乔叟的介绍课件Geoffrey Chaucer

1、Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400),Historical Events,The Crusaders Black Death historical background of mid england.ppt,Quiz 1. Geoffrey Chaucers best-known work is_, of which the general prologue is considered the best part and most of which are written in _（英雄双韵体），a pair of rhyming iambic pentameter. 2.

2、 In which season does the poem take place? How do you know? 3. Where do the people(the palmers) start for ?How many of them does the narrator happen to meet? 4. Who is the first person that the narrator begins his introduction? 5. Why does the narrator think of this man as “a most distinguished man”

3、?,Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400),Known as the father of English Poetry. First to write in the vernacular, the language of the people, which is now known as Middle English. Had not been fashionable to write in the everyday language, Most literature, science, diplomacy, and religion were written in Lati

4、n or French.,Historical Background,The Hundred Years War between England and France. The peasant uprising of 1381.,Geoffrey Chaucer,His year of birth is disputed, but he was probably born in 1343 or 1344 He came from a family of prosperous wine-merchants who had rising fortunes and some standing at

5、court His grandfather and father had started the family in a career of public service,Geoffrey Chaucer,Chaucers grandfather had been collector of customs on wines from Aquitaine His father had attended Edward III in Flanders in 1338, and in 1348 was appointed to collect the custom (tax) on cloths in

6、 certain ports,Geoffrey Chaucer,Chaucer began his public service in the house of Elizabeth, Countess of Ulster, wife of Prince Lionel, second son of Edward III During his life, he held a number of public positions and even served as “knight of the shire” for Kent (i.e., was the representative in Par

7、liament),Geoffrey Chaucer,Chaucer served in the English army and was taken prisoner in France in 1359. He returned to England in1360 Chaucer married well. He married Philippa, daughter of Sir Paon Roet of Hainault in 1366 Chaucers wife Philippa was the sister to John of Gaunts third wife,Geoffrey Ch

8、aucer,John of Gaunt was Chaucers wifes brother-in-law, and the fourth and longest-lived son of Edward III, as well as the father of Henry IV and Chaucers patron John of Gaunt (the duke of Lancaster) died in 1399, the year before Chaucer died,Geoffrey Chaucer,Partly due to John of Gaunts patronage, C

9、haucer traveled abroad on numerous diplomatic missions In 1374 Chaucer was appointed controller of customs in the port of London and leased his house over Aldgate,Geoffrey Chaucer,Chaucer died on Oct 25,1400 and was buried in the Poets Corner of Westminster Abbey, where a monument was erected to him

10、 in 1555 Apparently sensing that he had peaked, Chaucer stopped writing at his death.,Life Story,Born in 1343, not long after 100 Years war began Middle class family (father merchant) Education read a lot; became a page to a wealthy family to learn manners and customs. Had several noble patrons, inc

11、luding John of Gaunt, son of King Edward III. Also served as government official to Edward III, Richard II, and Henry IV. Captured in France during war and ransom was paid by the king. Chaucer died on October 25, 1400. Buried in Westminster Abbey, the first English writer to be buried in the area no

12、w called Poets corner.,Geoffrey ChaucerHis Writing,Chaucer went through three periods with his writing, largely dependant on the styles he was imitating and the writers he was reading He demonstrated throughout his career that he was a very well-read man He steadily developed his artistic skill and

13、intellectual stature,Geoffrey ChaucerHis Writing,Chaucers writings indicate a familiarity with Virgil, Ovid, Boethius, Petrarch, Dante, and Bocaccio The “French period,” (1355-1370) culminated in The Book of the Duchess in c.1370, which was an elegy on the death of Blanche, first wife of John of Gau

14、nt,Geoffrey ChaucerHis Writing,Chaucers “Italian period” (1370-1385) includes The House of Fame, a fragmentary satire, in the 1370s, and the mature, Italian-influenced love story Troilus and Criseyde, c.1385, as well as a translation of the Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius His final period, con

15、sidered his “English period” (1385-1400) includes most of The Canterbury Tales and his short lyrics,Geoffrey ChaucerHis Writing,Throughout his career Chaucer wrote short piecescourtly lyrics, a group of ballads dealing with Boethian themes, some personal pieces of astonishing quality, and many trans

