been in service with the
Countess of Ulster.
He had two sons and two daughters.

5. Poet’s
Corner

6. England in the Middle Ages
 The Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453)
was the first national war waged by
England.

7. England in the Middle Ages
 The Black Death (1348-1349) brought the end
of the Middle Ages.

8. England in the Middle Ages
 Lower, middle, and upper-middle classes
developed in the cities.

9. The Orders of Medieval
Society

11. The Tabard Inn

13. Canterbury
Cathedral
became a site
for pilgrims to
offer prayers to
St. Thomas.

14. Today, a
modern
cross made
from swords
marks the
site of the
martyrdom.

15. A
close-
up of
the
altar.

17. Wife of Bath
 excellent seamstress
and weaver;
 married 5 times;
 with aggressive
feminism;
 in fancy/colorful
clothes: scarlet red
stockings;
 amorous

18. Stylistic Elements
 Frame Narrative
The Canterbury Tales is a collection of
stories that all fit within one single narrative
 Narrative Voice
While the tales themselves are narrated by
different characters, a scribe writes them down.
 Various Literary Genres
Chaucer presents many types of literary
work: romance, fabliaux, saint story, parable,
dialectical discourse, lays, and sermon.

19. Historic Elements
 The pilgrims in Chaucer’s work are truly a
motley group. The Canterbury Tales
represents a vast representation of people and
occupations from the late Middle Ages in
England.
 The Catholic Church was suffering from
corruption, particularly from offences
highlighted in The Canterbury Tales, including
selling of indulgences and other individual
transgressions.

20. Historic Elements
 Ravages of the Black Plague in the 13th and
14th centuries increase the property – and
prosperity of farmers. Perpetual need for
workers leads to commuting labor force.
 Recall that Thomas à Becket was murdered
because he refused to appease Henry II by
petitioning Rome to get rid of the ecclesiastic
courts – or at least to put Henry in charge of
them.

24. Sources
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/com
mons/thumb/2/2d/Poets_corner.jpg/250px-
Poets_corner.jpg
http://www.ponyhide.com/mychaelbarratt/g
raphics/newwork/18.3.11/The-Canterbury-
Tales.html
http://molcat1.bl.uk/treasures/caxton/Record
http://www.bestfunfacts.com/literature.html