Chaucer and the Middle AgesA brief introduction

Time Period• Roughly from the 6th century

through the 16th ▫500-1500 AD

• Generally concerned with Europe

• A time of modernization in western and northern Europe

• Considered the “middle” age in Europe because it falls in-between the era of Antiquity (or the Dark Ages) and the Modern Period

So what?• A time of growth and change in

Europe• Included leaps in art, music,

literature, architecture, science, technology, and society

• Large church influences, mainly Catholic

• Time of great turmoil▫Church vs. State▫The Crusades▫100 Years War▫The Black Plague

King Arthur•King Arthur was a British ruler from the early

6th century •Most tales consist of folklore, and it is debated

whether he even existed or not•Was said to have led to the defeat of the Saxons

during his rule, and united Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Norway and Gaul

•Legend includes tales of Merlin the Wizard, the sword Excalibur, the search for the Holy Grail of Christ, and his Knights of the Round Table

The Knights of the Round Table• The Knights were said to be of the highest order of Chivalry in the

Court of King Arthur• Their table was round so as to have no head or foot, to represent

equality• Different stories have different numbers of knights, ranging from 12 to

150

Code of Chivalry • Sir Thomas Malory describes

the Knights' code of chivalry as:▫To never do outrage nor murder▫Always to flee treason▫To by no means be cruel but to

give mercy unto him who asks for mercy

▫To always do ladies, gentlewomen and widows succor

▫To never force ladies, gentlewomen or widows

▫Not to take up battles in wrongful quarrels for love or worldly goods

Geoffrey Chaucer • English author, poet,

philosopher, bureaucrat, courtier, and diplomat

• Lived from 1343 to October 25th 1400

• Is often credited as the father of English literature

• Chose to write in English rather than French or Latin, the accepted languages of literature of his day

• Most famous work was The Canterbury Tales

The Canterbury Tales• One whole narrative told by a group of pilgrims traveling to visit the shrine

of Saint Thomas Becket, who was martyred at the Canterbury Cathedral• Written in Middle English• Many different manuscripts were produced, so no complete version of The

Canterbury Tales exists• Mentions current events, conflicts and inventions of the day (including

paper!)