Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales
Geoffrey Chaucer
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Considered the Father of English
poetry
Revolutionary in that he wrote about
other classes (not Nobility) and
wrote in commoners’ language
(French was language of the courts)
Style is simplistic- words were
commonplace of ordinary people in
ordinary circumstances
The Canterbury Tales
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Original Plan: Each character tells 4 stories;
two on the way to Canterbury and two on the
way back
Only completed 23 tales; if finished, 116 total
Concerned with creating believable/colorful
characters, not passing judgment
Canterbury Characters
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“The General Prologue” considered a source
book of info. of 14th century people because
Chaucer describes their dress, class, jobs,
practices of the Church
Narrator, 29 various pilgrims, Host combine
to make a pilgrimage to Becket’s shrine in
Canterbury (approx 50 miles from London)
Host based on real innkeeper of Tabard Inn
in Southwark- Harry Bailey
Canterbury Characters
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Each pilgrim represents a broad crosssection of all parts of Medieval society
EXCEPT nobles and serfs (middle-class)
Each character symbolizes an archetype or
model. Each appears to be the most skilled
in their profession for good or evil
Canterbury Characters
Royalty
Church: Prioress (her secretary and priest); Monk; Friar;
Parson; Summoner; Pardoner; and Scholar
Upper Class: (not nobility) Knight and Squire
Well-to-Do Businessmen: Merchant
Small Landowner: Franklin and Yeoman
Professional: Lawyer and Physician
Manager: Manciple and Reeve
Woman: (member of the rising middle class) Wife of Bath
Tradesman: Guildsmen (Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter,
Weaver, Carpet-maker); Miller; Cook; Shipman
Laborer: Plowman
 Serfs
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