The Canterbury Tales

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The Canterbury Tales is a collection of 24 stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. The tales are presented as part of a storytelling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together on a journey from London to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. The prize for this contest is a free meal at the Tabard Inn at Southwark on their return.

Structure

The Canterbury Tales is structured as a frame narrative, a literary technique that involves a story within a story. The overarching frame is the pilgrimage to Canterbury, and within this frame, each pilgrim tells a tale. The tales themselves are diverse, ranging from chivalric romance to fabliaux, from moral allegory to religious legend.

Characters

The work features a wide array of characters, each representing different segments of 14th-century English society. Some of the notable characters include:

• The Knight
• The Miller
• The Wife of Bath
• The Pardoner
• The Prioress
• The Merchant

Themes

The Canterbury Tales explores several themes, including:

• Social satire: Chaucer critiques the social norms and institutions of his time.
• Courtly love: Many tales explore the concept of courtly love, a medieval European literary conception of love that emphasized nobility and chivalry.
• Religion: The tales often reflect on the role of the Church and religious practices in medieval society.

Language and Style

Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales in Middle English, which was the vernacular language of England at the time. The work is notable for its use of iambic pentameter and rhymed couplets, which were innovative for English literature.

Manuscripts and Editions

The Canterbury Tales has survived in several manuscripts, the most famous of which is the Ellesmere Manuscript. The first printed edition was produced by William Caxton in 1476.

Influence and Legacy

The Canterbury Tales has had a profound influence on English literature and is considered one of the greatest works in the English language. It has been adapted into various forms, including plays, films, and modern retellings.

Related Pages

• Geoffrey Chaucer
• Middle English
• Canterbury Cathedral
• Tabard Inn
• Ellesmere Manuscript
• William Caxton