Canterbury Tales

Quiz 4

From the General Prologue:

1. In the Prologue we learn that people are into “pilgrimages”. It explains….Explain the role of Canterbury as a symbolic place. It refers Refer, too, to Thomas á Becket and historical background. (Henry II)

• Canterbury somehow symbolizes salvation and cleansing of Pilgrims’ sins.

• Thomas á Becket also known as Saint Thomas ofCanterbury was born in a middle class family circa 1118. He was the son of Gilbert Becket and Matilda. Both parents had Norman ancestry. He was forced to earn a living as a clerk.

In 1163 Becket become Archbishop of Canterbury and a year later Lord of Chancellor of Henry II court. At the beginning he was closed to the King, but a dispute started between Henry and Becket, the king wanted tohave power. He decided to avoid privileges of the clergy by taking their lands and decreasing their influence.

This conflict led to the Constitution of Claredon, which they didn´t agree with. Becket was sent to exile in France. When he returned to England he was slaughter by some knight of Henry’s reign

Henry was horrified when he heard the news. He went into seclusion forseveral days. He refused to eat, full of grief and did a personal pilgrimage to pray before the tomb of Thomas for a full day and a night. Then he was submitted to lashes from the prelates and the monks in the cathedral.

Meanwhile, Thomas became the most revered figure in England. Immediately after his death certain miracles were reported. A blind man who came to the cathedral, forexample, had his eyes touched with the martyr's blood and regained his sight. A paralyzed woman drank some water, in which a piece of Thomas's bloody garment had been rinsed and,was immediately cured. Other miracles, both in the cathedral and far away, were reported to the influence of Thomas.

Almost immediately people from all classes and occupations began the visits to his tomb. Within afew years Thomas was proclaimed a saint, and for several centuries his tomb was the destination of a vast number of pilgrims from all areas of England and from across the channel as well. The holy blissful martyr--Englishman, soldier, priest, and saint--symbolized for medieval Christians the manliness, goodness, grace, and mercy that were possible for them all.

Three centuries laterChaucer's countrymen--including his king--were making frequent and devout pilgrimages to Thomas's tomb. They went in search of a cure for physical or spiritual illness, in search of guidance, in search of peace.

2. Who are the pilgrims in the tales? Mention at least 3 and refer to the most important aspects of them. What do we know about social classes in Medieval England?

• The Knight: Herepresents the ideal of a medieval Christian man. He has participated on the great crusades, He is brave, experienced, and prudent.

The Wife of Bath: She is a seamstress she has been married five times and had many other affairs in her youth. She managed herfself with experience or confidently in the art of love. She presents herself as someone who loves marriage and sex, but, fromwhat we see of her, she also takes of talking, and arguing.

The Monk: Most monks of the middle Ages lived in monasteries they devote their lives to “work and prayer.” This Monk cares little for the Rule; his devotion is to hunting and eating.

• The social classes in medieval times in England had a clearly defined hierarchy.

On one side there was the nobility who werethe land’s owners and had all type of privileges and power. They managed the political affairs and took all the decisions. In the other side were the peasants, who work the land and were very poor,as well as illiterate.

Between them there was a third social class that were trade in specific works.

Their knowledge was quite significant for English society, although they...