THE CANTERBURY

TALES
BY GEOFFREY CHAUCER
THE CANTERBURY
TALES
BY GEOFFREY CHAUCER
 • I. Brief History of England
CONTENTS
• II. Brief Background of the Author
• III. Synopsis
• IV. Setting (may include place and year)
• V. Lead Characters
• VI. Persona (narrator of the story)
• VII. Point of view (Identify POV)
• VIII. Conflicts
• IX. Symbolisms
• X. Themes/Universal Truths
• XI. Relevance of literary piece to humanity in the 21st Century
• XII. References
BRIEF HISTORY
OF ENGLAND
THE CANTERBURY TALES
ENGLAND
The Black Death (also known as the
Pestilence, the Great Mortality or
simply the Plague) was a bubonic
plague pandemic occurring in Western
Eurasia and North Africa from 1346 to
1353. It is the most fatal pandemic
recorded in human history, causing the
deaths of 75–200 million people,
peaking in Europe from 1347 to 1351.
 BRIEF HISTORY
OF ENGLAND
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ENGLAND The Great Famine of 1315–1317 -was
the first of a series of large-scale crises
that struck Europe early in the 14th
century. Most of Europe (extending east
to Russia and south to Italy) was
affected. The famine caused many
deaths over an extended number of
years and marked a clear end to the
period of growth and prosperity from
the 11th to the 13th centuries.
 BRIEF HISTORY
OF ENGLAND
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ENGLAND Medieval England was a patriarchal society and
the lives of women were heavily influenced by
contemporary beliefs about gender and authority.
However, the position of women varied
considerably according to various factors,
including their social class; whether they were
unmarried, married, widowed or remarried; and in
which part of the country they lived. Significant
gender inequities persisted throughout the period,
as women typically had more limited life-choices,
access to employment ,trade, and legal rights than
men.
ENGLAND Church, State and Heresy
Mid-13th-century depiction of the death of
Archbishop Thomas Becket
The Church had a close relationship with the
English state throughout the Middle Ages.
The bishops and major monastic leaders
played an important part in national
government, having key roles on the king's
council. Bishops often oversaw towns and
cities, managing local taxation and
government.
ENGLAND Pilgrimages and Crusades
Pilgrimages were a popular religious
practice throughout the Middle Ages in
England, with the tradition dating back to the
Roman period. Typically, pilgrims would
travel short distances to a shrine or a
particular church, either to do penance for a
perceived sin, or to seek relief from an illness
or other condition. Some pilgrims travelled
further, either to more distant sites within
Britain or, in a few cases, onto the continent.
 BRIEF HISTORY
OF ENGLAND
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ENGLAND
• England is a predominant
constituent unit of the United
Kingdom, occupying more than half
of the island of Great Britain. In
many ways, England has seemingly
been absorbed within the larger
mass of Great Britain since the Act
of Union of 1707.
ENGLAND
• England has a fertile land, and the
generosity of its soil has supported a
thriving agricultural economy for
millennia. In the early 19th century,
England became the epicenter of a
worldwide Industrial Revolution and
soon the world’s most industrialized
country.
ENGLAND • Two world wars and the end of empire
diminished its role in the 20th century, and the
2016 referendum vote to leave the European
Union has raised significant questions about the
country's global role.
• Today, England is the world’s most cosmopolitan
and well-traveled country around the world.
• Significant changes have accompanied the
decline of the class system, which also had
reinforced distinctions between town and
country and between the less affluent north of
England and the country’s wealthy south.
BRIEF BACKGROUND
OF THE AUTHOR
THE CANTERBURY TALES
GEOFRREY
CHAUCER
(1342-1400)
 • He was the outstanding English
poet before Shakespeare and
GEOFRREY “the first finder of English
CHAUCER language.” His work, “The
Canterbury Tales” ranks as one
of the greatest poetic works in
English.
 • He was born into a prosperous
merchant family in London. His
father John Chaucer was a vintner
GEOFRREY (a wine merchant), who had
CHAUCER
married Agnes Copton .His family
was of the bourgeois class,
descended from an affluent family
who made their money in the
London wine trade.
 • In 1366, Chaucer married
Philippa Roet, and they had a
daughter, Elizabeth, and two
GEOFRREY
CHAUCER sons, "little Lewis" (for whom
