The Canterbury Tales: The Prologue
Social Context
Feudalism was beginning to fall apart. A new class of merchants, traders, and shopkeepers arose
in response to widening trade opportunities, adding a new level to society. The Church was
losing its power and influence. Literacy was becoming more widespread. Typically, the clergy
would read, but now schools were springing up, teaching a rising middle class to read and to read
for enjoyment. Literary tastes began to change. Instead of reading religious tracts or simply
moralistic tales, people wanted more realistic tales.
Geoffrey Chaucer, Father of English Poetry
Geoffrey Chaucer was the son of a merchant who happened to see quite a bit of the medieval
world. No one knows exactly what prompted Chaucer to write these tales, but perhaps he was
motivated by his own trip to Canterbury, England- or perhaps he was incited by the magnitude of
social changes sweeping Europe during his time. Interestingly enough, a window of his London
home overlooked the road that led to Canterbury. Many argue that Chaucer wanted to use his
characters to make some sort of profound social statement about the Church, morality, or life in
general. Whatever the motivation behind Chaucer’s work, The Canterbury Tales provides us
with a searing snapshot into life in 14th century (medieval) England.
Further, he is celebrated as one of the first great writers to write in the English language, rather
than the classics, which included French of the courts or Latin of the Church and universities.
By choosing to write in English, he gave his native language a much greater authority and status.
Brief summary Of ChauCer’s The CanTerbury Tales
In the late Middle Ages, a group of English men and women gather outside London at a tavern
called Tabard Inn. They intend to go on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Thomas ầ Becket in
Canterbury, England. The Host of this inn proposes that the pilgrims pass the time on the
journey by telling stories; he offers to accompany the group, judge the best story, and award the
winner a meal, paid by all, when the group returns to his inn.
The Canterbury Tales: The Prologue lacks a conventional structure: it is intended to introduce all
of the characters set to go on this pilgrimage to Canterbury. As we read, notice how Chaucer
wrote about characters from all walks of life in The Canterbury Tales. The 29 pilgrims agree
and begin telling tales, each of which reflects the interests and personality of the teller. The
subjects and themes of the tales vary greatly. Only 24 of the projected 120 tales were finished,
but they stand together as a satirical, canonical piece of work. Pay close attention to the way the
characters are introduced. Those with the highest social standing and morality are introduced
first. As The Prologue continues, poorer and more corrupt characters emerge…..
Questions After Reading
1. What are three theories as to why Chaucer may have been motivated to write The Canterbury
Tales?
2. Why was it a big deal that he wrote in English?
3. What significant social changes were occurring when Chaucer was writing?
4. How might readers who lived during the time of Chaucer have responded to The Canterbury
Tales? Why?
5. What is interesting or noteworthy about the introduction of characters in The Prologue?
Key Literary Terms
Frame Story:
Social commentary:
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Direct characterization:
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Indirect characterization:
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Vocabulary List # 3– The Canterbury Tales
Adversity – _____– great hardship; misfortune
Agility – _____ – ability to move with ease and speed
Dainty – _____ – tiny and delicately beautiful
Devout – _____- extremely religious, pious
Frugal – _____– thrifty; economical; inexpensive
Pilgrimages – _____ – journeys to shrines or sacred places.
Prudent – _____– using good judgment; acting wisely
Repented – _____ – felt remorse or regret; resolved to reform
Sundry – _____ – miscellaneous; various
Unanimously – _____ – with everyone agreeing
WORD OF THE WEEK:
Adversity
a. suffering
b. joy
c. hate
d. peaceful
1. Agility
a. slowness
b. quickness
c. hatred
d. division
2. Dainty
a. weird
b. thick
c. attractive
d. slippery
3. Devout
a. evil
b. faithful
c. open
d. sad
4. Frugal
a. expensive
b. happy
c. economical d. strange
a. special trip
b. weird place c. happy times d. new place
5. pilgrimages
6. prudent
a. wise
b.closed
7. repented
a.expressed remorse
c.acted strangely
c.empty
d. loyal
b. said mean things
d. ate like a big piggy
8. sundry
a.assorted
b.empty
c. peaceful
d. closed
9. unanimously
a. happily
b. peacefully
c. secretly
d. quickly
10. soluble
a. melted
b. permeable
c. scientific
d. flexible
Vocabulary List #4 – The Canterbury Tales
Ceaselessly – _____ – without stopping; continuously
Crone – _____- an ugly old woman; hag
Defiance – _____– open resistance to an opposing force or authority
Disperses – _____– drives off; scatters; distributes widely
Extort – _____ – to obtain by using violence or threats
*Enquire – _____– to seek information by asking a question
Forlorn – _____ – abandoned or forsaken; sad and lonely
Incentive – _____ – something that encourages you to do something
Maim – _____– injure; impair; mutilate
Void – _____ – empty; containing no matter
WORD OF THE WEEK:
Choose a word from the list above to complete each sentence below.
