Topic 43: The medieval literature of oral transmission: the Arthurian legend. G. Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales

This topic aims to provide a detailed account for the relevance of the oral tradition in medieval literature, linking two of the most exemplary literary productions in Middle English, that is, the Arthurian Legend and Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales.

The oral tradition

is understood as the way certain genres or literary forms are passed down by word of mouth from one generation to another without written instruction

The oral tradition also known as

Oral literature

In Britain they had a

rich folklore tradition

All traditional narratives are

the products of multiple authorship

In the oral tradition, stories are retold within a

contextual chain with all sorts of variations which can subsequently be adopted by future narrators.

Many stories seem to lack

organic unity

Oral transmission relies on

verbal memory

Therefore, there is no definitive version of the story.

In the Oral tradition, narrators developed

techniques to remember long lines and plot, they used repetitive techniques like music.

The Arthurian legend

is possibly the most popular theme to derive from medieval legend. It is centred around king Arthur who pulled a sword (Excalibur) from a stone to become the greatest king of Britain.

The Arthurian Legend: Influence

It has inspired an overwhelming amount of

• literature

• film

• music

• videogames

• other works of art

Such as

• The BBC series called Merlin (2008-2012)

• The videogame King Arthur: Knight’s tale (2021)

Origin Arthurian legend

It belongs to the Celtic tradition, it remained a matter of local interest until the 12th century.

The earliest record of the historical character can be found in

Gilda’s De excidio et conquestu Britanniae

Gilda’s De excidio et conquestu Britanniae YEAR

6th century

Which work does not mention Arthur by name?

Gilda’s De excidio et conquestu Britanniae (6th century)

The first explicit mention of Arthur by name appears in

The Welsh poem Y Gododdin

The Welsh poem Y Gododdin YEAR

7th century

Y Gododdin Arthur mention

It is relatively brief. The text was a tribute to a warrior.

The earliest source to present Arthur as a historical figure

Historia Brittonum (9th century)

Historia Brittonum YEAR

9th century

Historia Brittonum chapter 56

It describes twelve battles that Arthur won against the Saxons - the last one being Mount Badon

One of the most significant turning points in the development of the Arthurian legend came with

Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae

Historia Regum Britanniae YEAR

1136 (12th century)

Geoffrey of Monmouth (12th century)

Born in Monmouth, Wales, his childhood was filled with the tradition of folk tales. He studied at Oxford and was a priest.

He wrote three books in Latin, two of which were incorporated into his masterpiece Historia Regum Britanniae

Historia Regum Britanniae (1136)

was originally written in Latin, a mixture of materials from previous books including elements of the author’s own invention.

As a source Geoffrey of Monmouth used

• An old Celtic Book

• The orally-transmitted heroic tales of two pro-Roman tribes

• The list of kings of post-Roman dynasties in Western Britain

Plot Historia Regum Britanniae

It traces the history of British kings, reporting extensively King Arthur’s deeds and portraying him as a conqueror. The capital of his kingdom was Caerleon (Camelot) where he lived with his wife Guanhumara (Queen Guinevere) and founded the Round Table with his knights. Geoffrey introduced his magical advisor, Merlin.

Historia Regum Britanniae ADAPTATIONS

Wace’s Roman de Brut

Caerleon

Camelot

Guanhumara

Queen Guinevere

History of the English kings

Geoffrey Gaimar’s L’Estoire des Engleis

Geoffrey Gaimar’s L’Estoire des Engleis

includes an extensive coverage of the Arthurian legend, combining elements of English history with Arthurian romance.

Medieval Romance

emerged in Western Europe in the 12th century

Earlier romances were written in

verse

Later romances were written in

prose

Two main tendencies in Romance

1. In the North of France: The heroic tale

2. In Provence: conventions of courtly love

Romance in England

Very basic material from Romance sources is used, e.g. knights.

Who did classify medieval romance into three categories?

