Canterbury Tales

 Author: Geoffrey Chaucer

Introduction

The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in Middle English between 1387 and 1400. The stories are framed within a pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury, Kent. The pilgrimage is undertaken by 30 travelers from various walks of life who gather at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, London. The travelers agree to engage in a storytelling contest as they travel, with Harry Bailly, the host of the Tabard, serving as the master of ceremonies. The tales are a varied collection of literary genres, including religious legends, courtly romance, racy fabliaux, saint's lives, allegorical tales, beast fables, medieval sermons, and more.

The Pilgrimage as a Framing Device

The use of a pilgrimage as the framing device for The Canterbury Tales allowed Chaucer to bring together people from different social classes and professions. The travelers include a knight, a prioress, a monk, a merchant, a man of law, a franklin, a scholarly clerk, a miller, a reeve, a pardoner, a wife of Bath, and many others. Through their interactions and the stories they tell, Chaucer presents a complex and nuanced depiction of medieval society.

The pilgrimage also allowed Chaucer to explore the relationship between the pleasures and vices of this world and the spiritual aspirations for the next. In medieval practice, a pilgrimage combined a fundamentally religious purpose with the secular benefit of a spring vacation. Through the tales, Chaucer presents a range of perspectives on this relationship, from the pious to the profane.

The General Prologue

The Canterbury Tales begins with the General Prologue, a vivid and masterful introduction to the travelers. Chaucer offers brief sketches of each traveler, providing details about their appearance, occupation, and personality. These sketches are rich in detail and provide a glimpse into the social and cultural context of medieval England.

The General Prologue also sets the stage for the storytelling contest. The travelers agree to tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and two on the way back, with the winner receiving a free meal paid for by the other travelers. The contest creates a sense of camaraderie and competition among the travelers, setting the stage for the tales to come.

The Tales

The Canterbury Tales consists of 24 tales, each told by a different traveler. The tales are a varied collection of literary genres, from the high romance of The Knight's Tale to the bawdy humor of The Miller's Tale. Each tale offers a unique perspective on medieval life and society, and together they form a rich and complex picture of the world in which Chaucer lived.

Some of the most famous tales include The Wife of Bath's Tale, a feminist retelling of the Arthurian legend of Sir Gawain, and The Pardoner's Tale, a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed and excess. Other notable tales include The Nun's Priest's Tale, a humorous story about a rooster and his hen, and The Franklin's Tale, a story of love and honor set in Brittany.

The Structure of the Tales

The tales are structured in a way that allows for a wide variety of literary genres and styles. Each tale is introduced by a prologue, in which the traveler who will tell the tale is given a chance to introduce themselves and provide some context for the story. This prologue often includes commentary on the society and culture of medieval England, as well as personal anecdotes and observations.

The tales themselves are told in verse, with a line of 10 syllables and alternating accents and regular end rhyme. This meter, which was probably influenced by French syllable-counting in versification, is an ancestor of the heroic couplet.

The Links

Interspersed between the tales are short dramatic scenes called links. These links present lively exchanges between the travelers, usually involving Harry Bailly, the host of the Tabard, and one or more of the pilgrims. The links provide a sense of continuity and coherence to the collection, as well as a glimpse into the personalities and relationships of the travelers.

The Retraction

The Canterbury Tales ends with "Chaucer's Retraction," a short passage in which Chaucer apologizes for any offense he may have caused and asks for forgiveness. The Retraction is a fitting end to the collection, as it reflects the complex and often contradictory nature of Chaucer's work. While The Canterbury Tales is full of humor, satire, and social commentary, it is also a deeply religious work that reflects Chaucer's own spiritual aspirations and beliefs.

Legacy and Influence

The Canterbury Tales is one of the most important works of English literature, and its influence can be seen in the works of countless writers who followed in Chaucer's footsteps. The collection is notable for its rich and nuanced depiction of medieval society, its complex and varied literary genres, and its vivid and memorable characters. The Canterbury Tales remains a masterpiece of English literature and a testament to the enduring power of storytelling.

Conclusion

The Canterbury Tales is a literary masterpiece that offers a complex and nuanced depiction of medieval society. Through its varied collection of literary genres, from religious legends to bawdy fabliaux, and its vivid and memorable characters, Chaucer provides a glimpse into the social, cultural, and spiritual context of medieval England. The collection remains a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and a foundational work of English literature.