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<dd>Library of Congress North Reading Room mural<!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;     &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0     false false false  EN-US X-NONE X-NONE                           &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;!   /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable 	{mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; 	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; 	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 	mso-style-noshow:yes; 	mso-style-priority:99; 	mso-style-qformat:yes; 	mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 	mso-para-margin-top:0in; 	mso-para-margin-right:0in; 	mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 	mso-para-margin-left:0in; 	line-height:115%; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:11.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; 	mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; 	mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} --> <!--[endif] --></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt"><span> </span></span><a href="http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/highsm.03162/"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;color: windowtext">http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/highsm.03162/</span></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt"> </span></p>
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<p>The debate and speculations surrounding the meaning, content, sequential arrangement, language, and completeness continue to haunt Geoffrey Chaucer’s <em>The Canterbury Tales</em>, written between 1387 and 1400. It is a sophisticated example of rhetorical forms, linguistic styles, diversity, and history. Yet this enduring classic tale reflects the everyday life of the common man, an overview of the political and religious climate of the day, and a cultural equivalent of the advice, “Things are not always as they seem…” (Gāius).<!--more--><!--[if !mso]&gt; &lt;!  v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} --> <!--[endif] --><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;     &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0 false    false false false  EN-US X-NONE X-NONE                           &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;!   /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable 	{mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; 	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; 	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 	mso-style-noshow:yes; 	mso-style-priority:99; 	mso-style-qformat:yes; 	mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 	mso-para-margin-top:0in; 	mso-para-margin-right:0in; 	mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 	mso-para-margin-left:0in; 	line-height:115%; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:11.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; 	mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; 	mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} --> <!--[endif] --><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;   &lt;![endif]--></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">Though no surviving manuscripts in Chaucer’s own hand exist, there are eighty-three originally circulated hand-copied manuscripts that still in existence. Of these, fifty-five are complete manuscripts and twenty-eight are fragments.<span> </span>The first printed copies were produced sometime in the early fifteenth century.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">Written in Middle English by “the first finder of our language,” Geoffrey Chaucer, <em>The Canterbury Tales</em><span> is collections of narratives, portraying twenty-eight pilgrims, strangers all, who agree to engage in a storytelling challenge as they journey to and from the shrine of </span>Thomas à Becket in Canterbury, Kent (Cooper).<span> </span><span>An agreement is struck at the Tabard Inn in Southwark which is located across the Thames from London (Geoffrey Chaucer). <span> </span></span></span></p>
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<dt><a href="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Canterbury_Tales.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-894" src="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Canterbury_Tales-300x256.png" alt="" width="300" height="256" /></a></dt>
<dd>Woodcut from William Caxton's second edition of the Canterbury Tales printed in 1483  <!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;     &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0     false false false  EN-US X-NONE X-NONE                           &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;!   /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable 	{mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; 	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; 	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 	mso-style-noshow:yes; 	mso-style-priority:99; 	mso-style-qformat:yes; 	mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 	mso-para-margin-top:0in; 	mso-para-margin-right:0in; 	mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 	mso-para-margin-left:0in; 	line-height:115%; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:11.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; 	mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; 	mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} --> <!--[endif] --></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Image:Canterbury_Tales.png"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt">http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Image:Canterbury_Tales.png</span></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt"> </span></p>