he composed the Astrolabe, a
prose work on the use of that
instrument of an astronomer)
and Thomas.
 • II. He attended the St. Paul’s Cathedral
School, where he first acquainted with the
influential writing of Virgil and Ovid;
GEOFRREY • He made numerous translations of prose
CHAUCER and verse, including Boethius'
Consolation of Philosophy, saints'
legends, sermons, French poetry by
Machaut and Deschamps, and Latin and
Italian poetry by Ovid, Virgil, Boccaccio,
and Petrarch.
 • He also contributed importantly in the
second half of the 14th century to the
management of public affairs as
GEOFRREY courtier, diplomat, and civil servant.
CHAUCER
In that career he was trusted and aided
by three successive kings—Edward
III, Richard II, and Henry IV. But it is
his avocation—the writing of poetry
—for which he is remembered.
SYNOPSIS
THE CANTERBURY TALES
 • In April, with the beginning of spring, 29 pilgrims of
varying social classes come from all over England to
gather at the Tabard Inn in preparation for a pilgrimage
to Canterbury to receive the blessings of St. Thomas à
SYNOPSIS Becket, the English martyr. Chaucer himself is one of
the pilgrims. That evening, the Host, Harry Bailey of
the Tabard Inn suggests that each member of the group
tell tales on the way to and from Canterbury in order to
make the time pass more pleasantly. The person who
tells the best story will be awarded an elegant dinner at
the end of the trip. The Host decides to accompany the
party on its pilgrimage and appoints himself as the
judge of the best tale.
 • Shortly after their departure the day, the pilgrims draw
straws. The Knight, who draws the shortest straw,
agrees to tell the first story — a noble story about
knights and honor and love. When the Knight finishes
SYNOPSIS his story, the Host calls upon the Monk. The drunken
Miller, however, insists that it is his turn, and he
proceeds to tell a story about a stupid carpenter. At the
end of his story, everyone roars with laughter — except
the Reeve, who had once been a carpenter. To get back
at the Miller, the Reeve tells a lowbrow story about a
cheating miller. At the end of The Reeve's Tale, the
Cook, Roger, promises to tell a true story, but he
doesn't complete his tale.
 • By now, the first day is rapidly passing, and the
Host hurries the pilgrims to get on with their
tales. Using the best legalese that he knows, he
calls upon the Man of Law for the next tale. The
SYNOPSIS Man of Law proceeds to tell the tale of
Constancy. The Host is very pleased with the
tale and asks the Parson to relate another one
just as good. The Parson declines, however, and
rebukes the Host for swearing and ridiculing him
(the Parson). The Shipman breaks in and tells a
lively story to make up for so much moralizing.
 • The Wife of Bath is the next to tell a story, and she
begins by claiming that happy marriages occur only
when a wife has sovereignty over her husband. When
the Wife of Bath finishes her story, the Friar offers his
SYNOPSIS own tale about a summoner. The Host, however,
always the peacekeeper, admonishes the Friar to let the
Summoner alone. The Summoner interrupts and says
the Friar can do as he likes and will be repaid with a
tale about a friar. Nevertheless, the Friar's tale about a
summoner makes the Summoner so angry that he tells
an obscene story about the fate of all friars and then
continues with an obscene tale about one friar in
particular.
 • After the Friar and Summoner, the Clerk tells a
story about Griselda and her patience — a story
that depicts the exact opposite of The Wife of
Bath's Tale. The Merchant comments that he has no
wife as patient and sweet as Griselda and tells of
SYNOPSIS
tale of a young wife who cheats on her old
husband. After that, the Host requests another tale
about love and turns to the Squire, who begins a
tale of supernatural events. He does not finish,
however, because the Franklin interrupts him to
compliment the Squire on his eloquence and
gentility. The Host then commands the Franklin to
begin his tale of a happy marriage.
 • Then the Physician offers his tale of the tragic
woe of a father and daughter — a story that upsets
the Host so much that he requests a merry tale
from the Pardoner. The Pardoner tells a tale in
SYNOPSIS which he proves that, even though he is not a
moral man, he can tell a moral tale. 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.
 • The pilgrims then hear a story by the
Prioress about a young martyr. After the
seriousness of this tale, the Host turns to
SYNOPSIS Chaucer and asks him for something to
liven up the group. Chaucer begins a story
