The document discusses metrical tales, a form of narrative poetry. It defines metrical tales as poems that relate real or imaginary events in simple language on various subjects and experiences. Key characteristics include using ordinary people and events, having a simple structure focusing on a single incident, and being written in verse. As an example, it summarizes Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, a famous frame story containing various tales told by pilgrims traveling to Canterbury Cathedral.

1. Narrative Poetry:
Metrical Tales
Presented by: Solon, Lilet U.

2. Definition
o Metrical tale is a narrative poem which is
written in verse that relates to real or
imaginary events in simple, straight forward
language, from a wide range of subjects,
characters, life experiences, and emotional
situations.

3. Features/Characteristics
o Metrical tale is to poetry what the short story
is to prose.
o It deals with any emotion or phase of life and
its story is told in a simple, straightforward,
and realistic manner.
o The characters are ordinary people, concerned
with ordinary events.

4. Features/Characteristics
o It has simple structure and tells of a single
incident.
o A narrative told by a known author with
characters, setting, plot and theme.
o Metrical tale is written in number of verses.

5. Geoffrey Chaucer’s
The Canterbury Tales

6. Background of the story
o Frame story
o Literature within literature

7. Format of the poetry
The Canterbury Tales are
called a frame story,
meaning that there are
many stories “framed” in
the larger story of the
pilgrimage to Canterbury.

8. Chaucer’s pilgrims represent all classes, all professions in
medieval England.
•Clerk
•Miller
•Manciple
•Yeoman
•Shipman
•Physician
•Merchant
•Pardoner
•Franklin
•Reeve
•Cook
•Lawyer “Man
of Law”
•Narrator
•Knight
•Squire
•Summoner
•Friar
•Prioress
•Two nuns
•Summoner
•Parson
•Monk
•Nun’s Priest
•2 Nuns
•Wife of Bath

9. What genre are the tales?
o Fabliaux - a short, usually comic, frankly coarse,
and often cynical tale in verse
o Bestiary – a medieval allegorical or moralizing
work on the appearance and habits of real or
imaginary animals
o Sermons – a religious discourse delivered in public
usually by a clergyman as a part of a worship service
o Courtly love – a late medieval conventionalized
code prescribing conduct and emotions of ladies and
their lovers

10. Geoffrey Chaucer
o Went against tradition when he wrote in
Middle English rather than French
o Considered “Father of the English Language”
because he went against the norm and chose
to write in the language of the people

11. The Tale of
The Wyf of
Bathe

12. ,k
He seketh every hous and every place,
Where as he hopeth for to fynde grace
To lerne what thyng wommen loven moost;
But he ne koude arryven in no coost
Wher as he myghte fynde in this mateere
Two creatures accordynge in feere.
Somme seyde, wommen loven best richesse,
Somme seyde honour, somme seyde jolynesse,
Somme riche array, somme seyden lust abedde,
And oftetyme to be wydwe and wedde.

13. Form
o Rhyming couplets – every two lines rhyme
with each other
o Rhythm & meter : iambic pentameter

14. ,k
[He se][keth eve][ry hous] [and eve][ry place],
[Where as] [he ho][peth for] [to fyn][de grace]
[To ler][ne what] [thyng wom][men lov][en moost];
[But he] [ne koude] [arry][ven in] [no coost]
Wher as he myghte fynde in this mateere
Two creatures accordynge in feere.
Somme seyde, wommen loven best richesse,
Somme seyde honour, somme seyde jolynesse,
Somme riche array, somme seyden lust abedde,
And oftetyme to be wydwe and wedde.