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<p><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;     &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0     false false false  EN-US X-NONE X-NONE                           &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;!   /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable 	{mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; 	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; 	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 	mso-style-noshow:yes; 	mso-style-priority:99; 	mso-style-qformat:yes; 	mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 	mso-para-margin-top:0in; 	mso-para-margin-right:0in; 	mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 	mso-para-margin-left:0in; 	line-height:115%; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:11.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; 	mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; 	mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} --> <!--[endif] --></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">The host of the Tabard assumes the role of “master of ceremonies” and oversees the competition. There are twenty-four narratives divulged by the pilgrims in succinct, theatrical scenes. Chaucer included characters from various backgrounds: "</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">knight, prioress, monk; merchant, man of law, Franklin, scholarly clerk; miller, reeve, pardoner; wife of Bath and many others<span>” (Geoffrey Chaucer). He also chose a broad range of literary genres: allegorical tale, racy fabliau or bawdy comedy told in verse, alchemical account, saint’s life, courtly romance, beast fable, medieval sermon and in some cases a mix of more than one of these styles. Chaucer presents significant and extraordinary short story examples, two expositions in prose, and a religious facet with a distinct secular bent vis-à-vis the worldly pleasure and/or vises against the spiritual aspirations. In each scene, an animated argument or debate act as a “link” and typically to include at least one of the fellow pilgrims and possibly even the master of ceremonies.<span> </span>Though considered incomplete, <em>The Canterbury Tales </em>remains a cohesive work and not simply an assortment of incomplete remnants. The synthesis of these tales in the multifaceted descriptions and stories of the pilgrims is evident in it’s the “structure, the sketches, the links, and the tales” (Geoffrey Chaucer).</span></span></p>
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<dd>Portrait of Chaucer <!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;     &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0     false false false  EN-US X-NONE X-NONE                           &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;!   /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable 	{mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; 	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; 	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 	mso-style-noshow:yes; 	mso-style-priority:99; 	mso-style-qformat:yes; 	mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 	mso-para-margin-top:0in; 	mso-para-margin-right:0in; 	mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 	mso-para-margin-left:0in; 	line-height:115%; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:11.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; 	mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; 	mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} --> <!--[endif] --><span><a href="http://www.qwiki.com/q/#%21/English_literature"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;line-height: 115%">http://www.qwiki.com/q/#!/English_li</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;line-height: 115%">terature</span></a></span></dd>
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<p><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;     &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0     false false false  EN-US X-NONE X-NONE                           &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;!   /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable 	{mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; 	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; 	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 	mso-style-noshow:yes; 	mso-style-priority:99; 	mso-style-qformat:yes; 	mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 	mso-para-margin-top:0in; 	mso-para-margin-right:0in; 	mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 	mso-para-margin-left:0in; 	line-height:115%; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:11.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; 	mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; 	mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} --> <!--[endif] --></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">It was an unstable and chaotic time in English history that served as the backdrop for the period of history when this important work was penned and a time of technological advancements in the literary genre.<span> </span><em>The Canterbury Tales</em> are among the first works of English literature to mention the use of paper as a medium, which was a fairly new development and allowed for distribution on a broad scale.<span> </span>The Western Schism mired down the</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%"> Catholic Church in controversy at a time when Christian authority in Europe was already under heavy fire. The Peasant’s Revolt of 1381 and various other conflicts marked the end of King Richard II reign and a desperate time for Chaucer as many of his close friends were executed. These complex and tumultuous political events forced Chaucer to move to Kent; further R. T. Lenaghan stated in his 1970 lecture, “The ‘General Prologue’ is often called a picture of its age and, frequently in the next breath, a satire,”<span> </span>though some scholars caution against “…confusing the distinction between literature and history…”(Lenaghan). <span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;     &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0     false false false  EN-US X-NONE X-NONE                           &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;!   /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable 	{mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; 	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; 	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 	mso-style-noshow:yes; 	mso-style-priority:99; 	mso-style-qformat:yes; 	mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 	mso-para-margin-top:0in; 	mso-para-margin-right:0in; 	mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 	mso-para-margin-left:0in; 	line-height:115%; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:11.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; 	mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; 	mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} --> <!