Notes on The Canterbury Tales Lecture

Introduction to The Canterbury Tales

• Written by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400.
• Consists of 177,000 lines.
• Originally written in Middle English, which can be difficult to read.

Historical Context

• Important because it is one of the first major works in the English language, rather than Latin.
• During the Anglo-Norman period, French was the language of the upper class, Latin was used by the church and scholars.
• English was viewed as the language of the common people, not for serious literature.
• By Chaucer's time, the French language was declining; many writers were creating significant works in English.

Chaucer's Contribution to English Literature

• Chaucer was not revolutionary for writing in English; he followed a trend.
• His importance lies in the variety of stories and styles he employed in English.
• Targeted an educated audience, primarily from the upper and middle classes, familiar with French and Latin.

Structure of The Canterbury Tales

• The work features 30 pilgrims traveling to Canterbury to visit the shrine of St. Thomas Becket.
• The journey begins at The Tabard Inn in Southwark, London.
• Each pilgrim is to tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and two on the way back, totaling 120 stories.
• Chaucer only completed 24 tales.

Overview of Key Tales

The Knight's Tale

• Plot: Two friends, Palamon and Arcite, fall in love with Emily.
• They fight for her love and are helped by the gods Venus and Mars.
• Themes: Honor, love, fate; explores both tragedy and romance.

The Miller's Tale

• A comedic story about an old carpenter, John, and his young wife, Alison.
• Nicholas, a clever student, plots to seduce Alison while tricking John.
• Reflects medieval humor about clever young men outsmarting foolish old men.

The Reeve's Tale

• A response to the Miller's tale, featuring a dishonest Miller named Simkin.
• The story involves revenge by two students against the Miller for stealing their grain.

The Cook's Tale

• About a young man named Perkin who is a lazy worker.
• The tale is unfinished, reflecting the carefree lifestyle of youth in medieval England.

The Wife of Bath

• Character: Alison, married five times, strong feminist views on marriage.
• Story: A knight must discover what women want most to avoid execution; learns it is the right to make their own choices.
• Highlights themes of female empowerment and autonomy.

The Friar's Tale

• Features a corrupt summoner befriending a devil.
• Discusses greed and dishonesty within the church.

The Parson's Tale

• Represents a genuine character who practices what he preaches.
• A sermon on the seven deadly sins, contrasting with the corruption of other church officials.

The Merchant's Tale

• An old knight, January, marries a young woman, May, who is in love with a younger man.
• Explores themes of marriage, infidelity, and deception.

Conclusion

• The Canterbury Tales explores various aspects of medieval society through its diverse characters and their stories.
• Emphasizes themes relevant to both the time period and modern discussions on morality, relationships, and social critique.
• Lecture provides a foundational understanding for competitive exams; additional resources provided in PDF format.