Chaucer and the World Chaucer and the World He (and the Gawain He (and the Gawain

Poet) InhabitedPoet) InhabitedReligion, Romanticism (?), Realism – much of this material Religion, Romanticism (?), Realism – much of this material

comes from Ian Mortimer’s comes from Ian Mortimer’s Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval EnglandEngland. New York: Touchstone, 2008. Print. . New York: Touchstone, 2008. Print.

Simple division of Simple division of people changes from:people changes from:

• Gentils (gentlemen and women) – included King down to knights and squires Gentils (gentlemen and women) – included King down to knights and squires = Nobles= Nobles

• Simples = PeasantsSimples = Peasants

• Clergy (First)Clergy (First)

• These were the estates and the whole of These were the estates and the whole of Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales is called a form of is called a form of Estates Satire: A medieval Estates Satire: A medieval genregenre common among French poets in which the common among French poets in which the speaker lists various occupations among the three estates of speaker lists various occupations among the three estates of feudalismfeudalism (nobles, peasants, and clergy) and depicts them in a manner that shows how (nobles, peasants, and clergy) and depicts them in a manner that shows how short they fall from the ideal of that occupation. In the late medieval period, short they fall from the ideal of that occupation. In the late medieval period, the the genregenre expanded to discuss the failings of expanded to discuss the failings of bourgeoisbourgeois individuals as well. individuals as well. The The genregenre was not unknown in England. John Gower's was not unknown in England. John Gower's Vox ClamantisVox Clamantis and and Confessio AmantisConfessio Amantis have passages similar to those in continental estates have passages similar to those in continental estates satire. Jill Mann suggests in her famous book, satire. Jill Mann suggests in her famous book, Chaucer and Medieval Estates Chaucer and Medieval Estates SatireSatire, that the General Prologue of , that the General Prologue of The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales is itself an example is itself an example of this of this genregenre..

complex societycomplex society

• All levels and gradations of Gentils (gentlemen and All levels and gradations of Gentils (gentlemen and women)women)• Chaucer himself is a great exampleChaucer himself is a great example

• From trades family up to near royaltyFrom trades family up to near royalty• by the time of his granddaughterby the time of his granddaughter• Lived among and worked for royal Lived among and worked for royal • family most of his lifefamily most of his life• Yet he was essentially a Customs Yet he was essentially a Customs • House manager like Hawthorne andHouse manager like Hawthorne and• MelvilleMelville

•

Complex levels of Complex levels of clergyclergy

Two PopesTwo Popes

• 1350-1400 – Catholicism (under the Pope who 1350-1400 – Catholicism (under the Pope who rules in Rome) was the only accepted religionrules in Rome) was the only accepted religion

• Two Popes: One in Rome (accepted by Two Popes: One in Rome (accepted by England) and one in Avignon (on the side of England) and one in Avignon (on the side of the French)the French)

MonksMonks

• Withdrew from the world to live lives of quiet Withdrew from the world to live lives of quiet contemplation and prayer (nuns did the same). contemplation and prayer (nuns did the same).

• Monks did most of the copying of the manuscripts Monks did most of the copying of the manuscripts we have. They were literate and kept knowledge we have. They were literate and kept knowledge during the “Dark Ages.”during the “Dark Ages.”

• Lived mostly in monasteries. Like being in a castle Lived mostly in monasteries. Like being in a castle – the abbot got the best food and drink. Each monk – the abbot got the best food and drink. Each monk got one gallon of ale (beer) per day. got one gallon of ale (beer) per day.

• In 1348 there were at least 20,000 religious men In 1348 there were at least 20,000 religious men and 2,000 religious women, plus other religious and 2,000 religious women, plus other religious people = 30,000. people = 30,000.

FriarsFriars

• They are religious men who go out into the They are religious men who go out into the world to preach. See Friar Tuck in world to preach. See Friar Tuck in Robin Robin Hood:Hood:

• Formal schools run by monks, friars, and nuns Formal schools run by monks, friars, and nuns were available for the minority (richer) were available for the minority (richer) people’s children. people’s children.

All sorts of professions among All sorts of professions among “simples”“simples”

• One actual peasant (3One actual peasant (3rdrd estate) = Plowman estate) = Plowman

• New Middle Class: Reeve, Miller, CookNew Middle Class: Reeve, Miller, Cook

• Merchant, Host, Wife of BathMerchant, Host, Wife of Bath

• Shipman, Man-of-Law (Sergeant of Law)Shipman, Man-of-Law (Sergeant of Law)

• Franklin –wealthy farmer but not ofFranklin –wealthy farmer but not of• Noble birth. Noble birth.

