General Literary Techniques:
* Frame Story: A narrative structure where a story is told within another story, often with a group of characters telling tales to each other. This is prominent in *The Canterbury Tales*.
* Allegory: Using symbolic characters and events to represent a deeper moral or spiritual message.
* Satire: Using humor and irony to criticize social and political issues.
* Irony: A literary device where the intended meaning is different from the literal meaning.
* Personification: Giving human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract ideas.
* Metaphor: A figure of speech that compares two unlike things without using "like" or "as".
* Simile: A figure of speech that compares two unlike things using "like" or "as".
* Symbolism: The use of symbols to represent ideas or concepts.
* Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
* Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within words.
* Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds within words.
Specific Terms Used by Chaucer:
* Trope: A figure of speech that uses figurative language to create an effect.
* Rhyme Scheme: The pattern of rhymes in a poem or verse. (Chaucer used a variety of rhyme schemes, including ABAB, AABB, and ABCB.)
* Meter: The rhythmic pattern of a poem or verse. (Chaucer often used iambic pentameter, a rhythm that consists of five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables per line.)
* Stanza: A group of lines in a poem. (Chaucer used different stanza forms, such as the couplet, the quatrain, and the sestet.)
* Middle English: The language used by Chaucer, a transitional form between Old English and Modern English. This included a mix of Old English, French, and Latin influences.
* Chaucerian Romance: A genre of romance characterized by realistic detail, courtly love, and the use of Middle English.
* The Canterbury Tales: A collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims on their journey to Canterbury, which exemplifies many of these techniques.
Further points to note:
* Chaucer's language was highly influenced by the French and Latin languages, which were prevalent in England at the time. This influence is evident in his vocabulary, grammar, and syntax.
* Chaucer was a pioneer of vernacular literature, writing in English rather than the more elite Latin. This helped to establish English as a literary language and paved the way for later English writers.
* He also experimented with different literary forms and techniques, making him a truly innovative writer for his time.
Understanding these terms and techniques can enrich your appreciation of Chaucer's work and give you a deeper understanding of his genius as a writer.