1、Medieval Literature and Chaucer (1066-1485),Romance Ballads Chaucer,Language & Literature,The noble lords speak French. The scholars writes books in Latin. The rank and file speak English. When an animal is alive, it is named in English (pig/sheep/cow). When it is served at table, it is named in Fre
2、nch (pork/mutton/beef).,Definition of Romance,The romance was the prevailing form of literature in the Middle Ages. It was a long composition, either in verse or in prose, describing the life and adventures of a noble hero (usually a knight).,Romance cycles,matter of France. Charles the Great matter
3、 of Rome Alexander the Great matter of BritainKing Arthur and his Round Table knights,Arthurian Legends,Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (long poem / Gawain poet) Le Morte dArthur (The Death of King Arthur) (Thomas Malory /prose work),Popular Ballad: The Definition,The popular ballad as a literary ge
4、nre is generally a narrative poem of no great length, without any known author or any mark of individual authorship. It was meant for singing and connected originally with communal dance. It existed in an oral tradition for a long time and underwent many modifications before it was written down.,Rel
5、iques of Ancient English Poetry by Bishop Thomas Percy English And Scottish Popular Ballads by Professor Child.,Themes of popular ballads,Murder &Treachery Sir Patrick Spens Revolt against oppressors Robin Hood and the Bishop Superstition and witchery Sweet Williams Ghost Humorous stories Get Up and
6、 bar the Door,Chaucers Literary career,period of French influence The Romance of the Rose (translation) period of Italian influence Troilus and Criseyde the English period The Canterbury Tales,Comparative study,Faithful wife v.s. ingratitude husband, as seen from Qin Xianglian, a popular Peking Oper
7、a Faithful gentleman v.s. treacherous lady, as is shown by F. S. Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby,The general prologue,Framework of The Canterbury Tales Vivid sketches of the 30 pilgrimsThe knightThe Wife of BathThe Oxford Scholar,The Wife of Bath,Has married five husbands and expects one or two more Al
8、ways gets the upper hand,The Pardoners Tale,Long long ago, there lived three rioters in Flanders. They did nothing but drinking & gambling every day. One day they were told that Death had killed many people. They decided to find Death and slay him to show their prowess. On their way to find Death, t
9、hey found heaps of gold under an oak tree.,The youngest rioter was sent to get bread and wine while the other two were plotting to murder him on his return. The youngest rioter was killed upon his return. The other two rioters ate and drank to celebrate their victory. The two rioters died because the youngest rioter had put poison into the wine. The 3 rioters met their Death at last.,Comments on Chaucer,Panorama of medieval England Humanist ideas Humor Framed narrative (Arabian Nights) Vivid Middle English Heroic couplet,couplet,忆往昔，依依杨柳之中，挥毫泼墨，恰似天赋之文曲； 看今朝，煌煌书案之上，凝眉蹙颦，竟如才尽之江郎。,
