Essay about Middle Vs. Modern English in the Canterbury Tales

Middle vs. Modern English in The Canterbury Tales As its name suggests, Middle English is the language that was spoken in the country of England around the 12th to 15th centuries. Middle English became the prominent language in England near the end of the 11th century shortly after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror in 1066. Unlike Englands preceding language, Old English, Middle English evolved into much more of a written language. There were many writers and educated English scholars who worked to translate Old English texts into the new Middle English language. There were also writers, such as Geoffrey Chaucer, who used the Middle English language to write new works which employed new and creative literary techniques. One†¦show more content†¦However, one work, The Canterbury Tales, shows significant literary influence from many of his contemporaries. Despite the many influences, Chaucer showed his true expertise in how he was able to blend old literary techniques with his own new ideas. Many scholars have pra ised Chaucer for creating characters that the average middle-class English individual could relate to. Many of his tales are about middle-class individuals such as a merchant or a miller. It is for this reason why this work was so significant among the English in the Middle Ages. Chaucer gave middle-class England a scholarly literary work that the average individual could understand. As a result, the work became well-known among the English citizens, which led to the popularizing of Chaucers language. The Canterbury Tales, has withstood the test of time mainly because of the well-known historical influence the work has had on the development of the English language. Today, many individuals continue to read the work and enjoy it for many of the same reasons the individuals of the middle ages enjoyed it. However, many readers of the work today do not realize the historical significance this work has had on the English language as a result of the works translation into modern English. This is why many publications of the work contain both the modern translation as well as the Middle English version. By comparing the two versions, one can see howShow MoreRelated Canterbury Tales Essay - Sexuality in The Wife of Bath and the Pardoner1711 Words   |  7 PagesPardoner In Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, an eclectic mix of people gathers together at Tabard Inn to begin a pilgrimage to Canterbury. In the General Prologue, the readers are introduced to each of these characters. Among the pilgrims are the provocative Wife of Bath and the meek Pardoner. These two characters both demonstrate sexuality, in very different ways. Chaucer uses the Wife and the Pardoner to examine sexuality in the medieval period. 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I hope that by giving this account of its contents, o ther editions and studies of this importantRead MoreVideo Notes29279 Words   |  118 PagesThe Victoria Street Cafà © is the casual dining venue, Yamagen offers Japanese cuisine, and Canterbury Tales is the fine dining outlet. The FB (Food and Beverage) operation also includes the in-room dinning service. The kitchens are modern and complete and chefs are highly skilled and very creative. The Atrium lounge is an open area for relaxing and meeting people, Rumpole’s is modeled after a traditional English pub, and First Edition is a show room. Some guests will be interested in activities