about Sir Topas but is soon interrupted by
the Host, who exclaims that he is tired of
the jingling rhymes and wants Chaucer to
tell a little something in prose. Chaucer
complies with the boring story of Melibee.
 • After the tale of Melibee, the Host turns to the merry
Monk and demands a story that he confidently expects
to be a jovial and happy tale. Instead, the Monk relates
a series of tales in which tragedy befalls everyone.
SYNOPSIS The Knight joins in with the Host in proclaiming that
the Monk's tales are too much to bear and requests a
merry tale. But the Monk refuses, and the Host turns
to the Nun's Priest and calls for a tale. Thus the Nun's
Priest relates the tale of the barnyard rooster,
Chaunticleer, his lady, and a fox. The Second Nun
then offers a tale that befits her station — a retelling
of the events in the life of St. Cecilia.
 • Suddenly, two men approach the pilgrims. One is a
canon; the other his yeoman (servant). The Host
welcomes them and asks whether either has a tale to
tell. The Canon's Yeoman answers that his master has
SYNOPSIS many strange tales filled with mirth and laughter, yet
when he begins to tell of their life and actions, the
Canon slips away embarrassed and frightened. As the
party nears Canterbury, the Host demands a story from
the Manciple, who tells of a white crow that can sing
and talk. Finally, the Host turns to the last of the
group, the Parson, and bids him to tell his tale. The
Parson agrees and proceeds with a sermon. The Tales
end with Chaucer's retraction.
SETTING
THE CANTERBURY TALES
SETTING
THE CANTERBURY TALES
T •The story set at The Tabard
Inn in Southwark, London
where Chaucer meets a
group of 'sundry folk' who
are all on the way to
Canterbury.
THE CANTERBURY TALES
CHARACTER
S
(THE PILGRIMS)
THE CANTERBURY TALES
 RECEPTION
LOOK IN THE SLIDE NOTES BELOW FOR TOPICS TO CONSIDER TALKING ABOUT
CHAUCER
The author of The Canterbury Tales and
appears throughout the book as one of
the twenty-nine pilgrims. He functions
as the reader’s guide and his ironic
comments reveal the true nature of the
assorted group. He tells the tales of Sir
Topas and the tale of Melibee during the
course of the journey. He finally
identifies himself at the end.
HARRY BAILEY, THE
HOST The owner of the Tabard Inn,
who volunteers to travel with
the pilgrims. He promises to
keep everyone happy, be their
guide and arbiter in disputes,
and judge the tales.
THE KNIGHT
The Knight as a "verray parfit gentil
knight" (true, perfect, well bred) who
had distinguished himself in many
Crusades. All the wars fought by the
Knight have been religious wars. In
spite of being a brave warrior with
various victories to his credit, the Knight
never boasted of his success.
THE
PARDONER A seller of pardons. He dupes innocent poor
people by selling them fake relics. Chaucer
ironically commends him as an excellent
churchmanThe Pardoner, with his mincing,
feminine ways and long hair, has been
interpreted as potentially homosexual. He
carries a full bag of pardons and fake relics
from Rome, which he uses to dupe gullible
parishioners into giving him money.
THE WIFE OF
BATH The Wife of Bath named Alisoun is a little
deaf. She is adept at making cloth that
surpasses even the cloth-making capitals of
Chaucer's world, Ypres and Ghent. She is an
excellent weaver and having been married
five times knows all the cures for love. She
has married five husbands in the church, and
has been to Jerusalem, Rome, and Boulogne
on pilgrimage. She is gap-toothed and knows
all the tricks of the trade when it comes to
love.
THE MILLER
The Miller
A hefty and strong fellow, a
loudmouth and a teller of scurrilous
stories. The Miller is a pug-nosed,
brawny worker with a red beard and
a warty nose. He’s a champion
wrestler, a thief––Chaucer says that
he steals corn from his bosses––and
something of a drunkard.
THE
PRIORESS A pious and saintly woman. However
she is sentimental and strives to imitate
courtly manners. She is a very sensitive
woman who is gentle even with the
three small dogs accompanying her in
her journey. The attention that she gives
to her appearance is an indication of her
secret longing for a more sophisticated
life.
THE FRIAR
A pious and saintly woman. However
she is sentimental and strives to imitate
courtly manners. She is a very sensitive
woman who is gentle even with the
three small dogs accompanying her in
her journey. The attention that she gives
to her appearance is an indication of her
secret longing for a more sophisticated
life.
CHARACTER
S
(THE PILGRIMS)
THE CANTERBURY TALES
The Reeve- A very old and irritable
man who was once a carpenter.