Jehan Bodel

Jehan bodel classified medieval romance into three categories

1. The Matter of Rome

2. The Matter of France

3. The Matter of Britain or the Arthurian Cycle

The Matter of Rome

History and mythology

The Matter of France

Charlemagne

The Matter of Britain or

The Arthurian Cycle

The Arthurian cycle’s romances common features

• Arthur as the leader of a brilliant chilvaric court

• His knights are given their own interests

• The quest for he holy Grail links most of the stories

• Arthur’s early life is associated with Merlin whose natural powers help him face his enemies

Main Romances

1. Chrétien de Troyes "Ywain and Gawain” 12th century

2. “Sir Gawain and the Green knight” 14th century

3. Sir Thomas Malory’s “Morte D’Arthur”

Chrétien de Troyes

Ywain and Gawain

Sir Thomas Malory

Morte D’Arthur (15th century)

Chrétien de Troyes Ywain and Gawain (12th century)

Earliest Arthurian romance. The author introduced many of the permanent features of King Arthur’s legend

Ywain and Gawain: Many of the permanent features of King Arthur’s legend

• Lancelot’s love for Queen Guinever and her unfaithful behaviour

• Gawain as a model of prowess and courtesy

• Perceval’s quest for the Holy Grail

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (14th century)

The main character is Sir Gawain: a knight who epitomizes all knightly virtues. The story centres on a duel between Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Gawain honour is called into question by a test involving the lady of the Green Knight’s castle, showing that even the best knights are flawed but honourable.

Even the best knights are _________ but honourable

Flawed

Gawain as a model of prowess and ________

courtesy

Gawain _________ is called into question

honour

Even the best knights are flawed but _______

honourable

Sir Thomas Malory’s Morte D’Arthur

This is considered to be the masterpiece of 15th century English literature. Malory abbreviates of Arthur instead of expanding it, as was the tradition.

Modern treatment of the Arthurian legend

It has continued to be re-told for centuries. The Arthurian revival of the late 19th century helped put him back on the international cultural map by removing the historical aura and emphasising the values he stood for.

In the 20th century, King Arthur found his way to stage and screen

E.g., during the ‘60, the myth had a musical on Broadway named Camelot.

Modern treatment of the Arthurian legend : In recent times

there have been hollywood movies, computer games and other creative re-tellings. There is no doubt both the scholarly search for Arthur and the impact of his legends on modern culture are continuing to flourish

Geoffrey Chaucer

often referred to as the Father of English literature, he is considered both:

• the greatest English medieval writer

• the first founder of the English language

Biography Geoffrey Chaucer

He was born in London in the 14th century, the only son of a wine merchant, he served as court page. He was able to interact with the aristocracy and fought in France, during the Hundred Year’s War, where he was taken prisoner. Edward III helped him back to England and took him into his service. He worked as a customs officer and a diplomat.

Geoffrey Chaucer was born in London in the _______

14th century

The only son of a ___________

wine merchant

Chaucer served as _______

court page

Who helped Chaucer back to England and took him into his service?

Edward III

Chaucer worked as a _________ and a diplomat

customs officer

Chaucer worked as a customs officer and a _______

diplomat

Chaucer is said to have been

a remarkable innovator

What did Chaucer adapted?

He adapted:

• modes

• themes

• conventions

of French and Italian medieval poetry to English poetry

What is Chaucer considered creator of?

English versification

English versification Chaucer

His style is symple, almost colloquial with abundant vocabulary..

Chaucer favourite verse forms

Rhyme Royal and the Iambic pentameter

What does Chaucer cite?

Many classical and medieval Latin writers

Many _______ and medieval Latin writers

classical

Many classical and medieval ________ writers

Latin

Many classical and _______ Latin writers

medieval

Three influences can be distinguished in Chaucer’s production

1. French Influence (The Book of the Duchess)

2. Italian Influence

   • First Italian Period (The house of fame)

   • Second Italian Period (the Parlament of Foules; Troilus and Criseyde)

3. English influence (The Canterbury Tale)

French Influence Chaucer work(s)

The book of the Duchess

First Italian period Chaucer work(s)

The House of Fame

Second Italian period Chaucer work(s)

1. The Parlement of Foules

2. Troilus and Criseyde

English period Chaucer work(s)

The Canterbury Tales

Three influences can be distinguished in Chaucer's production:

French, Italian, and English.