--[endif] --></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">In his 2007 thesis, Michael Erik Bigley argues the quality of a musical expression both in lyrical and narrative text in <em>The Canterbury Tales.</em> Noting Louise Fradenberg argument that <em>The Canterbury Tales</em> taken as a whole exemplifies the limits of ideology and even Chaucer’s consciousness of these ideological limitations” (Fradenburg).<span> </span>Bigley states that, “…instead of a vehicle for the expression of an ideology, the means by which an entire range of ideologies are exposed for ethical critique” (Bigley).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">Contemporary works of note at the time of <em>The Canterbury Tales</em> may be found in works such as Juan Ruiz’ <em>The Book of Good Love</em> or <em>Decameron</em> by Boccaccio and works which acted in many instances as inspiration for some of Chaucer’s work. In <em>Decameron</em>, the main characters are all young, unsullied, affluent and each of the seven women and three men have traditional names very much the literary stereotype. Chaucer’s protagonists, on the other hand, are of differing backgrounds and most were simply middle class; reflecting Chaucer’s own situation. We also note a difference in the subject matter of the tales told in each work, the delivery of the tale, and the personalities. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;     &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0     false false false  EN-US X-NONE X-NONE                           &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;!   /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable 	{mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; 	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; 	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 	mso-style-noshow:yes; 	mso-style-priority:99; 	mso-style-qformat:yes; 	mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 	mso-para-margin-top:0in; 	mso-para-margin-right:0in; 	mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 	mso-para-margin-left:0in; 	line-height:115%; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:11.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; 	mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; 	mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} --> <!--[endif] --></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;     &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0     false false false  EN-US X-NONE X-NONE                           &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;!   /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable 	{mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; 	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; 	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 	mso-style-noshow:yes; 	mso-style-priority:99; 	mso-style-qformat:yes; 	mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 	mso-para-margin-top:0in; 	mso-para-margin-right:0in; 	mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 	mso-para-margin-left:0in; 	line-height:115%; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:11.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; 	mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; 	mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} --> <!--[endif] --></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">A striking contrast is evident between Chaucer’s “spicy yarn” in the Prologue description of the </span><span>Wife of Bath with the her comically bawdy portrayal and Chaucer’s </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">suggestion of Alison, the Miller’s wife, in the Millers Tale when compared to a work by Marie de France, </span><em><span>Equitan</span></em><span>, which contains a relatively mildly and tame descriptive, yet racy (for the time) account of the appearance of the heroine of the story, “…passing tender of body sweet of vesture,… with a fragrant mouth, and a dainty nose…”<span> </span>Marie de France, of the Norman English court gave an account that was appropriate and stereotypical of the time. Chaucer, though taking inspiration from his contemporaries, pushed the boundaries of acceptability and catered to a less formal audience (de France).</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">Chaucer makes use of vibrant and colorful descriptions to introduce each pilgrim’s character in the form of a “General Prologue;” thereby, providing his reader detail never before used in literature.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%"> </span></p>
<p><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;     &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0     false false false  EN-US X-NONE X-NONE                           &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;!   /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable 	{mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; 	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; 	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 	mso-style-noshow:yes; 	mso-style-priority:99; 	mso-style-qformat:yes; 	mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 	mso-para-margin-top:0in; 	mso-para-margin-right:0in; 	mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 	mso-para-margin-left:0in; 	line-height:115%; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:11.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; 	mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; 	mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} --> <!--[endif] --></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;line-height: 200%"><em><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">The Canterbury Tales</span></em><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%"> are assumed to have been quite popular during the time it was written and after Chaucer’s death. <span> </span>Eighty-three known manuscripts of this work from the late medieval times to early Renaissance period represents a number far exceeding any other vernacular literary text, surpassed only by the 116 manuscripts of <em>The Prick of Conscience</em> collection of poems. Scholars agree that these numbers are a clear indication of the popularity of the<em> Canterbury Tales.</em></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">Countering Tatlock’s essay, George Loomis summarizes his own thoughts as follows, “I have adduced in this paper justify our rejecting any notion of Chaucer as either a sycophantic timeserver, who merely echoed the sentiments of his patrons and associates, or of a cheerful philosopher who looked upon the follies and struggles of mankind with an amused detachment” (Loomis).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">Dolores Warwick Frese discusses in <em>An Ars Legendi for Chaucers’ Canterbury Tales: Re-constructive Reading</em>, Chaucer efforts as having compiled an innovative and intricate relationship within the Canterbury Tales and asserts that this masterwork is Chaucer’s final literary effort (Frese).</span></p>
