Geoffrey Chaucer PDF

MODULO 3 INGLESE 13/01/2024 Argomento: pagine 61,62 e 63 Geoffrey Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer, knows as the father of English literature, was born around 1343, the son of a rich wine merchant in London. His family’s wealth allowed him to receive a ne education (cultura) Chaucer grew up in close cont...

MODULO 3 INGLESE 13/01/2024 Argomento: pagine 61,62 e 63 Geoffrey Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer, knows as the father of English literature, was born around 1343, the son of a rich wine merchant in London. His family’s wealth allowed him to receive a ne education (cultura) Chaucer grew up in close contact with the royal family and often travelled to France and Italy, where he became interested/inspired in Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio. In 1374 he became Controller of the Customs (controllore delle dogane) in the Port of London. He was also a member of Parliament for Kent and may have supported the religious views of John Wycliffe and Lollardy, which called for a reform of the established church. In 1386 he was dismissed from all his of ces and this left him without an income. After this, in this period, he started to work on his masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales. In 1389, however, the new king appointed him Clerk(cancelliere) of the King’s Works at Westminster. Chaucer rented a house at Westminster where he lived until his death. He was the rst poet to be buried in what is known as poets corner in Westminster Abbey (angolo dei poeti nell’abazia di Westminster, la sua abazzia è dove furono sepolti tutti i poeti inglesi a venire però Geoffrey Chaucer fu il primo.) I SUOI 3 PERIODI Chaucer’s works are usually divided into three periods. 1 The French period includes poems modelled on French romance styles and subjects, such as The Romaunt of the Rose (before 1373) and The Boke of the Duchesse (ca 1369). 2 The Italian period shows greater maturity and skill in the use of metre. (Bravo nella metrica) This period includes The Parlement of Foules (ca 1380), a bird and beast fable; The Legende of Good Women (ca 1385), the rst known attempt to use the couplet in English; and Troilus and Criseyde (ca 1380–1385), a long poem adapted from Boccaccio. fi fi fi fi 3 The English period is marked by greater realism and includes his most famous work, The Canterbury Tales (ca 1387–1400). LA SUA LEGACY Chaucer is known as the father of English literature. He portrayed(ritratto) the English society of his time and wrote his masterpiece in the dialect of his native London (ha ritratto la sua società e ha scritto il suo capolavoro in lingua del dialetto londinese). Why is Chaucer is known as the father of English literature —> The language he used went on to become the basis of Modern English. Up to the 14th century, French and Latin had been regarded as more suitable for literature, but Chaucer proved that English literature could be just as beautiful, complex and profound. (Dimostra anche che l’inglese può essere una lingua degna di essere utilizzata nella letteratura insieme al latino e il francese) Why is Chaucer is known as the father of English literature —> He coined about 2,000 words and phrases, including words like plumage, twitter (used in The Canterbury Tales to describe the sound of birds chirping), femininity, womanhood, galaxy, vulgar, crude and scissors, and phrases like ‘love is blind’ and ‘shaking like a leaf ’. POSSIBILI DOMANDE Which languages he used? Dialect of the native london Which was his contribution? He coined about 2,000 words and phrases Why was he considered the father of English literature? —> The language he used went on to become the basis of Modern English Which society has he portaraited? He portrated the English society of his time Which language he used for his masterpiece? He used the londonese dialect Where was he born? London Rich or poor family? Rich family of a wine merchant What kind of education he recieved? Fine education Where did he travel? France and Italy In which autor he was interested in? Dante, Petrarca and Boccaccio Where he was buried? He was buried in the Westminster Abby on the corner of the poets For what he was known for? He is known to be the father of English literature? Why he was known to be the father of English literature? He put the basis for modern English What was his contribution to the English language? He coined about 2,000 words and phrases like ‘love is blind’ and ‘shaking like a leaf ’ How many periods he had? 3 The Canterbury tales —> è incompiuta!!! The Canterbury Tales is about thirty pilgrims, including Chaucer as narrator, and a Host (di cui non sappiamo il nome). They are going on a pilgrimage to the shrine (Tomba) of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral. It is April and they meet at the Tabard Inn in Southwark. To make the journey less boring, the Host suggests having a contest where each pilgrim tells two stories on the way to Canterbury and two more on the way back. The best story will win a prize. All the pilgrims agree, and the group sets off. Unfortunately Chaucer died before nishing this work, so the pilgrims never reach Canterbury. (Canterbury è un posto di pellegrinaggio.) fi FRAME NARRATIVE: The poem has a ‘frame narrative’: a story that has other stories within it. The ‘frame’ is set up in the General Prologue/ premessa generale made by Chaucer, where the pilgrims meet and are introduced by the narrator. The ‘stories within the story’ are the twenty-four tales told by the different pilgrims in rst person. Their tales deal with different topics and are usually preceded by a prologue that introduces the theme. “Chaucer as narrator tells us directly, or sometimes ironically, what he sees and thinks, so the reader is left to decide whether what he is reading is true or not”NON FARE. The tales often have realistic elements, and they almost always have a strong moralising tone —> morale della storia/ ne educativo. STYLE: The Canterbury Tales is a long narrative poem. Chaucer chose to focus on rhyme rather than alliteration. The poem is written in heroic rhyming couplets, meaning that every two lines rhyme. It also uses iambic pentameter: each line consists of ve ‘feet’ of two syllables each, following the pattern unstressed / stressed. The sound is similar to a heartbeat (ba BOOM). Here’s an example: A wor / thy wo / man from / beside / Bath city This went on to become the most common metre in English poetry. fi fi fi Characters: Chaucer wanted to give a portrait of contemporary English society, so he used the pilgrimage as a device to