The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer Pilgrimages & Chaucer’s Pilgrims

Learning Objectives I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own. I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages.

I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.

I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own. I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.

c.1340

Wine merchant

London?

Chaucer recap Worked for royalty

1400?

Westminster Abbey

A Brief Look at Life in the 1300s •

Famine: starving eat “dogs, cats, the dung of doves and their own children.”

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Black Death

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Death: unclean water/bad hygiene and diet - fruit thought to be bad for you and low dairy

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Life expectancy below 30

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Monks and nuns run hospitals – leeches!

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Shrines - Thomas Becket’s cured a girl with crippled fingers and a boy with an intestinal

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No dental hygiene = no teeth & smelly breath!

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The Catholic CHURCH could save you – more important than the King I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own. I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.

Poor old Chaucer lived in these times

I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own. I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.

Chaucer was a rich boy – he could read and write! His most famous story was …

I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own. I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.

The Canterbury Tales is about PILGRIMS travelling from London to the tomb of Thomas Becket in Canterbury.

Thomas BECKET???? WHO IS HE I HEAR YOU ASK! I’ll tell you. I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own. I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.

Thomas Becket The King’s best mate & financial advisor - he was VERY powerful When the Archbishop (leader of the church in England) died, the King persuaded Becket to take over Becket took to it like a duck to water and gave up his luxurious lifestyle – only bread, water and he slept on the floor! I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own. I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.

Now, the King had an ‘ulterior motive’ … There were 2 courts in England: Church & Royal The Church court was too soft – he wanted Becket to toughen it up…BUT HE REFUSED. The King had such a temper he shouted that he wanted Becket dead! 4 knights took him literally and went to Canterbury Cathedral where they stabbed him to death, on the ALTAR! The Pope made him a saint and people visited thinking it would bring them luck •

Trailer

The MURDER of Thomas Becket

I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own. I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.

Phew! So that’s where we start The Canterbury Tales A group travelling to Canterbury to Becket’s death place. There’s: • the narrator • 30 people travelling to Becket’s death place • the host at the Tabard Inn. I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own. I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.

What do all these photos have in common?

Pilgrim A Pilgrim is anyone who goes on a pilgrimage, a visit to a place of some significance; often religious and a long way away. E.g. a Muslim visiting Mecca a Jew visiting Jerusalem In the Middle Ages, pilgrimages were thought to clear your sins and earn you brownie points, as travel was dangerous and took ages. E.g. Canterbury, England The Vatican, Vatican City (Italy) Modern pilgrimages are a special visit. E.g. Elvis Presley vans visiting his home in Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own. I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.

Write this in your books please

Pilgrim

Anybody who travels a long distance to visit a place of personal importance E.g. Christian visiting Rome

I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own. I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.

Modern Pilgrimages • • • •

Musical hero Ancestors/heritage Sporting event Place of interest

I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own. I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.

If you had to go on a pilgrimage where would you go and why?

I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own. I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.

HOMEWORK: DUE 8 March 2011

In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer wrote about the people he meets on the way to Canterbury. If you were going on pilgrimage today, think about the variety of types of people you might encounter. I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own. I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.

Describe them by... • • • • • • • • •

Their job The type and colour of their clothing Their “accessories” (jewellery, pets etc.) The way they act Their income Their “secrets” Their status in society as a whole The way they speak / their slang or accent Their mode of transportation

I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own. I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.

You will be studying two pilgrim’s tales.

I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own. I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages. I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.

HOMEWORK It is your responsibility to read any handout or power point on my web site and to watch any video I post on my web site. If at any time you are unable to access this information or my web site, it is your responsibility to contact me. I will be more than happy to print you a copy. If you do not understand this statement, please raise your hand now.