1. The boring movie was _______________ of any sort of interesting plot and dialogue.
2. It has been raining _______________ for days on end.
3. I want to find out who he is, so I will _______________ about him.
4. A meat slicer can _______________ someone who is not careful using it.
5. Rain _______________ seeds all over the meadow.
6. She felt threatened when he tried to _______________ all sorts of information from her in a hostile
manner.
7. Life has not been kind to her; over time, she grew into a miserable _______________.
8. Offering extra credit can be a good _______________ to motivate students to learn.
9. When she rudely criticized him, he showed his _______________ by refusing to speak with her again.
10. She became ______________ when she learned that her boyfriend wanted to end their relationship.
*Enquire may also be spelled inquire. Enquire is associated more so with British English.
Directions: Be sure to answer all questions in complete sentences. You must answer all parts of
the question for credit. In the other notes section, be sure to provide other details that were
explained in class as we read. You will be called upon to do discuss them.
The Prologue
What time of year did the pilgrims undertake their journey to Canterbury and why?
How many pilgrims are going on a pilgrimage?
Who is the narrator, and why is this noteworthy?
What do you notice about the rhyme scheme of the poem? What literary term applies? What is
it?
Other notes:
The Knight:
Why does the prologue begin with the Knight?
How are the Knight’s ethics described?
What are some of the locations he has been to? Why has he been to so many locations?
Why is it important that the Knight is not “gaily” dressed?
Other notes:
Squire:
What is the relation between the Squire and the Knight?
How is the Squire described physically?
Give a detail from the text about the Squire that shows direct characterization.
Other notes:
Yeoman:
Where is the Yeoman’s job?
How is the Yeoman’s clothes described? Why might he wear this?
What is important to note about the Yeoman’s skin color? Why is his skin this way?
Other notes:
Prioress:
What is a Prioress?
How are “her ways” described?
How might other people know her as?
How many languages does she speak?
Other notes:
Definitions: Define the following words, and include the part of speech. Then name which of the
previous four characters best describes the definition.
Dainty:
Chivalrous:
Agile:
Nun and Nun’s Priest:
Other notes:
Monk:
What does the Monk like to do?
How does the Monk feel about the Bible?
How is the Monk dressed?
Other notes:
Friar:
What does the Friar do?
Define absolution:
What instrument does the Friar play?
Give a detail from the text about the Friar that shows indirect characterization.
Other notes:
Merchant:
How is the Merchant dressed?
Give a detail about the Merchant that shows direct characterization.
Other notes:
Oxford Cleric:
How would you physically describe the Oxford Cleric?
What is his profession?
Define allusion
Give an example of allusion from the excerpt about the Oxford Cleric.
What is the philosopher’s stone?
What is his only care in the world?
Other notes:
Sergeant at the Law:
What is his profession?
What do we learn about his grammar abilities?
Other notes:
Franklin:
The Franklin is described as sanguine. Define sanguine.
Give an example of allusion from the excerpt about the Franklin
Give a detail about the Franklin and how it shows indirect characterization.
Other notes:
The Guild:
What does a Haberdasher do?
What does a Dyer do?
What does a Carpenter do?
What does a Weaver do?
What does a Carpet-maker do?
Other notes about the Guild:
Cook:
Other notes:
Skipper:
Why does the Skipper have a hard time riding a horse?
How might you describe the Skipper’s temperament?
What is the name of his boat?
Other notes:
Doctor:
What are the four humors?
What is an apothecary?
Name three allusions from this passage.
“He did not read the Bible much” is an example of indirect characterization. What does it
mean?
Give another example of indirect characterization from the section about the Doctor.
Other notes:
The Wife of Bath
What is Bath?
Give an example of direct characterization from the section about the Wife of Bath.
What color does she wear? Why is this important?
How many husbands did she have? How did she manage to marry them all at church?
Other notes:
Parson:
What class is the Parson? How holy is the Parson?
What is his profession?
What is tithing? Why might he dislike this? How might this be an example of social
commentary?
Other notes:
Plowman:
What is the Plowman’s relation to the Parson?
How do the Plowman and the Parson differ?
Other notes:
Miller:
How might you physically describe the Miller?
Define Simile:
The Miller is likened to the fox, why?
What does he do for the rest of the characters?
Other notes:
Manciple:
What does the Manciple do?
The reader is told “Now isn’t it a marvel of God’s grace / That an illiterate fellow can outpace /
The wisdom if a heap of learned men.” This is an example of indirect characterization. What
does it mean?
Other notes:
Reeve:
Give an example of direct characterization about the Reeve.
Other notes:
Summoner:
How is the Summoner physically described?
How does he smell?
What did the Summoner like to do?
Other notes:
Pardoner:
Give an example of simile from the section about the Pardoner.
What are some animals the Pardoner is compared to? Why?
How does the Pardoner make his living?
Other notes:
Host:
What game does the Host propose?
Why happens for the winner?
How do they decide who goes first?
Other notes: