The MURDER of Thomas Becket

The
Canterbury
Tales
by Geoffrey
Chaucer
Pilgrimages
& Chaucer’s Pilgrims
Learning Objectives
I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to
write about a pilgrimage of my own.
I should know why people went on Pilgrimages
in the Middle Ages.
I could describe a group of characters who are
going with me on my pilgrimage.
I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own.
I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages.
I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.
c.1340
Wine
merchant
London?
Chaucer
recap
Worked for
royalty
1400?
Westminster
Abbey
A Brief Look at Life in the 1300s
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Famine: starving eat “dogs, cats, the dung of doves and their own children.”
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Black Death
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Death: unclean water/bad hygiene and diet - fruit thought to be bad for you and low
dairy
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Life expectancy below 30
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Monks and nuns run hospitals – leeches!
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Shrines - Thomas Becket’s cured a girl with crippled fingers and a boy with an intestinal
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No dental hygiene = no teeth & smelly breath!
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The Catholic CHURCH could save you – more important than the King
I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own.
I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages.
I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.
Poor old Chaucer lived in these times
I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own.
I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages.
I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.
Chaucer was a rich boy – he could read
and write! His most famous story was …
I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own.
I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages.
I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.
The Canterbury Tales is about PILGRIMS
travelling from London to the tomb of
Thomas Becket in Canterbury.
Thomas BECKET???? WHO IS HE I HEAR YOU ASK!
I’ll tell you.
I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own.
I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages.
I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.
Thomas Becket
The King’s best mate & financial advisor
- he was VERY powerful
When the Archbishop (leader of the church in
England) died, the King persuaded Becket to
take over
Becket took to it like a duck to water and gave
up his luxurious lifestyle – only bread, water and
he slept on the floor!
I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own.
I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages.
I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.
Now, the King had an ‘ulterior motive’ …
There were 2 courts in England: Church & Royal
The Church court was too soft – he wanted Becket
to toughen it up…BUT HE REFUSED.
The King had such a temper he shouted that he
wanted Becket dead!
4 knights took him literally and went to
Canterbury Cathedral where they
stabbed him to death, on the ALTAR!
The Pope made him a saint and people visited
thinking it would bring them luck
•
Trailer
The MURDER of Thomas Becket
I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own.
I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages.
I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.
Phew! So that’s where we start The
Canterbury Tales
A group travelling to Canterbury to Becket’s
death place.
There’s:
• the narrator
• 30 people travelling to Becket’s death place
• the host at the Tabard Inn.
I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own.
I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages.
I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.
What do all these
photos have in
common?
Pilgrim
A Pilgrim is anyone who goes on a pilgrimage, a visit to a place of some
significance; often religious and a long way away.
E.g. a Muslim visiting Mecca
a Jew visiting Jerusalem
In the Middle Ages, pilgrimages were thought to clear your sins and
earn you brownie points, as travel was dangerous and took ages.
E.g. Canterbury, England
The Vatican, Vatican City (Italy)
Modern pilgrimages are a special visit.
E.g. Elvis Presley vans visiting his home in Graceland, Memphis,
Tennessee
I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own.
I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages.
I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.
Write this in your
books please
Pilgrim
Anybody who travels a long distance to visit a
place of personal importance
E.g. Christian visiting Rome
I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own.
I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages.
I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.
Modern Pilgrimages
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Musical hero
Ancestors/heritage
Sporting event
Place of interest
I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own.
I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages.
I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.
If you had to go on a pilgrimage
where would you go and why?
I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own.
I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages.
I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.
HOMEWORK: DUE 8 March 2011
In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer
wrote about the people he meets on
the way to Canterbury. If you were
going on pilgrimage today, think about
the variety of types of people you
might encounter.
I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own.
I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages.
I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.
Describe them by...
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Their job
The type and colour of their clothing
Their “accessories” (jewellery, pets etc.)
The way they act
Their income
Their “secrets”
Their status in society as a whole
The way they speak / their slang or accent
Their mode of transportation
I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own.
I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages.
I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.
You will be studying two pilgrim’s tales.
I must know what a pilgrimage is and be able to write about a pilgrimage of my own.
I should know why people went on Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages.
I could describe a group of characters who are going with me on my pilgrimage.
HOMEWORK
It is your responsibility to read any handout or
power point on my web site and to watch any
video I post on my web site. If at any time you
are unable to access this information or my
web site, it is your responsibility to contact
me. I will be more than happy to print you a
copy. If you do not understand this statement,
please raise your hand now.