<p><!--[if !mso]&gt; &lt;!  v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} --> <!--[endif] --><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;     &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0 false    false false false  EN-US X-NONE X-NONE                           &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;!   /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable 	{mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; 	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; 	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 	mso-style-noshow:yes; 	mso-style-priority:99; 	mso-style-qformat:yes; 	mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 	mso-para-margin-top:0in; 	mso-para-margin-right:0in; 	mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 	mso-para-margin-left:0in; 	line-height:115%; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:11.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; 	mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; 	mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} --> <!--[endif] --><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;   &lt;![endif]--></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12pt;line-height: 200%">The authors’ personal reaction to The Canterbury tales after researching and reading only <em>The Knights Tale</em> leaves me eager to read more and study the meanings or morals found within each tale. Reading the original vernacular copy of Chaucer’s creation is not advised; however, it is quite interesting to read a translated version and then reference the original. <span> </span>Chaucer’s use of irony and his inclusion of so many different forms of literature of the day, from <span>bawdy comedy told in verse to alchemical account; from saint’s life to courtly romance</span> as with The Knights Tale is also a very intriguing component of this work and seems to challenge me to read on. The most meaningful aspects of this work, in the authors’ humble opinion, are its enduring appeal and broad-based audience. Throughout the centuries, Chaucer has been studied, applauded, criticized, defended, praised, and finally honored with the designation as “the first finder of our language.” <span> </span><span>(Geoffrey Chaucer).<span> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;     &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0     false false false  EN-US X-NONE X-NONE                           &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;!   /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable 	{mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; 	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; 	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 	mso-style-noshow:yes; 	mso-style-priority:99; 	mso-style-qformat:yes; 	mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 	mso-para-margin-top:0in; 	mso-para-margin-right:0in; 	mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 	mso-para-margin-left:0in; 	line-height:115%; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:11.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; 	mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; 	mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} --> <!--[endif] --></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12pt;line-height: 200%">Comparing Dante Alighiere’s epic poem <em>The Divine Comedy,</em> written between 1308 and 1321, and Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, written primarily in the poetic form with two tales in prose between </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;line-height: 200%">1387 and 1400, we find similarities and differences.<span> </span></span></p>
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<dd>Manuscript page from The Canterbury Tales  <!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;     &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0     false false false  EN-US X-NONE X-NONE                           &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;!   /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable 	{mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; 	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; 	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 	mso-style-noshow:yes; 	mso-style-priority:99; 	mso-style-qformat:yes; 	mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 	mso-para-margin-top:0in; 	mso-para-margin-right:0in; 	mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 	mso-para-margin-left:0in; 	line-height:115%; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:11.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; 	mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; 	mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} --> <!--[endif] --></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.gradesaver.com/the-canterbury-tales/study-guide/section27/"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt">http://www.gradesaver.com/the-canterbury-tales/study-guide/section27/</span></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt"> </span></p>
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<p>For instance, contempt for the Church is one characteristic exhibited by both Chaucer and Dante in their respective works. Chaucer colored his religious characters as dishonest, shady, and immoral while Dante demonstrates his disdain by simply inserts assorted Popes and Church hierarchy in their appropriate place in Hell. We also see a similarity in the energy of each work. The images expressed in Dante’s <em>Divine Comedy</em> are those of which nightmares and converts are made. Chaucer is more compassionate toward his reader with his engaging, though sometimes provocative work. His use of irony, comedy, <span style="font-size: 12pt;line-height: 200%">and parody, estates satire, and romance provides a rich diverse piece of literature while, demonstrating that there is no “Everyman;” each soul is different and nothing is as it seems. </span></p>
