Christianity-and-The-Canterbury-Tales-in-Medieval-England(ppt文档).ppt

Christianity and The Canterbury Tales in Medieval England Sr.Amelia Breton&Ms.Michele L.HannaBritish Events of the Early Medieval Periodn n1066:Saxons defeated at Hastings by Normans1066:Saxons defeated at Hastings by Normansn n1073:Canterbury becomes Englands religious 1073:Canterbury becomes Englands religious centercentern n1170:Thomas a Becket,Archbishop of Canterbury,1170:Thomas a Becket,Archbishop of Canterbury,is murdered by King Henry IIs menis murdered by King Henry IIs menn n1386:Chaucer begins writing 1386:Chaucer begins writing The Canterbury The Canterbury Tales Tales Political Atmosphere in Medieval Englandn nIntroduction of the French political and economic system of Introduction of the French political and economic system of feudalism feudalism as a result of the Norman invasionas a result of the Norman invasionn nKing-center of governmentKing-center of governmentn nLords/Overlords landowners that owed military service Lords/Overlords landowners that owed military service to the Kingto the Kingn nBarons/Vassals sublet land from Lords Barons/Vassals sublet land from Lords n nKnights given smaller manors by barons in exchange Knights given smaller manors by barons in exchange for military service for military service n nCommoners or serfs-the lowest class of Medieval Commoners or serfs-the lowest class of Medieval society provided the physical labor for the land in society provided the physical labor for the land in exchange for food and protectionexchange for food and protectionn nGeoffrey Chaucers Geoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales incorporates all incorporates all main levels of Medieval society the Church,the Court,main levels of Medieval society the Church,the Court,and the common peopleand the common peopleSocial Atmosphere in Medieval Englandn nChivalryChivalry code of knightly behavior code of knightly behaviorn nThree ideals:Three ideals:n nGodGodn nKingKingn nLadyLadyn nA period of cultural refinement through the A period of cultural refinement through the discovery of luxuries from exotic landsdiscovery of luxuries from exotic landsn nThe founding of Oxford and Cambridge gave rise to The founding of Oxford and Cambridge gave rise to a broadening of intellectual horizonsa broadening of intellectual horizonsn nLife is centered around the castleLife is centered around the castleReligious Atmosphere in Medieval Englandn nDuring middle ages the church was the main focus During middle ages the church was the main focus of community life.of community life.n nThe Parish Priest was assigned by the manor and The Parish Priest was assigned by the manor and was obliged to keep up the church and provide was obliged to keep up the church and provide hospitality to travelers.hospitality to travelers.n nThe priest was a commoner by birth.Serfs were The priest was a commoner by birth.Serfs were not allowed to become priests because they were not allowed to become priests because they were tied to the land.tied to the land.Parish Income n nThe priest earned his living from the income for parish lands,fees for services,and the tithe money.Tithing was obligatory and it was divided between the priest,the church maintenance,the poor,and the bishop.n nPeasants had little money so they paid with what they produced;seeds,grain,etc.The Churchs Wealthn nThe church had great control over the people.The peasants worked for free on the church land.What the church collected was kept in tithe barns where a lot of the stored grain would be eaten by rats.n nIf the peasants failed to tithe they were told by the church that their souls would go to Hell.Churchs Wealth Continuedn nPeople had to pay People had to pay for baptisms,for baptisms,marriages and marriages and burials.This is one burials.This is one of the reasons why of the reasons why the church was so the church was so wealthy.wealthy.n nThis picture now a museum,was a tithe This picture now a museum,was a tithe barn in Kent.barn in Kent.Monks Faults and Contributionsn nIn the 12In the 12thth and 13 and 13thth centuries there were many centuries there were many monasteries where monks or nuns lived a simple monasteries where monks or nuns lived a simple life of prayer and work.They were criticized for life of prayer and work.They were criticized for their laxity and their laxity and involvementinvolvement in worldly affairs.in worldly affairs.n nMonks printed and preserved many books.Monks printed and preserved many books.n nThey kept ancient literature sometimes at a great They kept ancient literature sometimes at a great cost to themselves.cost to themselves.1170:Murder of Thomas a Becketn n1073:Canterbury Cathedral becomes Englands religious center1073:Canterbury Cathedral becomes Englands religious centern nHenry II appointed his friend Thomas a Becket as Archbishop of Henry II appointed his friend Thomas a Becket as Archbishop of CanterburyCanterburyn nHenry appointed Becket hoping