French influence (Chaucer) that influenced Chaucer’s storytelling

French narrative styles such as flabiaux (comic tales) and courtly love themes influenced Chaucer’s storytelling.

(French influence) Chaucer career was influenced by

Roman de la Rose

(French influence) Chaucer’s early works such as the book of the Duchess demonstrates this influence

through the use of octosyllabic couplets and French elegy.

What french narrative styles and themes influenced Chaucer’s storytelling?

Flabiaux (comic tales) and courtly love themes

Italian influence (Chaucer)

During this time, Chaucer’s works were influenced primarily by Dante and Boccaccio, their works led him to introduce into English the rhymed iambic pentameter which became the norm of English verse from that time onwards.

(Italian influence) Chaucer’s works were influenced primarily by

Dante and Boccaccio

First Italian Period (Chaucer)

The House of fame. unfinished work written in octosyllabic couplets. Chaucer’s use of dream vision and rich allegory in this poem reflects Dante’s influence. In his dream, Chaucer is in a palace called the house of fame.

Second Italian period (Chaucer)

Italian influence is fully assimilated in the period 1380s. Some works that represent this second Italian period are: The Parlement of Foules and Troilus and Criseyde.

In which period is Italian influence fully assimilated (Chaucer)?

1380s

The Parlement of Foules (Second Italian period)

This is a dream allegory in seven-line stanzas with great technical skill. It was written to celebrate Richard II’s betrothal to Anne of Bohemia.

Boccacio’s influence can be perceived in his use of Courtly love.

The narrator finds himself in a garden during the feast of Saint Valentine’s Day where birds, symbolising different social classes, gather to choose partners based on love and compatibility.

Troilus and Criseyde (Second Italian period)

This is Chaucer's longest poem. Source: Boccaccio's II Filostrato. It was written in Rhyme Royal stanzas. It was an intimate vision of the 14^th century courtly life.

Criseyde is considered the first fully developed character of a woman in English literature. Chaucer incorporated something new in English literature: Psychological realism, exploring Criseyde internal conflicts.

The Parlement of Fowles PLOT

The narrator finds himself in a garden during the feast of Saint Valentine’s Day where birds, symbolising different social classes, gather to choose partners based on love and compatibility.

Why was The Parlement of Foules written?

It was written to celebrate Richard II’s betrothal to Anne of Bohemia.

What is the source of Troilus and Criseyde?

Boccaccio's II Filostrato.

Criseyde is considered

the first fully developed character of a woman in English literature

What new thing in English literature did Chaucer incorporate in Troilus and Criseyde?

Chaucer incorporated something new in English literature: Psychological realism, exploring Criseyde internal conflicts.

English Period (Chaucer)

This is Chaucer’s final period written sometime in the 1380s. In this period Chaucer's skilful art is clearly displayed in his masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales.

His main innovations in this period (English period) are:

• His mixture of humour and realism achieved with a masterful control of character and dialogue. He is a supreme storyteller.

• His option to write in the vernacular of Middle English, when most court poetry was written in Latin or Anglo-Norman, encouraging more writers to do the same and speeding up the transition from French and making literature more accessible.

The Canterbury Tales

It is a frame story, i.e. a story within a story. It is a dramatic sequence of stories in prose and verse linked by a fictitious pilgrimage. This was common in the later Middle Ages, e.g. Boccaccio’s Decameron.

How many tales are there in the Canterbury tales?

It consists of 24 tales, although Chaucer planned 120 stories, two for each pilgrim on the way to Canterbury and two more on their way back, but he never completed them.

There are about eighty surviving manuscripts, though none of them in Chaucer’s hand. Although

there have been some attempts to assemble the ten fragments left unarranged by Chaucer.