The Middle Ages

500 - 1500 ce
Map of Europe Then Vs. Now
Key Terms in this video for Vocab Notebook
● The Bubonic Plague aka The Black Death
● The Hundred Years War
● Pilgrimages
● The Western Schism
● Chivalry
The Middle Ages Crash Course
Pilgrimages
Definition: “a journey, especially a long one, made to some
sacred place as an act of religious devotion.”

● In The Canterbury Tales, the characters are on a

pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral, the Shrine of
Archbishop Thomas Becket.
● Possible reasons for Pilgrimage: Healing, Penance,
Heavenly Reward.
Middle English
● Middle English was a form of the English language
spoken after the Norman conquest (1066) until the
late 15th century. English language underwent
distinct variations and developments following the
Old English period.
● Originally spoken Old English transformed into
Middle English in the 12th century.
● Most documents were written in French until more
people started moving to London and shortening
Old English and making it more simplified.
● Chaucer really popularized writing in Middle English
during the second half of the 14th century.
Class Activity: Mini Research Presentation
● In groups of 2 or 3 (depending on class size), you will research a topic chosen
at random related to The Middle Ages, the time in which Chaucer wrote The
Canterbury Tales. After researching, every one will give a short, informal
presentation to the rest of the class on what they found. The rest of the class
will be taking notes in our vocab notebooks on these terms.
● Terms:

- The Black Death - Middle English

- Courtly Love - Chivalry
- Hundred Years War - Thomas Becket
- Decameron - Clergy
- Pilgrimages - Pardoners
First few lines Middle English Example
Lines 1-41 of the Prologue
Whan that aprill with his shoures soote 1 Bifil that in that seson on a day, 19
The droghte of march hath perced to the roote, 2 In southwerk at the tabard as I lay 20 But nathelees, whil I have tyme and space,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour 3 35
Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage 21 Er that I ferther in this tale pace, 36
Of which vertu engendred is the flour; 4 To caunterbury with ful devout corage, 22
Whan zephirus eek with his sweete breeth 5 Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun 37
At nyght was come into that hostelrye 23 To telle yow al the condicioun 38
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth 6 Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye, 24
Tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne 7 Of ech of hem, so as it semed me, 39
Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle 25 And whiche they weren, and of what degree,
Hath in the ram his halve cours yronne, 8 In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle,
And smale foweles maken melodye, 9 40
26 And eek in what array that they were inne;
That slepen al the nyght with open ye 10 That toward caunterbury wolden ryde. 27
(so priketh hem nature in hir corages); 11 41
The chambres and the stables weren wyde,
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages, 12 28
And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes, 13 And wel we weren esed atte beste. 29
To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes; 14 And shortly, whan the sonne was to reste,30
And specially from every shires ende 15 So hadde I spoken with hem everichon 31
Of engelond to caunterbury they wende, 16 That I was of hir felaweshipe anon, 32
The hooly blisful martir for to seke, 17 And made forward erly for to ryse, 33
That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke 18 To take oure wey ther as I yow devyse. 34
Modern English Translation of Lines 1-41
Befell that, in that season, on a day
When April with his showers sweet with fruit In Southwark, at the Tabard, as I lay But none the less, whilst I have time and
The drought of March has pierced unto the root Ready to start upon my pilgrimage space,
And bathed each vein with liquor that has power To Canterbury, full of devout homage, Before yet farther in this tale I pace,
To generate therein and sire the flower; There came at nightfall to that hostelry It seems to me accordant with reason
When Zephyr also has, with his sweet breath, Some nine and twenty in a company To inform you of the state of every one
Quickened again, in every holt and heath, Of sundry persons who had chanced to Of all of these, as it appeared to me,
The tender shoots and buds, and the young sun fall And who they were, and what was their
Into the Ram one half his course has run, In fellowship, and pilgrims were they all degree,
And many little birds make melody That toward Canterbury town would ride. And even how arrayed there at the inn;
That sleep through all the night with open eye The rooms and stables spacious were
(So Nature pricks them on to ramp and rage)- and wide,
Then do folk long to go on pilgrimage, And well we there were eased, and of
And palmers to go seeking out strange strands, the best.
To distant shrines well known in sundry lands. And briefly, when the sun had gone to
And specially from every shire's end rest,
Of England they to Canterbury wend, So had I spoken with them, every one,
The holy blessed martyr there to seek That I was of their fellowship anon,
Who helped them when they lay so ill and weak. And made agreement that we'd early rise
To take the road, as you I will apprise.