Main Tales from the Canterbury Tales

The Knight’s Tale describes how two kinsmen Arcite and Palamon fall in love with the same
woman named Emily whom they first see out of their prison window. Emily is the niece of King
Theseus. Arcite gains his freedom but is banished from Athens. He comes back in a disguise
since he cannot bear to live away from Emily. In the meanwhile Palamon breaks out of prison
and coincidentally meets Arcite in a forest grove. Here Theseus discovers them fighting a bloody
duel. Theseus puts an end to their fight and organizes a contest to resolve their quarrel about
Emily. Before the contest Arcite prays to Mars for victory while Palamon prays to Venus for the
sole possession of Emily. This creates uproar in heaven and finally both the wishes are granted.
Arcite emerges victorious in the joust but falls from his horse and dies and eventually Palamon
marries Emily.

The Merchant’s Tale recounts how old January marries a young maiden named May and is
deceived by Damian. January suddenly loses his vision and becomes intensely jealous and
possessive of his young wife. He is unaware of his wife’s affair with Damian. One day January
and May go for a walk in the garden and May asks him to help her up into a pear tree to pick
pears to satisfy her intense craving. Damian is hiding in the tree and they make love. Pluto
who disapproves of women’s fickleness restores at this point January’s sight. However
Prosperina, Pluto’s wife, gives May the ability to convince January that she was only struggling
with Damian and had done so only because she had been led to believe that it would restore
January’s sight.

The Pardoner’s Tale relates how three drunken men set out in search of death after their
friend has been killed by the plague. On their way they encounter an extremely old man who
directs them to an oak tree at the end of the lane and tells them that he had last seen death
there. The men hurry to the spot and instead find eight bushels of gold. They decide to keep
the treasure for themselves. However they grow greedy and kill themselves through trickery.

The Prioress’s Tale is a dedication to the Virgin and describes how the Jews murdered a
Christian boy. The Virgin gives the dead boy the power of speech. He is thus able to reveal his
whereabouts and avenge his death.

The Physician’s Tale describes a tragic tale of a beautiful and chaste maiden named Virginia.
A corrupt judge named Apius lusts after her and invents a charge of kidnapping to force her
father to relinquish the young girl to the scoundrel Claudius who is in league with the judge.
However the father beheads Virginia in order to protect her honor and virginity and gives the
head to Apius. In the meanwhile the town folk discover the fraudulent charge and throw Apius
into prison where he kills himself. The rascal Claudius is exiled.

The Squire’s Tale is an unfinished fragment. King Cambyuskan receives a magic horse, sword,
mirror and ring as gifts from the king of Araby and India. The horse has the ability to transport
a man anywhere he wants to go in a flash. The sword could magically cut through the thickest
armor and even heal wounds. The mirror can reveal future misfortunes and tragedies and the
ring imparts to its wearer the power to understand the speech of birds. The king’s daughter
wears the ring and hears a falcon miserably lamenting her betrayal by her fickle lover. She
takes the poor falcon to court and nurses its self-inflicted wounds.

The Franklin’s Tale recounts the story of Dorigen who is courted by Aurelius during her
husband, Arveragus’, absence. She rejects his love and kiddingly says that he can have her if
he can make all the rocks from the coastline vanish and thus make her husband’s return safe.
In the meanwhile Arveragus returns from his trip and Dorigen is happily reunited with her
husband. But Aurelius who still pines for her enlists the help of a magician and makes the rocks
disappear. Dorigen is distraught when her condition has been met. Her husband insists that
she must honor her promise. Arveragus’s nobility and Dorigen’s commitment to her husband
move Aurelius. He releases Dorigen from her promise. Aurelius discovers that he does not have
money to pay the magician and requests for more time. Upon learning the entire story the
magician foregoes his fees and the tale ends with the Franklin’s appeal to the pilgrims to judge
who is the most generous character.

The Sea captain’s Tale recounts how a Monk deceived a Merchant. The Merchant’s wife
borrows a hundred francs from the Monk and agrees to sleep with him in exchange of his favor.
The Monk in turn has borrowed the money from the Merchant. When the Merchant returns from
his trip the Monk tells him that he had returned the money to his wife while he was away. The
Merchant asks his wife about the money who informs him that she spent it on clothes.

The Nun's Priest’s Tale is a merry beast fable. It concerns the misfortune that befalls a cock
named Chaunticleer when he chooses to ignore the import of his dream to please his lovely
wife Pertelote. A fox called Daun Russel catches him off guard by praising his melodious voice.
Chaunticleer’s abduction raises a great hue and cry and all the villagers chase the fox.
Chaunticleer urges the fox to shout abuses at the villagers. As soon as the fox opens his mouth
Chaunticleer flew safely to a tree top. The fox again praised Chaunticleer but the cock refused
to fall in the same trap twice.