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<dd>Detail of manuscript Dante's Comedy  <!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;     &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0     false false false  EN-US X-NONE X-NONE                           &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;!   /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable 	{mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; 	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; 	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 	mso-style-noshow:yes; 	mso-style-priority:99; 	mso-style-qformat:yes; 	mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 	mso-para-margin-top:0in; 	mso-para-margin-right:0in; 	mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 	mso-para-margin-left:0in; 	line-height:115%; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:11.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; 	mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; 	mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} --> <!--[endif] --><span><a href="http://taggedwiki.zubiaga.org/new_content/0688f94ef1b127852a6c67092d43fdfd"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 115%;color: windowtext">http://taggedwiki.zubiaga.org/new_content/0688f94ef1b127852a6c67092d43fdfd</span></a></span> </dd>
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<p>Dante describes the journey through Hell in stages, providing a <span style="font-size: 12pt;line-height: 200%">substance and importance to the journey itself while Chaucer pays little attention to the pilgrimage itself.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12pt;line-height: 200%"> Dante casts himself in the role of the narrator in the style of an epic poem with many supporting characters as aids in telling his tale. After metaphorically losing his way from the right path, Dante carries his journey into the depths of Hell, representing mankind or “Everyman” much as Christian in </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;line-height: 200%">Bunyan’s <em>Pilgrim’s Progress.</em></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;line-height: 200%"> <span> </span>Chaucer, on the other hand, makes use of various literary styles, “which range from moral tales and beast fables to <em>fabliaux</em> of the most risqué and bawdy sort,” using various </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;line-height: 200%">protagonists</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;line-height: 200%"> from different walks of life and the unknown “naïve” as the story tellers (</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;line-height: 200%">Fiero</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;line-height: 200%">). </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;line-height: 200%">Each of the tales in Chaucer’s work is delivered by a third-person; a person who seemingly has a keen awareness of the goings on within the story and the tale is told from that person’s perspective. In this way, Chaucer allows the reader not only the ability to know the actions of the characters but also to “hear” their thoughts. <span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">In the most ironic twist within <em>The Canterbury Tales </em>is that, after delivering twenty-three stories, Chaucer composes a retraction and begs forgiveness for his sins including having written <em>The Canterbury Tales.</em></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;     &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0     false false false  EN-US X-NONE X-NONE                           &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;!   /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable 	{mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; 	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; 	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 	mso-style-noshow:yes; 	mso-style-priority:99; 	mso-style-qformat:yes; 	mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 	mso-para-margin-top:0in; 	mso-para-margin-right:0in; 	mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 	mso-para-margin-left:0in; 	line-height:115%; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:11.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; 	mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; 	mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} --> <!--[endif] --></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">The absolute necessities for survival are food, water, air to breathe and shelter; therefore, it is understood that these things must already be present for the survival of those we hope will one day discover this time capsule. After these necessities, what is it that we find most valuable for our surviving decedents?<span> </span>Money, jewels, status, and power: none of these things are of importance without knowledge and understanding. <em>The Canterbury Tales</em> re</span><span>presents “a literary cross-section of late medieval society” and is as relevant today and in the future as it was in the 14<sup>th</sup> century. (</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">Fiero</span><span>) The characters type casted from different classes and ranks of late medieval society in these narratives were, nonetheless, individuals with their own shortcoming, strengths, </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">faults, and assets. Pluck a group of individuals from various professions, classes and/or socio-economic backgrounds from our world today or that world we hope will discover our time capsule, and the stories are dynamically the same as found in <em>The Canterbury Tales</em>. These works are vital for the future of our survivors as a not only a master work of literature but a work that carries with it a sophisticated example of rhetorical forms, linguistic styles, diversity, and history. Perhaps, the single thread weaving through the entire work is a quote from another great storyteller or fabulist, Phaedrus of Rome, offers that single thread weaving through all of The Canterbury Tales: “<span class="huge">Things are not always as they seem; the first appearance deceives many”(</span></span><span>Gāius</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%"><span class="huge"> </span>).<span> </span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;text-align: center"><span>Works Cited</span></p>
