“The Canterbury Tales” comprises a collection of twenty-four stories, spanning over 17,000 lines, written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. It is widely regarded as Chaucer’s magnum opus.
The initial section, known as the General Prologue, serves as the introduction to “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer. This prologue, consisting of 858 lines, revolves around a religious pilgrimage. The first sentence of the General Prologue is regarded as one of the most crucial and influential 18 lines in the history of English poetry. The story is set in the month of April with its rains and the gentle warmth of the western wind working together to bring life and fertility back to the land and its living creatures, and the prologue begins by celebrating this time of year.
In this narrative, the narrator, Geoffrey Chaucer, finds himself at The Tabard Inn in Southwark, where he meets a group of ‘sundry folk’ who are all on the way to Canterbury. Their destination is the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket believed to possess the ability to heal the sinful.
The majority of the prologue is dedicated to describing the pilgrims. Chaucer features a diverse group of 29 pilgrims. These pilgrims represent a wide range of medieval society, providing a colorful and diverse backdrop for the storytelling competition that unfolds in “The Canterbury Tales.” Each character’s tale reveals aspects of their personality, values, and worldview. Here is a brief description of each pilgrim:
The Knight: A chivalrous and honorable figure, he is skilled in battle and well-traveled. Do not tell false to anyone and wear simple clothes.
The Squire: The Knight’s young son, a handsome and courteous youth with a talent for poetry and music.
The Yeoman: The Knight’s servant, an expert woodsman and archer.
The Prioress (Madame Eglantine): A nun who is elegant and dainty in her manners and speech.
The Second Nun: A modest, religious nun who tells a saintly tale.
The Monk: religious and corrupt character, worldly extravagant clergyman.
The Friar: A merry, roving clergyman skilled in matchmaking and begging.
The Merchant: A shrewd and boastful businessman involved in trade.
The Clerk of Oxford: A dedicated scholar of philosophy, focused on learning.
The Man of Law: A lawyer well-versed in legal matters and upholding justice.
The Franklin: A wealthy landowner and Epicurean who enjoys the pleasures of life.
The Haberdasher, Carpenter, Weaver, Dyer, and Tapestry-Maker: Five guildsmen who represent various trades.
The Cook: A master of his craft but with an unsightly ulcer on his leg. Name of the cook Rodger de Ware.
The Shipman: A sailor who has traveled the world and is knowledgeable about navigation. He wore a dagger on his neck.
The Physician: A skilled doctor who uses astrology and knows the humors of the body.
The Wife of Bath: A lively and experienced woman who has had five husbands.
The Parson: A humble and devout priest dedicated to serving his flock.
The Plowman: The Parson’s brother, a virtuous and hardworking peasant.
The Miller: A brawny and deceitful miller who grinds grain dishonestly and a champion wrestler.
The Manciple: A clever steward for a group of lawyers who is more astute than they are.
The Reeve: A clever and deceitful estate manager.
The Summoner: A corrupt church official who is susceptible to bribes.
The Pardoner: A homosexual, hypocritical preacher who peddles indulgences and relics.
Last, The Host (a man called Harry Bailey); and Chaucer (the narrator) himself.
The Host suggests that everyone in the group should travel together and share stories to keep each other entertained. The group of pilgrims agrees to take part in a storytelling competition, and they make the Host their leader, and judge. The next morning, they start their journey, and it is decided that The Knight tells the first story.
Chaucer’s original intention, as explained in the Prologue, was to compose four tales from the perspective of each pilgrim, with two stories for the journey to Canterbury and two for the return trip from St. Thomas Becket’s shrine. This would have resulted in approximately 120 stories in total. However, “The Canterbury Tales” remained unfinished at the time of Chaucer’s death.