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 ma...