Introduction
Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400) in the late 14th century. It is a frame narrative, meaning that it consists of a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims. They were traveling from London to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket in Canterbury.
Frame Narrative:
Canterbury Tales begins with a prologue. It sets the stage for the stories to come. The prologue introduces the pilgrims, who represent different social classes and occupations, and provides insight into their personalities and backgrounds. Chaucer uses the prologue to comment on various aspects of medieval society, such as the corruption of the Church and the tensions between different social classes.
More Notes: The Canterbury Tales
Pilgrimage:
The main plot of Canterbury Tales revolves around a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket in Canterbury. The pilgrims, including the narrator (referred to as the “Chaucerian pilgrim” or the “Pilgrim Poet”), each agree to tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and two stories on the way back, for a total of 120 stories.
Diversity of Stories:
Canterbury Tales features a wide variety of stories told by the different pilgrims. It has the stories of romance and adventure to morality tales and fables. The stories often contain humor, satire, and social commentary, and are written in different genres and styles, showcasing Chaucer’s skill as a storyteller and his ability to capture the complexities of human nature.
Characters:
The characters in Canterbury Tales are one of its defining features. Chaucer carefully crafts each pilgrim’s portrait, revealing their personalities, social status, and flaws through their stories and interactions. The characters represent various professions and social classes, such as the knight, the wife of Bath, the miller, the pardoner, and the nun’s priest, among others. The Miller’s Tale Chaucer says about a young parish clerk,
“His rode was reed, his eyen greye as goos”
Unfinished Work:
Canterbury Tales remains an unfinished work, with only 24 tales completed out of the planned 120. Chaucer’s original intention was to have each pilgrim tell two tales on the way to Canterbury and two tales on the way back, but he was unable to complete the work before his death.
Conclusion
The Canterbury Tales is the landmark in the history of English literature. For this iconic creation, Chaucer has become the father of English Poetry. The most prominent Victorian literary critic and poet Matthew Arnold recognized Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales as a classic creation.
