Canterbury Tales
Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1343-1400)
Mary Spira H. Sumbillo
Discussant
Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343-1400)
1357-page to Elizabeth, Countess of Ulster
1359- captured by the French during Britanny expedition
Edward III sent him for Diplomatic missions to France, Genoa
and Florence
1366- married Philippa de Roet (lady-in-waiting in Queens
household)
1374- appointed as comptroller of the lucrative London customs
1386- elected Member of Parliament for Kent
1387- began his most famous work The Canterbury Tales
1389-clerk of kings works
October 25, 1400- died in London, England
Brief Background of the Country during the
Authors Time
Three estates
Nobility
Church
Peasantry
Middle class of artisans and merchants
Brief History of the Authors Country
Flag (Union Jack)
White represents peace and
honesty.
Red represents hardiness,
bravery, strength and valor.
Blue represents vigilance,
truth, loyalty, perseverance
and justice.
Famous Landmarks
Hadrians Wall
Stonehenge
Buckingham Palace
Westminster Abbey
Big Ben
Tower Bridge
London Bridge
Canterbury Cathedral
St. Thomas a Becket
Synopsis
Characters
Host Harry Bailly
Chaucer
Knight
Squire
Yeoman
Prioress
Second Nun
Nuns Priest
Monk
Friar
Merchant
Clerk
Man of Law
Franklin
Guildsmen
Cook
Shipman
Physician
Wife of the Bath
Parson
Plowman
Reeve
Miller
Summoner
Pardoner
Manciple
The Knights Tale
Theseus
Creon
Group of Women
Palamon
Arcite
Hippolyta
Emelye
Egeus
Perotheus
The Millers Tale:
John
Nicholas
Alison
Absolon
The Reeves Tale:
Symkyn
Aleyn
John
Millers Daughter
Millers Wife
The Cooks tale:
Perkyn PerkynReveler
Master
Perkyns Friend
Wife of Perkyns friend
The Man of Laws Tale:
Custance
Muslim Sultan of Syria
Sultans Mother
Constable
Hermengyld
Satan
Young Knight
Alla (King of Northenberland)
Mauricius
Donegild
Wife of Bath:
Jankyn
Fourth Husband
First Three Husbands
Knight
Old Women
Arthurs Queen
Arthur
The Friars Tale:
Archdeacon
Summoner
Yeoman
Old Wealthy Widow
The Summoners Tale:
Thomas
Wife
Friar
Squire
The Clerks Tale:
Griselde
Griseldes Aristocrat Husband
The Merchants Tale:
January
May
Damien
Pluto
The Squires Tale:
King Cambyuskan of Mongol Empire
Canacee
Knight from King of Arabia and India
The Franklins Tale:
Dorigen
Arveragus
Aurelius
Magician
The Physicians Tale:
Appius
Virginia
Virginius
Claudius
The Pardoners Tale:
Three Rioters
Old Man
The Shipmans Tale:
Monk
Merchants wife
Merchant
The Prioress Tale:
Widows son
Jews
Christian People
Sir Thopas Tale:
Sir Thopas
Elf Queen
Sir Olifaunt
The Tale of Malibee:
Melibee
Prudence
Sophie
The Monks Tale:
Lucifer
Adam
Sampson
Hercules
Nebuchadrezzar
Belshazzar
Zenobia
Pedro of Castile
The Nuns Priest Tale:
Widow
Widows daughters
Chanticleer
Pertelote
Fox
Second Nuns Tale:
Saint Cecilia
Valerian
Tiburce
Angel
Yeomans Tale:
Yeoman
Canon
The Manciples Tale:
White Crow
Phoebus
The Host
Merchant
Franklin
The Monk
Knight
Summoner
Sir Thopas
Second Nun
Lawyer
Physician
Cook
Merchant
Reeve
Literary Devices
Allegory-
Allusion-
Imagery-
Irony-
Parody-
Personification-
Satire-
Symbolisms
Pilgrims:
Draw lots
Clothes:
Spring:
Tabard Inn
Themes
Joy and suffering
are never apart
from one.
Name, title and
profession cant
define the inner
characteristic of
a person.
If one persons
fortune is up,
another
persons
Lust is a
disease.
At the end
everyone
learned a lesson
and got the
punishment they
Greed leads to
a mans own
destruction.
Implication to
st
21 Century
In todays generation a lot of
newly founded religion with
different beliefs, practices
and interpretation regarding
the words of God are
spreading which sometimes
This story is an eye
opener for everyone that
no matter what their
religion is we should not
forget our God almighty in
darkness and in light.
Whan that Aprill with his shouressoote
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swichlicour
Of which vertuengendred is the flour;
WhanZephirus eek with his sweetebreeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendrecroppes, and the yongesonne
Hath in the Ram his halve coursyronne,
And smalefowlesmakenmelodye,
That slepen al the nyght with open ye
(So priketh hem nature in hircorages),
Thannelongen folk to goon on pilgrimages.
(General Prologue, 112)
The FirsteMoevere of the cause above,
Whan he first made the faire cheyne of love,
Greet was theffect, and heigh was his entente.
...
For with that faire cheyne of love he bond
The fyr, the eyr, the water, and the lond
In certeynboundes, that they may nat flee.
(The Knights Tale, 29872993)
Thus swyved was this carpenteriswyf,
For al his kepyng and his jalousye;
And Absolon hath kisthir nether ye;
And Nicholas is scalded in the towte.
This tale is doon, and God save al the rowte!
(The Millers Tale, 38503854)
Wommendesiren to have sovereyntee
As wel over hirhousbond as hir love,
And for to been in maistriehym above.
(TheWife of Bath)
My theme is alweyoon, and evere was
Radix malorumest Cupiditas.
(The Pardons Tale)
