Notes middle ages
- 2. The Norman Conquest Began in 1066 Duke William of Normandy aka William the Conqueror defeated Harold of England Wanted to rule the Anglo-Saxons, not eliminate them
- 3. The Norman Conquest The Doomsday Book Inventory of nearly every piece of property in England For the first time people could be taxed on what they owned
- 4. Feudalism Is a pyramid system (caste system) based on a religious concept of hierarchy with god as the supreme overlord The Annoying Peasant from Monty Python
- 5. Feudal Knighthood The primary duty of males above the serf class was military service to their lords. Boys were trained early as warriors. When their training was complete they were dubbed knights Brave Sir Robin from Monty Python
- 6. Chivalry The feudal idea of loyalty Virtues included: Humility Loyalty to God, king, and country Courage Honor Being true to one’s word Protection of the weak Respect for women Generosity Fairness to enemies Developing one’s skills Determination to fight evil
- 7. Chivalry A system of ideals and social codes governing the behavior of knights and gentlewomen Chivalry led to an idealized attitude toward women and gave rise to a new form of literature – the Romance
- 8. Chivalry Knights should honor, serve, and do nothing to displease ladies and maidens Believed in the code of chivalry Promised to defend the weak Be courteous to all women Be loyal to their king Serve God at all times
- 9. Chivalry Were expected to be humble before others, especially their superiors. They were also expected to not “talk too much.” Were to give mercy to a vanquished enemy However, the very fact that knights were trained as men of war belied this code
- 10. Chivalry Knights belonged to a multitude of specific Orders, each established for one purpose or another The most well known knightly orders were: Hospitallers Teutonic Templars Lost Worlds: Knight’s Templar
- 11. Chivalry Courtly Love Non-sexual Acting in the name of a lady • A knight would wear his lady’s colors, but the lady remained pure and out of reach
- 12. By Geoffrey Chaucer The Canterbury Tales
- 13. The Journey Begins . . . Chaucer uses a religious pilgrimage to display all segments of medieval England. The Canterbury Tales begins with a Prologue, Narrator, presumably Chaucer himself, meets 29 other pilgrims at the Tabard Inn, located in a suburb of London. As the pilgrims prepare for their journey, the host of the Inn, Harry Bailey, sets a challenge: Each pilgrim tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and two stories on the return trip. The person who tells the best tale will be treated to a feast hosted by the other pilgrims.
- 14. The Journey Begins . . . The Canterbury Tales is actually a story about stories, twenty-four different tales set within the overarching tale of the pilgrimage. Definition: Frame Story – a story within a story • The Outer Frame Story is about the pilgrims meeting at the Tabard Inn preparing for a journey to Canterbury. • The Inner Frame Story would be all the stories told by the assembled pilgrims along their journey to and from Canterbury.
- 15. Snapshots of an Era. . . In the Prologue, Chaucer sketches a brief but vivid portrait of each pilgrim, creating a lively sense of medieval life. The description may literally describe an article of clothing, but figuratively imply something about that character. Definition: Satire - a literary composition, that ridicules human weakness, vice or folly in order to bring social reform They make us laugh, but also make us think Like sarcasm . . . He says one thing, but means another. Our job is to read and comprehend the literal description of each pilgrim, and then, we must figuratively interpret what Chaucer is trying to imply about that pilgrim’s character.
- 16. Snapshots of an Era. . . Two types of Satire: 1. Juvenalian - After the Roman satirist Juvenal: Formal satire in which the speaker attacks vice and error with contempt and indignation Juvenalian satire in its realism and its harshness is in strong contrast to Horatian satire. {Serious – Critical} 2. Horatian - After the Roman satirist Horace: Satire in which the voice is indulgent, tolerant, amused, and witty. The speaker holds up to gentle ridicule the absurdities and follies of human beings, aiming at producing in the reader not the anger of a Juvenal, but a wry smile. {Light – Funny}
- 17. Snapshots of an Era. . . Satire (continued . . . ): Also, so that we might better understand his satirical characterization, Chaucer creates SATIRIC NORMS. A SATIRIC NORM is a character that represents the perfect ideal. We can then see how BAD everyone else is by comparing them to this Satiric Norm.
- 18. Snapshots of an Era. . . Medieval Society was divided into three segments: 1. The Church – those who prayed 2. The Nobility – those who fought 3. The Peasantry – those who worked By the late 14th century, the rigid organization of these three estates had begun to break down A Merchant class was beginning to emerge An intellectual class –not destined for the church– was also beginning to emerge
- 19. A Literary Tour. . . Chaucer uses the popular genres of his time when he creates the inner stories of the various pilgrims: Romances (tales of chivalry) • The Wife of Bath’s Tale Fabliaux (short, bawdy, humorous stories) • The Miller’s Tale The stories of saint’s lives, sermons • The Parson’s Tale Allegories (narratives in which characters represent abstractions such as Pride or Honor). • The Pardoner’s Tale Chaucer wrote much of the Tales using his own form, the heroic couplet, a pair of rhyming lines with five stressed syllables each.
- 20. Literary Analysis Characterization Direct characterization presents direct statements about a character, such as Chaucer’s statement that the Knight “followed chivalry, / Truth, honor. . . .” Indirect characterization uses actions, thoughts, and dialogue to reveal a character’s personality. By saying “he was not gaily dressed,” for instance, Chaucer suggests that the Knight is not vain and perhaps takes the pilgrimage seriously enough to rush to join it straight from battle.
- 21. Literary Analysis Each character in The Canterbury Tales represents a different segment of society in Chaucer’s time. By noting the virtues and faults of each, Chaucer provides social commentary, writing that offers insight into society, its values, and its customs. While reading, draw conclusions from the characters about Chaucer’s views on English society.
- 22. Social Satire Chart Character Name How Chaucer Feels Evidence The Oxford Cleric Bad He loves books more than food; takes money from friends to buy books instead of food for himself or his emaciated horse; can’t hold down a job Resources to help you: Summary of General Prologue from Shmoop.com Summary of General Prologue from litcharts.com YouTube video summary of GP
- 23. Geoffrey Chaucer c. 1343-1400 Considered the father of English poetry Wrote in the vernacular – common language of the people (English) Served as a soldier, government servant, and member of Parliament Introduced iambic pentameter First writer buried in Westminster Abbey