The Canterbury Tales (Middle English: Tales of Caunterbury) is a collection of twenty-four stories that runs to over 17,000 lines written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. It is widely regarded as Chaucer’s magnum opus.
Where does The Canterbury Tales start and end?
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.
When did The Canterbury Tales start?
1387
The Canterbury Tales was one of the first major works in literature written in English. Chaucer began the tales in 1387 and continued until his death in 1400.
Where does The Canterbury Tales start?
south London
The pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales start their journey together in south London and aim for Canterbury Cathedral, roughly seventy miles away. The Canterbury Cathedral houses the shrine of an English saint: Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was martyred in the 1100s.
What time period does The Canterbury Tales take place?
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/
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.
Who is the father of English literature?
Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer (/ˈtʃɔːsər/; c. 1340s – 25 October 1400) was an English poet, author, and civil servant best known for The Canterbury Tales. He has been called the “father of English literature”, or, alternatively, the “father of English poetry”.
Which is the first Canterbury Tale?
First printed edition of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
| Full title: | Begin. [fol. 2 recto:] wHan that Apprill with his shouris sote And the droughte of marche hath p[er]cid ye rote, etc. |
|---|---|
| Created: | 1476–77 |
| Format: | Printed book |
| Language: | Middle English |
| Creator: | Geoffrey Chaucer, William Caxton |
How long is The Canterbury Tales?
The Canterbury Tales is a collection of 24 stories that runs to over 17,000 lines written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400.
How many tales are in Canterbury Tales?
24
Taken together, the tales offer a fascinating insight into English life during the late 14th century. Chaucer’s original plan was for over 100 stories, but only 24 were completed, some of which had already been written for earlier works.
Who inspired The Canterbury Tales?
From the 1370s on, Italian poetry became the overriding influence for Chaucer’s work. Obviously familiar with the writings of Dante and Petrarch, Boccaccio especially was a major source.
How many characters are in Canterbury Tales?
32 characters
Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories, most in verse and a few in prose, told by a group of fictional pilgrims travelling to Canterbury in order to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket. The collection has a total of 32 characters.
How did Canterbury Tales start?
The story of The Canterbury Tales begins with a frame narrative: a group of people go on a pilgrimage together, each telling a story along the way. The group starts out at the Tabard Inn in Southwark. They are on their way to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket in Canterbury.
What is the setting of Canterbury Tales?
The framing device for the collection of stories is a pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury, Kent. The 30 pilgrims who undertake the journey gather at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, across the Thames from London.
Who is the narrator of Canterbury Tales?
Geoffrey Chaucer
The narrator, Geoffrey Chaucer, is in The Tabard Inn in Southwark, where he meets a group of ‘sundry folk’ who are all on the way to Canterbury, the site of the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket, a martyr reputed to have the power of healing the sinful.
Why was The Canterbury Tales written?
The tales are presented as contributions to a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims travelling from London to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket. Chaucer’s plan was to write two stories for each of the pilgrims, telling their tales both on the way there and on the return journey.
What type of poetry is The Canterbury Tales?
Poetry – rhyming couplets in iambic pentameter
The style of The Canterbury Tales is characterized by rhyming couplets. That means that every two lines rhyme with each other.
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.
What is the central symbol of The Canterbury Tales?
springtime
The springtime symbolizes rebirth and fresh beginnings, and is thus appropriate for the beginning of Chaucer’s text. Springtime also evokes erotic love, as evidenced by the moment when Palamon first sees Emelye gathering fresh flowers to make garlands in honor of May.
Who is father of novel?
Legacy. Sir Walter Scott called Henry Fielding the “father of the English novel,” and the phrase still indicates Fielding’s place in the history of literature.
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.