The Canterbury Tales – Summary Author: Geoffrey Chaucer Period: Late 14th century Language: Middle English The Canterbury Tales is one of the most important works in English literature. Written by Geoffrey Chaucer, the book presents a lively picture of medieval English society through a collection of stories told by different characters. The Frame Story The story begins at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, London, where a group of 29 pilgrims gather before starting their journey to Canterbury Cathedral. They are traveling to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket. To make the journey entertaining, the innkeeper Harry Bailly proposes a storytelling contest. Each pilgrim is asked to tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and two stories on the return journey. The pilgrim who tells the best story will receive a free meal at the inn. The Pilgrims The pilgrims come from different social classes and professions, representing medieval English society. Some notable characters include: The ...
The Canterbury Tales – Summary
Author: Geoffrey Chaucer
Period: Late 14th century
Language: Middle English
The Canterbury Tales is one of the most important works in English literature. Written by Geoffrey Chaucer, the book presents a lively picture of medieval English society through a collection of stories told by different characters.
The Frame Story
The story begins at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, London, where a group of 29 pilgrims gather before starting their journey to Canterbury Cathedral. They are traveling to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket.
To make the journey entertaining, the innkeeper Harry Bailly proposes a storytelling contest. Each pilgrim is asked to tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and two stories on the return journey. The pilgrim who tells the best story will receive a free meal at the inn.
The Pilgrims
The pilgrims come from different social classes and professions, representing medieval English society. Some notable characters include:
The Knight – brave, noble, and honorable
The Wife of Bath – confident, experienced, and outspoken about marriage
The Miller – rough, dishonest, and humorous
The Pardoner – corrupt and greedy church official
The Clerk – poor but educated and devoted to learning
Chaucer uses these characters to show both the strengths and weaknesses of people in his time.
The Tales
Each pilgrim’s story reflects their personality and background:
● The Knight’s Tale is a romantic and chivalric story about love and honor.
● The Miller’s Tale is a humorous and vulgar story that mocks romance.
● The Pardoner’s Tale focuses on greed and moral corruption.
● The variety of stories includes romance, comedy, morality tales, and satire.
Themes
Some major themes in The Canterbury Tales include:
》Social class and human behavior
》Corruption in the Church
》Love, marriage, and morality
》Appearance versus reality
Conclusion
The Canterbury Tales is not just a collection of stories but a powerful social commentary. Through humor, realism, and vivid characters, Geoffrey Chaucer presents a timeless reflection of human nature and medieval life.
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