Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales is a seminal work in English literature, featuring a collection of stories told by pilgrims on their way to Canterbury. These tales encompass a range of genres, from romances to fabliaux, and offer a critique of 14th-century English society. Characters like the Knight and the Wife of Bath provide insight into medieval life, while the work's unfinished nature and Chaucer's narrative style have left a lasting legacy.
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Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales at the end of the 14th century
Pilgrimage to Canterbury
The characters in the tales are on a journey to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury
Chaucer introduces a diverse array of characters and sets the stage for the storytelling competition
The Canterbury Tales includes chivalric romances, allegories, and fabliaux
Courtly Love
Chaucer explores the concept of courtly love in some of the tales
Social Stratification
The tales reflect the social hierarchy of medieval England
Religious Hypocrisy and Corruption
Chaucer critiques the corruption and hypocrisy within the Church and society
Chaucer predominantly uses iambic pentameter, influenced by Italian literary traditions
First Person Narration
The General Prologue is narrated in the first person by Chaucer's persona
Third Person Omniscient
The individual tales are typically related in a third-person omniscient voice
Narrator
The narrator, a fictionalized version of Chaucer, is portrayed as naive and affable
Host
The host, Harry Bailly, is depicted as jovial and fair-minded
Knight
The Knight represents chivalric ideals
Wife of Bath
The Wife of Bath challenges traditional views on marriage and female agency
Pardoner and Miller
The Pardoner and Miller represent societal corruption and vices
The Canterbury Tales does not have a traditional ending, possibly due to Chaucer's death
Chaucer expresses regret for any offensive content in the tales, possibly as a safeguard against criticism
Despite facing censorship, The Canterbury Tales remains a seminal work in English literature
Chaucer's use of the vernacular English language helped to popularize it in literature
Through his characters and stories, Chaucer provides a satirical commentary on 14th-century English society
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Composition era of The Canterbury Tales
End of the 14th century.
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Purpose of the pilgrims' journey in The Canterbury Tales
To visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury.
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Origin of the storytelling competition in The Canterbury Tales
Proposed by the host, Harry Bailly, at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, London.