that he would overlook some of the Kings Henry appointed Becket hoping that he would overlook some of the Kings abuses of powerabuses of powern nWhen Becket did not go along with the King,some of Henrys more When Becket did not go along with the King,some of Henrys more zealous knights murdered Becket in the cathedral at Canterburyzealous knights murdered Becket in the cathedral at Canterburyn nIn order to atone for Beckets murder,Henry made a pilgrimage,a holy In order to atone for Beckets murder,Henry made a pilgrimage,a holy journey,to Beckets tomb at Canterbury journey,to Beckets tomb at Canterbury n nThereafter,a pilgrimage to Beckets shrine at Canterbury became a Thereafter,a pilgrimage to Beckets shrine at Canterbury became a common English means of showing religious devotioncommon English means of showing religious devotionn nGeoffrey Chaucer,in Geoffrey Chaucer,in The Canterbury Tales,The Canterbury Tales,uses the vehicle of the uses the vehicle of the pilgrimage to bring together people from the 3 main segments of pilgrimage to bring together people from the 3 main segments of Medieval society Medieval society Geoffrey Chaucer 1343?-1400n nIn his own lifetime he was considered the greatest poet,In his own lifetime he was considered the greatest poet,and he is currently considered,by many,second only to and he is currently considered,by many,second only to Shakespeare in achievementsShakespeare in achievementsn nHe began as a page for one of King Edward IIIs He began as a page for one of King Edward IIIs households,served in the army and held key government households,served in the army and held key government positions throughout his lifetimepositions throughout his lifetimen nHe married a lady-in-waiting to the QueenHe married a lady-in-waiting to the Queenn nHe began to write in his twenties and continued to do so He began to write in his twenties and continued to do so for the rest of his lifefor the rest of his lifen nHe was the first person to be buried in what is now the He was the first person to be buried in what is now the Poets Corner of Westminster AbbeyPoets Corner of Westminster AbbeyThe Canterbury Tales:Factsn nWritten in Middle English verseWritten in Middle English versen nIt is a It is a frame storyframe story a story that includes,or frames,another a story that includes,or frames,another story or stories story or stories n nChaucers frame is the pilgrimage,which he originally planned as a round Chaucers frame is the pilgrimage,which he originally planned as a round trip but remains incompletetrip but remains incompleten nWithin this frame are 24 individual stories the pilgrims tellWithin this frame are 24 individual stories the pilgrims telln nIt is a series of verse stories told by different pilgrims,from It is a series of verse stories told by different pilgrims,from many walks of life,on their pilgrimage to St.Thomas a Beckets many walks of life,on their pilgrimage to St.Thomas a Beckets shrine at Canterbury Cathedralshrine at Canterbury Cathedraln nIt is the most accurate depiction of the life and values of people It is the most accurate depiction of the life and values of people in Medieval 14in Medieval 14thth Century England Century England Satire in The Canterbury Tales n nSatireSatire writing that shows the folly or evil of writing that shows the folly or evil of something through the use of wit and humor;a something through the use of wit and humora literary device employed to ridicule public or literary device employed to ridicule public or private abuses private abuses n nChaucer uses satire to ridicule the corruptness of Chaucer uses satire to ridicule the corruptness of the Church in England in the Medieval Periodthe Church in England in the Medieval PeriodThe 5 Main Religious Characters in The Canterbury Talesn nPrioressPrioress-the nun ranking just below the -the nun ranking just below the abbess in an abbeyabbess in an abbeyn nDuring the Medieval Period,this position was During the Medieval Period,this position was usually bought by women of the nobilityusually bought by women of the nobilityn nMonkMonk religious men that secluded themselves religious men that secluded themselves from society to perform religious and intellectual from society to perform religious and intellectual dutiesdutiesn nFriarFriar a part of the clergy that used to beg for a part of the clergy that used to beg for the poorthe poorn nMost friars were corrupt and surrounded by Most friars were corrupt and surrounded by scandal in the Middle Agesscandal in the Middle Agesn nPardonerPardoner one who sells papal pardons which one who sells papal pardons which were believed to take some time off of ones were believed to take some time off of ones stay in Purgatorystay in Purgatoryn nThere was an epidemic of illegitimate pardonersThere was an epidemic of illegitimate pardonersn nParsonParson a priest in a rural village a priest in a rural villagen nConsidered the bottom of the social ladder Considered the bottom of the