• New Intellectuals: ClerkNew Intellectuals: Clerk

Knight’s TaleKnight’s Tale

Chaucer introduces a “verray, parfit, gentil knight.”

1414thth Century – Bubonic Century – Bubonic plagueplague

• = Black Death= Black Death

• = Great Plague= Great Plague

• 1348-9, plus more outbreaks in 1361-2, 1348-9, plus more outbreaks in 1361-2, 1368-9, 1375, and 1390-91. 1368-9, 1375, and 1390-91.

• By 1400 about half of those born over the By 1400 about half of those born over the previous 70 years have died of plague.previous 70 years have died of plague.

Arrived in 1348Arrived in 1348

Came from AsiaCame from Asia

SymptomsSymptoms

• Mostly quoted from Mortimer:Mostly quoted from Mortimer:• One type killed you within 3 days, sometimes One type killed you within 3 days, sometimes

within hours. If you don’t die and the first within hours. If you don’t die and the first phase, passes, then a second stage takes over phase, passes, then a second stage takes over with boils and black buboes in the groin and with boils and black buboes in the groin and armpits. Catching it will kill you within 5 days. armpits. Catching it will kill you within 5 days. Some people go to bed and never wake up.Some people go to bed and never wake up.

Psychological changesPsychological changes

Psychological resultsPsychological results

• Absolute panic. Guy de Chauliac: “Go quickly, Absolute panic. Guy de Chauliac: “Go quickly, go far, and return slowly.”go far, and return slowly.”

• ““Women dragged their parents’ and children’s Women dragged their parents’ and children’s corpses into ditches. One man buried all 5 of corpses into ditches. One man buried all 5 of his sons with his own hands and . . . Tells you his sons with his own hands and . . . Tells you that there was no divine service when he did that there was no divine service when he did so, and that the death bell did not sound.”so, and that the death bell did not sound.”

• Wild dogs and pigs eat the corpses abandoned Wild dogs and pigs eat the corpses abandoned on the edge of a village.on the edge of a village.

• People die alone and the body just stays in the People die alone and the body just stays in the house.house.

Benefits of plagueBenefits of plague

• Stops feudalismStops feudalism

• Frees up capitalFrees up capital

• Allows society to develop in a more Allows society to develop in a more democratic waydemocratic way

PrecautionsPrecautions

What doctors didWhat doctors did

• Believed that stars and planets were Believed that stars and planets were responsibleresponsible

• Letting bloodLetting blood

• Belief in numerologyBelief in numerology

• PrayerPrayer

• Looking at urineLooking at urine

• Looking at feces and bloodLooking at feces and blood

Effects of PlagueEffects of Plague

• (1348-9 when Chaucer was a small boy)(1348-9 when Chaucer was a small boy)

• Half the people of England diedHalf the people of England died• Population did not return to 1300 levels until 1740Population did not return to 1300 levels until 1740

• Preoccupation with deathPreoccupation with death

• People became richer – fewer children to inherit, survivors People became richer – fewer children to inherit, survivors inherited larger portions of land, could abandon the poor-yield inherited larger portions of land, could abandon the poor-yield fieldsfields

• Price of food remained low but wages rose by 400% so people Price of food remained low but wages rose by 400% so people got richer, even the common laborersgot richer, even the common laborers

• Knights & Lords thought their “inferiors” were becoming uppishKnights & Lords thought their “inferiors” were becoming uppish

• Result: tension resulting from betterment.Result: tension resulting from betterment.• Bondmen against lords and lawyers, commoners against taxmen, Bondmen against lords and lawyers, commoners against taxmen,

clergy against the young king, townsmen against bankersclergy against the young king, townsmen against bankers

100 Years War and 100 Years War and traveltravel

• 100 Years’ War 1337-1453 (Chaucer was held 100 Years’ War 1337-1453 (Chaucer was held prisoner in France in 1359)prisoner in France in 1359)• People became anti-French, pro-EnglishPeople became anti-French, pro-English• London became a center of cultureLondon became a center of culture

• Germany didn’t even have a capitalGermany didn’t even have a capital

• Many more people were literateMany more people were literate

• There were great collections of books There were great collections of books

• ((Canterbury Tales Canterbury Tales – we have 80 copies still)– we have 80 copies still)

• People traveled all over – see Knight, Squire, People traveled all over – see Knight, Squire, Pardoner, etc. AND the pilgrimage itselfPardoner, etc. AND the pilgrimage itself

Within the ChurchWithin the Church

Still very Middle Ages (not Renaissance) in the social Still very Middle Ages (not Renaissance) in the social significance of the Church BUTsignificance of the Church BUT

