The prologue to The Canterbury Tales provides an introduction. The prologue opens in the month of April sometime in the late 14th century, presumably the 1380s when Chaucer penned his tales. Picture the Tabard Inn in Southwark, a suburb of London.
What month does the prologue begin in Canterbury Tales?
April
In The Canterbury Tales General Prologue, the narrator begins by setting the scene for the reader. It is April and pilgrims are preparing for a pilgrimage to Canterbury in order to visit the shrine of the “blisful martir”, St.
What month is it in The Canterbury Tales?
The Canterbury Tales begins with a Prologue (which means “a few words to begin”). In the prologue Chaucer describes the time of year, which is April, when the weather begins to get warmer after winter. He says that it is at this time that people begin to go on pilgrimage.
During what month does the General Prologue take place?
The date: why June 1389? The previous section explains why 1389 would be a possible year for Chaucer to have written and presented the Prologue. But why June 6? We have chosen this date as it is falls exactly between two critical dates: 3rd May 1389 and 12 July 1389.
What time of year is The Canterbury Tales set?
14th century
The Canterbury Tales
| A woodcut from William Caxton’s second edition of The Canterbury Tales printed in 1483 | |
|---|---|
| Author | Geoffrey Chaucer |
| Language | Middle English |
| Set in | Kingdom of England, 14th century |
| Publication date | c. 1400 (unfinished at Chaucer’s death) |
What time of year does Chaucer describe in the prologue?
spring
Summary: General Prologue
The narrator opens the General Prologue with a description of the return of spring. He describes the April rains, the burgeoning flowers and leaves, and the chirping birds. Around this time of year, the narrator says, people begin to feel the desire to go on a pilgrimage.
What month did the pilgrims go to Canterbury?
Following the translation of Becket’s relics to a new shrine on 7 July 1220, this feast became the most important time for pilgrims to visit, although pilgrimage was common throughout the sunnier months of April to September when the roads were less muddy and the weather more pleasant.
How old is January in Canterbury Tales?
sixty-year-old
January, a noble sixty-year-old bachelor, determines he must marry and beget an heir; he insists on a young wife and settles upon the fair and youthful May. The issue of January’s marriage is debated by Justinus, who argues against it, and Placebo, a flattering courtier who agrees with January’s determination to marry.
What season and month does the pilgrimage take place?
The pilgrimage takes place in April 1387, during the springtime after March’s drought. This is significant because nature inspires people to go on journeys, such as pilgrimages.
In what month do the pilgrims begin their journey?
It is one of the most well known dates in history – on 16 September 1620, a group of men, women and children departed Plymouth aboard the Mayflower for a new life in America.
What is the season in April about The Canterbury Tales?
The Canterbury Tales opens in April, at the height of spring. The birds are chirping, the flowers blossoming, and people long in their hearts to go on pilgrimages, which combine travel, vacation, and spiritual renewal.
What season is described in the opening passage of The Canterbury Tales?
What season is described in the opening passage of The Canterbury Tales? Spring. What do people especially want to do when this season comes, according to the narrator? Go on a pilgrimage.
What does spring symbolize in the prologue?
The Prologue begins with an elaborate and famous description of springtime, symbolic of increased sexual desire, fertility, and spiritual rebirth.
What does the season symbolize in The Canterbury Tales?
In The Canterbury Tales, the pilgrims travel in spring because it symbolizes spiritual rebirth, fertility, and sexual desire.
What time of year was best for the pilgrimage?
Many experienced pilgrims recommend to do it in spring (April and May) or in autumn (September and October), when hostels are still open and the weather mild.
What does April bring about Canterbury Tales?
April Sweet Showers
The rebirth of nature, here corresponds with the rebirth of spirit. The pilgrims begin the pilgrimage to Canterbury from the Tabard Inn at Southwark and the narrator describes them in turn, beginning with a Knight.
Why does the group make its pilgrimage in April?
Why does this group make its pilgrimage in April? They were welcoming Spring. What event or circumstance causes the characters to gather? They are making a pilgrimage to Canterbury, to give thanks to Thomas Becket for rescuing them from sickness and escaping the Black Death.
How old is January in the merchant’s tale?
60-year-old
The main character, Januarie (or January), a senex amans, is a 60-year-old knight from the town of Pavia, in Lombardy. Pavia was a place known for having many banks and brothels (thus revealing certain characteristics about both the merchant and Januarie).
Which year is known as the Age of Chaucer?
Period: The period between 1343 and 1450 is known as the age of Chaucer. The age of Chaucer is the first significant period in the Literary history of England. It marks the beginning of a new era, new language and new literature.
Why does January marry May?
The choice of names supports the Merchant’s point-of-view: January (old with white hair like snow) marries May (young and beautiful like the May flowers) after rejecting the good advice of Justinius (the just or righteous man) and following the advice of Placebo (the flattering man).
What is pilgrimage season?
The rites of pilgrimage are performed over five to six days, extending from the 8th to the 12th or 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar.