Bede + Canterbury Tales- Active Reading Notes

A collaboration of notes between Lupita Pliego, Sophia Gomez, Yesenia Beas, Susel Garcia, and, I, Edgar Rodriguez.

Bede· (Pages 74-82)

(Pages 74-80) [Notes by Lupita Pliego]

Background:
Bede belonged to a monastery, dedicated to continuing a tradition of learning; Bede had access to books, documents, & other learned monkswith the above sources he was able to generate his history of Britainalthough his fellow Britons were illiterate, he still wrote his account of Britain for such readers, starting at the beginning with the basics

The Situation of Britain & Ireland: Their Earliest Inhabitants
Britain was formerly known as Albion, it is an island that faces between north and west, rich in grain/timber,
good pasture, plenty springs/rivers, land full of rich metals (copper, iron, lead, silver), 5 books o divine law, 5 languages, and 4 nations (English, British, Scots, and Picts) united in the study of God's truth in Latin original inhabitants: Britons (occupied southern parts);  Pictish people wanted to land on Ireland, Scots told them to settle in Britain; Scots eventually joined them, taking their land

Vocabulary: promontories- peaks of high land sticking out of water text seems to ramble, going into multiple list type sentences, overall a lot of description from The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
896 - Danish settlers/Vikings split up - some went to East Anglia others to Northumbria 900 - Alfred king of all England except that under Danish rule, son Edward received the kingdom903 -Vocabulary: thanes- lords in Anglo-Saxon society hallowed- made holy, given over, in a ceremony, to religious purposes

The Canterbury Tales· (Pages 90-115)

(Pages 81-94) [Notes by Yesenia Beas]

Anglo Saxon Chronicle

903

-           East Aglian forces ravage Mercia; King Edward in return ravished their land

-          Kentish stayed on to battle and lost many lives

-          Fight at The Holme btwn Danes and Kentish

906

-          Alfred dies; peace fastened at Tiddingford with East Anglians and Northumbrians

Prepare to Read pg 90

Geoffrey Chaucer

-          Son of merchant, page, soldier, diplomat, clerk

-          Canterbury Tales= best contemporary picture of 14^th century England, glimpse at medieval society

Poet’s Beginning

-          Born into middle class, worked as page; introduced to aristocratic society

-          King Edward paid for his ransom when captured in army

-          Married a lady-in-waiting to the queen, Philipa Pan

Poet Matures

-          1^st book The Book of the Duchess 1369

-          With age came maturity, mature style= Troilus and Criseyde; displays insight on human character

Canterbury Tales

-          Possible inspiration from his own pilgrimage to Canterbury

-          Tales told from each character, encompass medieval society and literature; romance, comedy, rhyme, prose, crude humor, religious mysteries

-          24 of 120 tales actually finished

Father of English Poetry

-          In his time was considered greatest English poet, work provides inspiration/insight

-          Unique position in England’s literary tradition; Poet’s Corner

Tour of Medieval Life and Literature

The Journey Begins

-          Prologue= narrator (Chaucer) meets 29 pilgrims at Tabard Inn

-          Bailey’s challenge= two stories on the way to Canterbury, two stories back; treated to a feast

-          A story about stories, 24 diff. tales

Snapshots of an Era

-          Vivid portrait of pilgrims, sense of medieval life

-          Nobility: Chaucer’s Knight; middle rank: learned professional men; lower orders: craftsmen, peasants; various ranks of Church

A Literary Tour

-          Popular genres= romances, fabliaux (humorous stories), allegories ; each major form of medieval lit. is present

-          Chaucer’s own form= heroic couplet (pair of rhyming lines with 5 stressed syllables each)

Canterbury Tales- The Prologue

Background

-          Pilgrimages to express religious devotion; Canterbury= major destination

-          Cathedral was site of Archbishop Becket’s murder; people flocked to cathedral to pay respects

First 18 lines of prologue in Chaucer’s Middle English

(pgs. 95-101) [Notes by Sophia Gomez]

- “AABB” rhyming pattern throughout the poem/tale

- Narrator describes the start of spring; around this time of the year is when people begin to go on a pilgrimage (in medieval christianity, pilgrimages were a popular way to express religious affiliation)

- The narrator desires to visit the relics of Saint Thomas Beckett in Canterbury Cathedral (where they thank the martyr for having helped them when they were in need)

- He describes the start of his journey, as he joins a diverse group who happen to be taking the same journey

- He then goes on to describing each traveler (29 total) who are all very different

(Pages 102-108) [Notes By Susel Garcia]

Oxford Cleric : He had a hollow and a sober look. He only cared for reading. He only spoke what was needed and got strait to the point. He would gladly learn and teach.

 Sergeant at the Law: He was often Justine in Assize. He had fame , an education, and a high position,; no one could compare. He knew every judgement, case and crime since King William’s time.

  Franklin (wealthy landowner) : He lived for pleasure. Had the finest of the fine. He was Justice at the sessions, and none stood higher.

       

  Haberdasher, a Dyer, a Carpenter, A Weaver and a Carpet –Maker. : They were trim and fresh. They had knives of purest silver. They were member of a legislative body.

      

   Cook: He could distinguish London by flavor. He had an ulcer on his knee.

   

 Skipper: Came from Far East. He was prudent in understanding and his beard had its shaking. He knew all the havens in Gottland to the Cape of Finisterre, and all the creeks in Brittany and Spain.

       

 Doctor: No one could talk about medicine and of surgery as well as he did. H e was close to expenses and had a special love for gold.

         

Woman: She was somewhat deaf, had a bold face, handsome, and had a red hue. She was really good at making clothing.

       

  Parson:  He was rich in holy thought and work. He knew Christ’s Gospel, was a clerk and was educated.  He disliked having to extract money from the poor people, but preferred to give the poor his own goods.

        

 Plowman: An honest worker, good and true. He lived in peace and perfect charity. He helped the poor and would never take a penny from them.

       

  Miller: He was a great stout fellow big in brawn and bone. He had a red broad beard and could heave any door from its hinges and posts.  He was a wrangler and a buffoon, yet had a store of tavern stories. He stole grain and would play the bagpipes.

Commission: n. authorization; act of giving authority to an individual

Sanguine: adj. confident; cheerful

Avouches: v. asserts positively; affirms

(Pages 109-115) [Notes by Edgar Rodriguez]

-Manciple: in charge of buying food and centred the food as well at the College, said to be successful and bright

-Reeve: old and frail man with. Plenty of wealth who's wise and has good judgement on those around him, others new this and therefore were intimidated by him and had no intentions to pull tricks or bargain with him

-Summoner: large man with an unpleasant face to look which even scared some children away from him. Influential to those around him and carried a sort of power wherever he went.

-Host: Welcomed the Chaucer and everyone with full hospitality and was a bold and assertive man seeking good intentions to please his guests. Shared stories and jokes as time went on.

-In the end they went off on their journey after the host woke them up and wished them luck and success

Vocabulary:

garners· buildings for storing grain

sward· turf

carbuncles· pus-filled boils resulting from a bacterial infection under the skin

whelks· pimples

gobbet· piece