social ladder The Prioressn nShe is the first character to be gently satirized She is the first character to be gently satirized because she does things that nuns are not because she does things that nuns are not supposed to dosupposed to don nAt the time,nuns were not supposed to go on pilgrimagesAt the time,nuns were not supposed to go on pilgrimagesn nShe dresses fashionably and nuns are supposed to dress She dresses fashionably and nuns are supposed to dress conservatively conservatively n n“Her veil was gathered in a seemly way”“Her veil was gathered in a seemly way”n nHer mannerisms(the way she speaks,eats,etc)are Her mannerisms(the way she speaks,eats,etc)are characteristic of the noble classcharacteristic of the noble classn nShe had“a courtly kind of grace”She had“a courtly kind of grace”n nOverall,she is gently satirized because she is rebellious in Overall,she is gently satirized because she is rebellious in matters of discipline and not moral mattersmatters of discipline and not moral mattersThe Monkn nHe is also gently satirized because he is neglectful He is also gently satirized because he is neglectful of discipline but not of moral mattersof discipline but not of moral mattersn nHe considers the rules for monks old-fashioned and He considers the rules for monks old-fashioned and out-datedout-datedn nHe“took the modern worlds more spacious way”and He“took the modern worlds more spacious way”and“the Rule he tended to ignore”“the Rule he tended to ignore”n nHe is a hunter,however,monks are not allowed to He is a hunter,however,monks are not allowed to hunthuntn n“hunters are not holy men”“hunters are not holy men”n n He is on a pilgrimage but monks were supposed He is on a pilgrimage but monks were supposed remain in seclusion at their monasteryremain in seclusion at their monasteryn nHe didnt believe that“a monk uncloistered is a mere He didnt believe that“a monk uncloistered is a mere Fish out of water”Fish out of water”n nHe dresses elaborately but monks were supposed to He dresses elaborately but monks were supposed to dress the same,in minimalist clothing dress the same,in minimalist clothing n n“his sleeves were garnished at the hand With fine“his sleeves were garnished at the hand With fine gray fur,the finest in the land”gray fur,the finest in the land”The Friarn nStrongly satirized because he is corrupt and goes against Strongly satirized because he is corrupt and goes against moralitymoralityn nHe only hears the confessions of the rich so he can charge He only hears the confessions of the rich so he can charge them and also use their confessions as grounds for future them and also use their confessions as grounds for future blackmailblackmailn nBy only dealing“with the rich”a“profit might occur”By only dealing“with the rich”a“profit might occur”n nHe engages in behavior unfit of a FriarHe engages in behavior unfit of a Friarn n“He knew the taverns well in every town”“He knew the taverns well in every town”n nHe keeps,for himself,most of the money he collects for the He keeps,for himself,most of the money he collects for the poorpoorn nHe makes a“decent living”He makes a“decent living”The Pardonern nAlso strongly satirized for despicable behaviorAlso strongly satirized for despicable behaviorn nHe is an illegitimate pardoner who gets rich by He is an illegitimate pardoner who gets rich by selling fake religious relics and pardons to those selling fake religious relics and pardons to those wanting to atone for their sinswanting to atone for their sinsn n“His wallet lay before him on his lap,Brimful of“His wallet lay before him on his lap,Brimful of pardons come from Rome all hot”pardons come from Rome all hot”n nEven Chaucers physical description of him is Even Chaucers physical description of him is harshharshn n“In driblets fell his locks like rat-tails”“In driblets fell his locks like rat-tails”n nHe even sells fake relics to“poor up-country He even sells fake relics to“poor up-country parsons”who are fellow clergymenparsons”who are fellow clergymenThe Parsonn nHe is a true shepherd of the people in his poor rural He is a true shepherd of the people in his poor rural communitycommunityn nHe is considered to be at the bottom of the religious He is considered to be at the bottom of the religious ladder,however he is at the pinnacle of the spiritual ladder,however he is at the pinnacle of the spiritual ladderladdern nHe was poor but“rich in holy thought and work”He was poor but“rich in holy thought and work”n nHe,unlike the other religious figures in lofty positions,He,unlike the other religious figures in lofty positions,believes in all his teachings and follows thembelieves in all his teachings and follows themn nHe“truly knew Christs gospel and would preach it He“truly knew Christs gospel and would preach it but followed it himself before”but followed it himself before”n nHe is poor because he gives all of his money and goods He is poor because he gives all of his money and goods to his people,instead of