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<dt><a href="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/1380px-Canterbury-west-Winter-Highsmith.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-893" src="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/1380px-Canterbury-west-Winter-Highsmith-300x35.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="35" /></a></dt>
<dd>Library of Congress North Reading Room mural  <!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;     &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0     false false false  EN-US X-NONE X-NONE                           &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;                                                                                                                                            &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;!   /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable 	{mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; 	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; 	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; 	mso-style-noshow:yes; 	mso-style-priority:99; 	mso-style-qformat:yes; 	mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; 	mso-para-margin-top:0in; 	mso-para-margin-right:0in; 	mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; 	mso-para-margin-left:0in; 	line-height:115%; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:11.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; 	mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; 	mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} --> <!--[endif] --></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;line-height: normal"><a href="http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/highsm.03162/"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;color: windowtext">http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/highsm.03162/</span></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;line-height: normal"><span>Gāius Iūlius.<span> </span><em>Phaedrus Biography - (c.15 bc–c.ad50)</em>. <a href="http://www.jrank.org/history/pages/5145/G%C4%81ius-I%C5%ABlius-Phaedrus.html"><span style="color: windowtext">http://www.jrank.org/history/pages/5145/G%C4%81ius-I%C5%ABlius-Phaedrus.html</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;line-height: normal"><span>Cooper, Helen. <a href="http://www.gradesaver.com/the-canterbury-tales/"><em><span style="color: windowtext;text-decoration: none">The Canterbury Tales</span></em></a><em>.</em> Oxford Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 1996. ISBN 0-19-871155-7</span></p>
<p class="meanings-body" style="margin-left: 0.25in"><span>"Geoffrey Chaucer." 2011. Biography.com. 27 Mar 2011, 10:46 <a href="http://www.biography.com/articles/Geoffrey-Chaucer-9245691"><span style="color: windowtext">http://www.biography.com/articles/Geoffrey-Chaucer-9245691</span></a>. </span></p>
<p class="meanings-body" style="margin-left: 0.25in"><span>Lenghan, “R.T. Chaucer’s General Prologue as History and Literature.” <em>Comparative Studies in Society and History.</em> Cambridge University Press, New York. 1970. Vol. 12, No. 1, January 1970. Pages 73-82.</span></p>
<p class="meanings-body" style="margin-left: 0.25in"><span>de France, Maria. <em>Equitan. </em>THE TEMPLE PRESS AT LETCHWORTH IN GREAT BRITAIN.<span> </span><span>Translated by Eugene Mason, 1911. </span>Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Bradley Norton and PG Distributed Proofreaders. March 3, 2004. <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/11417/11417-h/11417-h.htm"><span style="color: windowtext">http://www.gutenberg.org/files/11417/11417-h/11417-h.htm</span></a>. </span></p>
<p><span> Fradenburg, Louise. “The Manciple's Servant Tongue: Politics and Poetry in The Canterbury Tales.” </span></p>
<p><span><em> ELH Volume </em>52 No.1 The Johns Hopkins University Press. Spring, 1985. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;line-height: normal"><span>Bigley, Michael Erik. <em>MUSICALITY, SUBJECTIVITY, AND THE <span>CANTERBURY TALES. </span></em>The University of Montana. Missoula, MT. May 2007. Pg. 80 </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;line-height: normal"><span>Loomis, Roger S.<em> <span>Was Chaucer A Laodicean?</span> </em></span><em><span>Chaucer Criticism- The Canterbury Tales,<strong> </strong></span></em><em><span>An Anthology.</span></em><span> Edited by Richard J. Schoeck and Jerome Taylor. Notre Dame Books. </span><span>Notre Dame (South Bend), IN. <span> </span>1960. Pg 291</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in;line-height: normal"><span>Frese, Dolores Warwick. <em>An Ars Legendi for Chaucers’ Canterbury Tales: Re-constructive Reading. </em>Gainesville University Press of Florida. 1991</span></p>
<p class="meanings-body" style="margin-left: 0.25in"><span>"Geoffrey Chaucer." 2011. Biography.com. 27 Mar 2011, 10:46 <a href="http://www.biography.com/articles/Geoffrey-Chaucer-9245691"><span style="color: windowtext">http://www.biography.com/articles/Geoffrey-Chaucer-9245691</span></a>. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">Though no surviving manuscripts in Chaucer’s own hand exist, there are eighty-three originally circulated hand-copied manuscripts that still in existence. Of these, fifty-five are complete manuscripts and twenty-eight are fragments.<span> </span>The first printed copies were produced sometime in the early fifteenth century.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height: 200%">Written in Middle English by “the first finder of our language,” Geoffrey Chaucer, <em>The Canterbury Tales</em><span> is collections of narratives, portraying twenty-eight pilgrims, strangers all, who agree to engage in a storytelling challenge as they journey to and from the shrine of </span>Thomas à Becket in Canterbury, Kent (Cooper).<span> </span><span>An agreement is struck at the Tabard Inn in Southwark which is located across the Thames from London (Geoffrey Chaucer). <span> </span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt"><span> </span></span><a href="http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/highsm.03162/"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;color: windowtext">http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/highsm.03162/</span></a><span style="font-size: 8.0pt"> </span></p>
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