The tales (mostly written in verse, although some are in prose) are presented as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together from London to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral.
What is the main point of The Canterbury Tales?
The tales could be described both as social realism and as estates satire. At the same time that Chaucer takes care to honestly show the perspective of each of his characters, he also aims to critique the hypocrisy of the church and the social problems posed by Medieval politics and social custom.
What is The Canterbury Tales story about?
What is The Canterbury Tales about? Chaucer’s long poem follows the journey of a group of pilgrims, 31 including Chaucer himself, from the Tabard Inn in Southwark to St Thomas à Becket’s shrine at Canterbury Cathedral.
What are 3 reasons The Canterbury Tales are 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/
What are 3 themes found in The Canterbury Tales?
The Canterbury Tales Themes
- Social Satire. Medieval society was divided into three estates: the Church (those who prayed), the Nobility (those who fought), and the Peasantry (those who worked).
- Competition.
- Courtly Love and Sexual Desire.
- Friendship and Company.
- Church Corruption.
- Writing and Authorship.
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.
Why is it important to read Canterbury Tales?
The Canterbury Tales have supplied ample historical material, as well as literary influence and rollicking entertainment, by informing audiences about society during the Middle Ages—and sharing the way ordinary folk spoke and joked in the context of everyday life.
What is the impact of Canterbury Tales in the society?
Not only does Canterbury Tales reflect how society’s roles were changing within the elite, but also the ideas regarding religion during the fourteenth century. Canterbury Tales is about a pilgrimage, which in and of itself addresses the importance of religion to England’s society during this time.
What are the main features of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales?
The tales are by turns satirical, elevated, pious, earthy, bawdy, and comical. The reader should not accept the naïve narrator’s point of view as Chaucer’s. Protagonists Each individual tale has protagonists, but Chaucer’s plan is to make none of his storytellers superior to others; it is an equal company.
What is the problem in The Canterbury Tales?
The Canterbury Tales expose the social problems plaguing medieval England. The problems include exploitation of the poor, abuse of power and position by the clergy, and rampant theft by and unprofessionalism of the professionals.
What are 2 types of literature used in Canterbury Tales?
In Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, the author tells a humorous set of stories through prose and poetry.
What is the purpose and message of the Prologue to the Canterbury?
The General Prologue is the first part of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. It introduces the frame story, in which a group of pilgrims travelling to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury agree to take part in a storytelling competition, and describes the pilgrims themselves.
What do I need to know before reading The Canterbury Tales?
Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales: Four Tips for Approaching a Medieval Masterpiece
- Read the work in its original Middle English.
- Develop an understanding of 14th-century English language and culture.
- Understand the place of source texts and analogs.
Why was 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.
Why is Canterbury so important to the pilgrims?
During the Middle Ages thousands of pilgrims came on a journey to Canterbury each year to visit the shrine of Thomas Becket to pray and seek help for their problems. Many would come long distances, including from all over Europe. Some would come on foot, while those who could afford it might ride on horseback.
How does The Canterbury Tales end?
At the end of the tale, the Pardoner invites the pilgrims to buy relics and pardons from him and suggests that the Host should begin because he is the most sinful. This comment infuriates the Host; the Knight intercedes between the Host and the Pardoner and restores peace.
Why is it called Canterbury Tales?
The Canterbury Tales, frame story by Geoffrey Chaucer, written in Middle English in 1387–1400. The framing device for the collection of stories is a pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury, Kent.
What type of literature is The Canterbury Tales?
frame narrative
Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales is a frame narrative, a tale in which a larger story contains, or frames, many other stories. In frame narratives, the frame story functions primarily to create a reason for someone to tell the other stories; the frame story doesn’t usually have much plot of its own.
Is The Canterbury Tales hard to read?
The Canterbury Tales are in Middle English. We’re not going to lie to you – Middle English is really hard to read. At first. It takes a lot of practice, a lot of studying pronunciation guides and glossaries and reading aloud to get it.
The five groups were Royalty, Nobility, Church, Merchants, and Peasantry.
What type of satire is The Canterbury Tales?
The General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales is an estates satire. In the Host’s portraits of the pilgrims, he sets out the functions of each estate and satirizes how members of the estates – particularly those of the Church – fail to meet their duties.