Remix/Transmedia Representation of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

How do Geoffrey Chaucer's inspirations and use of literary techniques 

in Canterbury Tales suggest the importance of both honoring and questioning 

literary and social traditions?

 

Thesis: Chaucer's inspirations and use of literary techniques serve to suggest the importance of honoring of social status and traditions, as well as questioning their role, by exposing how some characters may represent a group incorrectly, and how their actions could create a bad impression or reputation for a social group. Through the use of literary techniques such as irony, satire, and humor, Chaucer depicts the misrepresentations of a multitude of groups. The inspiration of the religious Canterbury journey to the cathedral serves to show how people can be hypocrites, how people have ulterior motives, and how -again- people can incorrectly represent a group of people.



The journey of CA to Canterbury Cathedral in London.

                 

 "Canterbury, a town 50 miles southwest of London, was a major destination for English pilgrims. The cathedral in Canterbury was the site of Archbishop Thomas à Becket's murder in 1170. Days after the murder, and three years before Becket was made a saint, people began to flock to the cathedral to pay their respects."

 

Chaucer's satirical representation of a motley of social groups, characters:

Monk: supposed to be a hard worker, and giving
to the people, prefers to take the easy way and
indulges in worldly pleasures.

Cook: an ulcerous man, although he does
make the best food.



Knight: truth, honor, generous, going on this spiritual journey
to thank God for allowing him to live and win his
many battles and wars.



Squire: son of the knight, has been in few battles,
has fallen in love, and defines his father's role
(his future) as a loving journey instead of a crusader 

 

Friar: absolves people's sins easily,
looks to find some gift, or silver for his
services, attempts to avoid the poor,
sees them as lepers, instead he is well-
known in the taverns and with the ladies.

Nun/Prioress: was very mannered, resembles
the behavior of a lady of court, she put a lot of
love into her work, did it gracefully

 

• The characters presented in the prologue are all first characterized by their good traits, they're good hunters, they give penance, they have good manners, etc., but the narrator then goes on to show how corrupt they can be, the narrator begins to show their bad side, they indulge too much in the world, they're lazy, they only do their job because of the gifts and money they acquire, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJsiNnf7X58