A look into Biblical connections with

“A Canterbury Tale”

SEVEN DEADLY SINS

SEVEN DEADLY SINS- IN THE BEGINNING

• Also known as “vices”

• Sin discussion starts with the original sin- Adam and Eve.

• The short version of this story:

• Adam and Eve live in bliss in a paradise.

• They are instructed by God to not eat from the Tree of Knowledge.

• Being seduced by a snake, Eve takes a fruit from the tree and eats of it.

• God punishes all descendants of Adam and Eve to suffer from this original sin.

• Ex: women must now feel the pain of child birth

• Ex: man must begin to work hard for what he has; he is not provided gifts or graces

• This story becomes one that is used often in modern literature

• What else do you know about this story?

LEVELS OF SIN

• Sins have been a focus of religion's since the dawn of time.

• The 10 commandments helped those who followed the rules, avoid sin.

• Exodus 10 Commandments

• Catholics divide sins into 2 categories:

• Venial- minor sins forgiven in confession

• Cardinal/Mortal- “diminishes” the grace in a person. Eternal damnation

HISTORY OF THE 7 DEADLY SINS• "The Seven Deadly Sins" can be traced back to the 4th century A.D. when a

monk named Evagrius Ponticus generated his own sin list, likely stemming from problems he saw in his own day (

• His list included the following sins: gluttony, fornication/prostitution, greed, pride, sadness wrath, boasting and dejection (i.e. gloominess, depression).

• Evagrius' list proved to have staying power in the Church and was translated from Greek into Latin and used for educational and devotional purposes.

• In 590 Pope Gregory revised Evagrius’ list, although the essence remained the same. Gregory’s list included sloth (a combination of three of the sins on Evagrius’ list), greed, pride, lust, gluttony, wrath, and added envy.

• Gregory also emphasized an order to the list: (1) lust, (2) gluttony, (3) greed, (4) sloth, (5) wrath, (6) envy, and (7) pride. [2]

• Gregory’s list, and its order, was cemented into Roman Catholic tradition for centuries to come when the Italian poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) used them in his epic tale, The Divine Comedy.

7 DEADLY SINS IN CHAUCER'S TIME• Beginning in the 14th century, artists and writers began using the idea of the 7 Deadly

Sins in their work

• Public fascination with these sins made for public demand of these works.

WHAT ARE THE SINS?

• 1) lust

• 2) gluttony

• 3) greed

• 4) sloth

• 5) wrath

• 6) envy

• 7) pride

CHAUCER AND THE 7 DEADLY SINS

• People of Chaucer’s time were instructed by the church to remain faithful to Christ and avoid all sins.

• Chaucer being a “man of the people”, understood that many of his fellow men and women were engaging in such sins.

• What would happen to these people?

YOUR TASK

• Complete the following handout regarding Chaucer and the 7 Deadly Sins

• Keep in mind all details we have discussed thus far.

• Turn this paper in at the end of class.