Corruption was so widespread that the clergy who were faithful, Corruption was so widespread that the clergy who were faithful, honest, and charitable were unusual rather than usual (leading honest, and charitable were unusual rather than usual (leading

toward eventual Reformation)toward eventual Reformation)In England, the problems were particularly noticeable – and In England, the problems were particularly noticeable – and ended up in taking over the Norman (French) abbeys well ended up in taking over the Norman (French) abbeys well

before Henry VIII’s timebefore Henry VIII’s timeThere was a divided papacy. One Pope moved to France (out of There was a divided papacy. One Pope moved to France (out of Rome), so with their anti-French feeling, British particularly felt Rome), so with their anti-French feeling, British particularly felt

alienated from the Roman Catholic Church.alienated from the Roman Catholic Church.Result: the people themselves were split: both religious and Result: the people themselves were split: both religious and

anti-clerical anti-clerical

3 kinds of hostility to 3 kinds of hostility to clergyclergy

11 Anger against bishops (who were also high in Anger against bishops (who were also high in the government!!) who mis-used their power. the government!!) who mis-used their power. One bishop had his head cut off. One bishop had his head cut off.

22 Bitter feelings toward the friars becauseBitter feelings toward the friars because

they betrayed their vows of ministry to they betrayed their vows of ministry to 11 the poor, and collected money which the friarsthe poor, and collected money which the friars22 would spend on themselves.would spend on themselves.

3. Disgust with the wealthy Church. 3. Disgust with the wealthy Church.

• What examples do you see in the Prologue?What examples do you see in the Prologue?

PardonsPardons

• One could literally buy one’s way out of Hell or Purgatory One could literally buy one’s way out of Hell or Purgatory and into Heaven.and into Heaven.

• The Church sold Pardons, also called IndulgencesThe Church sold Pardons, also called Indulgences

• ““During medieval times, branches of the Catholic Church During medieval times, branches of the Catholic Church offered indulgences, or pardons, for sins. Because Christ offered indulgences, or pardons, for sins. Because Christ died for the sins of mankind, man was pardoned. According died for the sins of mankind, man was pardoned. According to the Church, through confession, a man could be to the Church, through confession, a man could be absolved and pardoned for his sins, but during medieval absolved and pardoned for his sins, but during medieval times, clergymen and appointed pardoners would sell times, clergymen and appointed pardoners would sell pardons to lowly sinners. Because most clergymen took pardons to lowly sinners. Because most clergymen took vows of poverty, they did not always take actual money, vows of poverty, they did not always take actual money, but would often accept other goods, and in some cases, the but would often accept other goods, and in some cases, the clergy and pardoners alike collected money for the Church, clergy and pardoners alike collected money for the Church, and those who were corrupt pocketed a share for and those who were corrupt pocketed a share for themselves.” (Jennifer Hudock, eHow)themselves.” (Jennifer Hudock, eHow)

Religious essentials Religious essentials

• IndulgencesIndulgences – Originally benefits given by the church to people who – Originally benefits given by the church to people who should have been punished but who did good deeds to make up for should have been punished but who did good deeds to make up for the sins. However, by the time of Chaucer, the indulgences were the sins. However, by the time of Chaucer, the indulgences were being misused and were a way for the church to raise money. being misused and were a way for the church to raise money. Indulgences were often forged.Indulgences were often forged.

Marriage and other Marriage and other arrangementsarrangements

• Chaucer himself: his parents were married, father Chaucer himself: his parents were married, father didn’t die until he was 22, and he had a marriage of didn’t die until he was 22, and he had a marriage of 21 years to Philippa. They probably had 3 children. 21 years to Philippa. They probably had 3 children. One, Thomas, became Speaker of the House of One, Thomas, became Speaker of the House of Commons and Thomas’s daughter, Alice, married a Commons and Thomas’s daughter, Alice, married a Duke so became a Duchess.Duke so became a Duchess.

• Bastardy was very common: Chaucer’s sister-in-law, Bastardy was very common: Chaucer’s sister-in-law, Katherine Swynford (mistress of John of Gaunt) was Katherine Swynford (mistress of John of Gaunt) was the great-grandmother of Henry VII. John of Gaunt the great-grandmother of Henry VII. John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford married after Gaunt’s wife and Katherine Swynford married after Gaunt’s wife died.died.

• Many children were left on their own early in life Many children were left on their own early in life (plague and women dying due to childbirth). (plague and women dying due to childbirth).

• Many married multiple times. Many married multiple times.