bring together people from different walks of life. He describes a knight who, along with his son, was the only representative of the nobility. Chaucer then moved to the clergy, describing the character of the prioress and making fun of monks, friars and pardoners. At Chaucer’s time, the Lollardy movement ( 2.6), led by John Wycliffe, was criticising the church for its power and corruption. Chaucer also portrayed members of the emerging ‘middle class’ of merchants and craftsmen. Themes: The main theme is that of the journey. Because it is set in spring, the pilgrimage is connected to the idea of rebirth. It is also a spiritual journey to the holy destination of Canterbury. The journey of the pilgrims becomes an allegory of the course of human life. (Da sapere tutto) Characterization: Realism is the most distinctive feature of the work. Chaucer’s characters move and react to what happens around them. This is in contrast to the conventional medieval character portrait, which was quite static. The descriptions of the pilgrims vary in length, point of view and tone. Chauser describes the pilgrims’ appearance and clothes, others their actions or personality. Their names refer to their profession or role, and suggest a society in which work or title conditioned one’s personality and view of the world. Chaucer also uses exaggeration, caricature and satire when he wants to expose the vices, aws and corruption in certain parts of society. Chaucer and women: In the General Prologue Chaucer does not follow the social hierarchy of presentation of the time. Instead, he mixes male and female characters. This underlines the new importance of women within the growing class of merchants and tradesmen. Some of the women Chaucer knew were very independent. His wife, for example, fl always had a job with her own salary. He seems to show a real understanding and respect for women. POSSIBILI DOMANDE: What does “frame narrative” mean? A story that has other stories within it How many stories are within the story? 24 What is the main theme? The main theme is the journey, ossia il viaggio spirituale What does the journay rapresent? An allegory of the course of human life. What does the spring rapresent? The pilgrimage is connected to the idea of rebirth The journey of the pilgrims becomes an allegory of the course of human life. What kind of characters chauser rapresented in the story? Knight, Clergy, Monk and middle class Schemetti: Geoffrey Chaucer - father of English literature —> basis of Modern English - Contribute: 2000 words and phrases - father rich wine merchant in London. - Family money —> education - travelled to France and Italy - He became inspired by… - In 1374 he became Controller of the Customs (controllore delle dogane) in the Port of London. - In 1386 —> dismissed —> without an income - Started to work —> The Canterbury Tales —> dialect, his time - In 1389 Clerk of King’s Works at Westminster. - First poet —> Westminster Abbey - 3 periods 1: French period —> romance styles 2: Italian period —> use of metre 3: English period —> realism —- Canterbury tales: - incomplete —> died - 30 pilgrims including Chaucer and unknown host —> shrine of Thomas Becket - To make the journey less boring —> Host —> contest each pilgrim —> two on the way and on the back. - Chaucer died before nishing this work, so the pilgrims never reach Canterbury. fi FRAME NARRATIVE: The poem has a ‘frame narrative’: a story that has other stories within it. The ‘frame’ is set up in the General Prologue/ premessa generale made by Chaucer, where the pilgrims meet and are introduced by the narrator. The ‘stories within the story’ are the twenty-four tales told by the different pilgrims in rst person. Their tales deal with different topics and are usually preceded by a prologue that introduces the theme. “Chaucer as narrator tells us directly, or sometimes ironically, what he sees and thinks, so the reader is left to decide whether what he is reading is true or not”NON FARE. The tales often have realistic elements, and they almost always have a strong moralising tone —> morale della storia/ ne educativo. STYLE: The Canterbury Tales is a long narrative poem. Chaucer chose to focus on rhyme rather than alliteration. The poem is written in heroic rhyming couplets, meaning that every two lines rhyme. It also uses iambic pentameter: each line consists of ve ‘feet’ of two syllables each, following the pattern unstressed / stressed. The sound is similar to a heartbeat (ba BOOM). Here’s an example: A wor / thy wo / man from / beside / Bath city fi fi fi This went on to become the most common metre in English poetry. Characters: Chaucer wanted to give a portrait of contemporary English society, so he used the pilgrimage as a device to bring together people from different walks of life. He describes a knight who, along with his son, was the only representative of the nobility. Chaucer then moved to the clergy, describing the character of the prioress and making fun of monks, friars and pardoners. At Chaucer’s time, the Lollardy movement ( 2.6), led by John Wycliffe, was criticising the church for its power and corruption. Chaucer also portrayed members of the emerging ‘middle class’ of merchants and craftsmen. Themes: The main theme is that of the journey. Because it is set in spring, the pilgrimage is connected to the idea of rebirth. It is also a spiritual journey to the holy destination of Canterbury. The journey of the pilgrims becomes an allegory of the course of human life. (Da sapere tutto) Characterization: Realism is the most distinctive feature of the work. Chaucer’s characters move and react to what happens around them. This is in contrast to the conventional medieval character portrait, which was quite static. The descriptions of the pilgrims vary in length, point of view and tone. Chauser describes the pilgrims’ appearance and clothes, others their actions or personality. Their names refer to their profession or role, and suggest a society in which work or title conditioned one’s personality and view of the world. Chaucer also uses exaggeration, caricature and satire when he wants to expose the vices, aws and corruption in certain parts of society. fl Chaucer and women: In the General Prologue Chaucer does not follow the social hierarchy of presentation of the time. Instead, he mixes male and female characters. This underlines the new importance of women within the growing class of merchants and tradesmen. Some of the women Chaucer knew were very independent. His wife, for example, always had a job with her own salary. He seems to show a real understanding and respect for women.