Canterbury+Tales

Prologue

What is the time period and how does it affect the literary style?


 * Italian Renaissance**
 * inlfluenced by the vernacular writings of Italians
 * 1) Dante
 * 2) Petrarch
 * 3) Boccaccio


 * trend of English poets to write in the vernacular


 * End of Medieval period**
 * increase in religiosity
 * rise in literacy - reason why he wrote in the vernacular


 * poetry appeals to the layman

What is the author's purpose in writing the selected piece?


 * churches are corrupt
 * pilgrimages are increasing in popularity, especially to local pilgrimage sites
 * humor

//died before he could finish them all - he only completed 24//
 * Chaucer had planned for there to be 120 different tales - 4 from each person (2 on each leg of the pilgrimage)

What literary techniques does the author in achieving his or her purpose?


 * Vernacular**
 * he used the vernacular language (English), when the language of the courts was French, and of the Church, Latin
 * this allowed any literate person in England to read and enjoy his work

__Direct Characterization__ : statements/description of/about a character ex. "followed chivalry / truth, honor, generousness, and courtesy" (lines 45-46, pg. 96)
 * Characterization**

__Indirect Characterization__ : actions, thoughts, and dialogue to reveal a charcter's personality ex. "many a draught of vintage, red and yellow, / he'd drawn at Bordeaux, while the trader snored" (lines 406-407, pg. 104)


 * Poetry**
 * his entire work is written in couplets
 * very rhythmic
 * meant to be spoken as well as read


 * Descripive Language**
 * large amounts of imagery allows one to picture the different pilgrims as well as their motives and actions

ex. Chanticleer's ploomage is described as shining like burnished gold
 * Parody**
 * imitates the overblown, descriptive style of romances

//some have even referred to "The Nun's Priest's Tale" as an allegory for story of Adam and Eve's fall from grace//
 * Allegory**
 * to how we are so easily swayed by the smooth talking tongue of the devil (fox)

How is the literature characteristic of the time period?


 * vernacular language
 * exemplum: a story used to illustrate the moral message of a sermon
 * poetry

Works Cited