Geoffrey Chaucer.
The Canterbury Tales, frame story by Geoffrey Chaucer, written in Middle English in 1387–1400.
Who told the stories in The Canterbury Tales?
Geoffrey Chaucer
‘The Canterbury Tales’ is a collection of twenty-four stories, about 17,000 lines, written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. Chaucer casts himself as the narrator, including himself as one of the story-telling characters.
Who tells the first tale in The Canterbury Tales?
The Reeve’s Prologue and Tale
The Reeve tells the story of two students, John and Alayn, who go to the mill to watch the miller grind their corn, so that he won’t have a chance to steal any. But the miller unties their horse, and while they chase it, he steals some of the flour he has just ground for them.
Who told the last of The Canterbury Tales?
As the party nears Canterbury, the Host demands a story from the Manciple, who tells of a white crow that can sing and talk. Finally, the Host turns to the last of the group, the Parson, and bids him to tell his tale. The Parson agrees and proceeds with a sermon. The Tales end with Chaucer’s retraction.
Who decides who tells the best story in Canterbury Tales?
the Host
He lays out his plan: each of the pilgrims will tell two tales on the way to Canterbury and two more on the way back. Whomever the Host decides has told the most meaningful and comforting stories will receive a meal paid for by the rest of the pilgrims upon their return.
How many pilgrims tell tales in Canterbury Tales?
31 pilgrims
Written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century, The Canterbury Tales tells the story of a group of 31 pilgrims who meet while travelling from the Tabard Inn in Southwark to the shrine of St Thomas Becket in Canterbury.
How many tales were told in the Canterbury?
24 tales
Most of the pilgrims are introduced by vivid brief sketches in the “General Prologue.” Interspersed between the 24 tales are short dramatic scenes (called links) presenting lively exchanges, usually involving the host and one or more of the pilgrims.
Why is the knight first to tell a tale?
Why is the Knight first in the General Prologue and first to tell a tale? The Knight is first to be described in the General Prologue because he is the highest on the social scale, being closest to belonging to the highest estate, the aristocracy.
What is the most famous Canterbury tale?
Perhaps the most famous – and best-loved – of all of the tales in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, ‘The Miller’s Tale‘ is told as a comic corrective following the sonorous seriousness of the Knight’s tale.
Why did the pilgrims decide to tell tales?
To pass the time and entertain each other on their way the pilgrims take it in turns to tell stories, many of a humorous or bawdy nature. Chaucer’s poem thus takes the form of a series of these individual tales connected within a framing device of the pilgrimage and interludes descibing the pilgrims’ behaviour.
How did The Canterbury Tales end?
The Canterbury Tales ends with Chaucer’s Retraction, in which he begs readers’ forgiveness for his work’s scandalous content, including that found in The Canterbury Tales and other past works.
Why did Chaucer retract The Canterbury Tales?
Chaucer’s Retraction is the final section of The Canterbury Tales. It is written as an apology, where Geoffrey Chaucer asks for forgiveness for the vulgar and unworthy parts of this and other past works, and seeks absolution for his sins.
Who is the main character in Canterbury Tales?
The Canterbury TalesCharacters
WHO proposes that the pilgrims tell stories on the way to Canterbury?
The Narrator describes his newfound traveling companions. The Host at the inn, Harry Bailey, suggests that, to make the trip to Canterbury pass more pleasantly, each member of the party tell two tales on the journey to Canterbury and two more tales on the journey back.
How do the pilgrims decide who will tell their story first?
After Chaucer finishes describing all the pilgrims on the trip to Canterbury, the pilgrims are ready to begin telling their stories. The group decides that the pilgrim who tells the story with the best moral will win a free dinner when he or she returns to London.
How do the pilgrims decide who will tell the first tale?
The other pilgrims agree that Harry Bailly should judge who tells the best tale. In order to decide who will tell the first story, Harry Bailly asks the Knight, the Clerk and the Prioress to draw straws. The Knight draws the shortest straw. Consequently, “The Knight’s Tale” is the first of The Canterbury Tales.
Who are the 31 pilgrims in Canterbury Tales?
The Pilgrims
- The Narrator. The narrator makes it quite clear that he is also a character in his book.
- The Knight. The first pilgrim Chaucer describes in the General Prologue, and the teller of the first tale.
- The Wife of Bath.
- The Pardoner.
- The Miller.
- The Prioress.
- The Monk.
- The Friar.
What is the main theme of Canterbury Tales?
Social Class. One present theme throughout The Canterbury Tales is the importance of social status during Chaucer’s time. For example, the Prioress and the Parson are opposite characters in their regard for social status. The Parson is more concerned with his religious devotion than his class.
What is the moral lesson of Canterbury Tales?
Lessons on Honor & Honesty
One of the main lessons throughout all of the tales and main story is that honor and honesty is valued. In stories like the Physician’s Tale, we see that the lying Appius who lusts after a young girl, is eventually caught for his lies and thrown in jail where he kills himself.
Who were the 29 pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales?
The pilgrims are identified, from left to right, as “Reeve, Chaucer, Clerk of Oxenford, Cook, Miller, Wife of Bath, Merchant, Parson, Man of Law, Plowman, Physician, Franklin, 2 Citizens, Shipman, The Host, Sompnour, Manciple, Pardoner, Monk, Friar, a Citizen, Lady Abbess, Nun, 3 Priests, Squires Yeoman, Knight, [and]
Why is The Canterbury Tales so important?
The Canterbury Tales is considered Chaucer’s masterpiece and is among the most important works of medieval literature for many reasons besides its poetic power and entertainment value, notably its depiction of the different social classes of the 14th century CE as well as clothing worn, pastimes enjoyed, and language/