16、lations or adaptations,Literature,1st poem, The Book of the Duchess, about John of Gaunts wife who had died of the plague. 1387 began The Canterbury Tales never completed it. Considered one of the greatest works of the English Language. Left a great picture of life during the Middle Ages. Favorite r

17、hyme scheme is the couplet.,The Canterbury Tales,The Canterbury Tales,Probably designed about 1387, extends to 17,000 lines in prose and verse of various meters (although the rhyming couplet is the predominant form) Some of the stories may have been written earlier and then incorporated into the col

18、lection Tales are from various sources. Chaucer was gifted at adapting material not his own to original uses,The General Prologue,The Canterbury Tales,The General Prologue describes the meeting of the 29 pilgrims in the Tabard Inn in Southwark (there are actually 31 of them) Characters represent a c

19、ross section of contemporary middle-class English society He may have had real people in mind when he created particular characters, but in most cases he chose details that would typify his characters as representatives of particular classes or outlooks,Why are they traveling?,The travelers are on a

20、 “pilgrimage” to the cathedral in Canterbury Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, had been slain on the orders of the king during a Church and crown dispute during the reign of HenryII in 1170. He was canonized in 1173,The Saint of the Common Folk,Thomas Becket was perceived by the “common folk”

21、 as having taken their side in the dispute with the crown, so he was immensely popular after his death His tomb became the most famous shrine in medieval England, a place where miracles were performed,The Plan of the Tales,Each pilgrim is to tell two stories on the trip to Canterbury and two more on

22、 the return journey to London, which should have yielded 120 stories Only 24 stories survive, and four of these are unfinished,The Plan of the Tales,Chaucer evidently modified the scheme to include only one tale by each pilgrim, but didnt finish this revised plan either Among the 24 stories, virtual

23、ly every type of medieval fiction is represented, including a characteristic medieval sermon, which isnt a narrative at all,The Plan of the Tales,The stories follow each other in an apparently natural course, with the Host (the Innkeeper) acting as master of ceremonies and extemporaneous critic Not

24、all the manuscripts of the Tales agree on the ordering Some tales are grouped together because the people telling them are engaged in a quarrel,The Plan of the Tales,For example, the Friar tells a tale against summoners; the Summoner replies with a filthy tale about a friar Several tales are connect

25、ed by the problem of happiness in married life (the so-called Marriage group),The Canterbury Tales reflects the entire life of fourteenth-century England, in both the multitude of characters it represents and the variety of literary styles and genres that Chaucer uses The Tales are so artfully fashi

26、oned that we often confuse them with life itself,The Canterbury Tales,The Canterbury Tales are told on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. Begin with a prologue which establishes the time of year (symbolic?). 29 pilgrims meet at the Tabard Inn in Southwark. The

27、 Host of the Inn suggests each traveler tell a tale on the journey to pass the time.,The Prologue introduces us to the characters and tells us the following: Name Walk of life Job Manner of dress Physical description Things they enjoy Other information Also note as you read how Chaucer fits the natu

28、re of the tale to its teller.,The Canterbury Tales continued,Zephyrus The god of the west wind.,The Ram,March 21 to April 20 TraditionalAries TraitsAdventurous and energeticPioneering and courageousEnthusiastic and confidentDynamic and quick-witted On the dark side.Selfish and quick-temperedImpulsiv

29、e and impatientFoolhardy and daredevil,Thou shalt defend the Church. Thou shalt be generous, and give largess to everyone.,The Ten Commandments of the Code of Chivalry,Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its directions. Thou shalt love the country in the which thou

30、wast born. Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy. Thou shalt make war against the Infidel(异教徒) without cessation, and without mercy.,Thou shalt repect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.,The Ten Commandments of the Code of Chivalry,Thou shalt perform scrupulously th

31、y feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God. Thou shalt never lie, and shall remain faithful to thy pledged word. Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil. From Chivalry by Leon Gautier,骑士 -宣言,I will be kind to the weak. 我将

32、仁慈对待弱者 I will be brave against the strong. 我将勇敢地面对强敌 I will fight all who do wrong. 我将毫无保留地对抗罪人 I will fight for those who cannot fight. 我将为不能战斗者而战 I will help those who call me for help. 我将帮助那些需要我帮助的人 I will harm no woman. 我将不伤害妇孺 I will help my brother knight. 我将帮助我的骑士兄弟 I will be true to my friends. 我