The Man of Law (or Sergeant of

Law) A lawyer and one of the high
justices of the court.

Roger, the Cook -Known for his

cooking and characterized by a
chancre sore that runs with pus.
The Summoner- An officer of the church who calls
people for a church trial. He is as ugly as his
profession; he frightens children with his red
complexion, pimples and boils, and skin infected
with scales.

The Clerk - A sincere, devout student at Oxford

University who loves learning and is respected by
all the pilgrims. He is very poor because he spends
all his money on books.

The Merchant A shrewd and intelligent man who

knows how to strike a good bargain and is a
member of the rich rising middle class.
The Squire A vain, lusty young man and
a candidate for knighthood. He can sing,
write poetry, and ride a horse very well,
and considers himself a lady's man.

The Franklin A large and wealthy

landowner who enjoys fine living and
good companionship.

The Shipman A huge, uncouth man who

can steer a ship but flounders on his
horse.
The Physician A doctor who can speak knowingly
of medicines, drugs, and humours, and who
knows astrology as well. He is fond of gold and
makes a lot of money during the plague season.

The Pardoner The most complex of all the

pilgrims. He is an intellect and uses advanced
psychological means to gain his objective.
Although he is not a good person, he can preach a
good sermon.

The Monk A man who tends the property of the

monastery. He is fat and happy, loves good food
and wine, and finds the taverns more to his liking
than the cold, severe monastery.
The Nun's Priest The priest of the church
who accompanies the nuns so that they may
offer up their confessions.

The Second Nun A very devout nun who,

because she believes that idleness leads to
sin, begins her story immediately.

The Canon and the Canon's Yeoman

Although not one of the pilgrims, the Canon
appears with his servant (the Yeoman) but
leaves when his Yeoman begins a tale.
The Manciple The steward for a law
school. Although not as intelligent as the
law students, he is clever and shrewd
enough to be able to put away some
money for himself.

The Parson A very poor but very holy

and virtuous religious man who tells a
highly moral tale. He gives his scant
money to his poor parishioners and tries
to live the perfect life and set an ideal
for others.
 PERSONA
(NARRATOR OF
THE STORY)
THE CANTERBURY TALES
 PERSONA • The narrator of the tales is Geoffrey
(NARRATOR OF
Chaucer himself: but he speaks though a
THE STORY)
variety of media: "...Chaucer's pilgrim
narrators represent a wide spectrum of
ranks and occupations. The great variety
of tales is matched by the diversity of
their tellers; tales are assigned to
appropriate narrators and juxtaposed to
bring out contrasts in genre, style, tone
and values" (Norton 79).
POINT OF VIEW
(IDENTIFY POV)
THE CANTERBURY TALES
POINT OF VIEW • In the General Prologue, the narrator
(IDENTIFY POV)
speaks in the first person, describing
each of the pilgrims as they appeared
to him. Though narrated by different
pilgrims, each of the tales is told
from an omniscient third-person
point of view, providing the reader
with the thoughts as well as actions
of the characters.
CONFLICTS
THE CANTERBURY TALES
CONFLICTS • The struggles between characters,
manifested in the links between
tales, mostly involve clashes
between social classes, differing
tastes, and competing professions.
There are also clashes between the
sexes, and there is resistance to the
Host’s somewhat tyrannical
leadership.
CONFLICT The struggles between characters, manifested
in the links between tales;
S
• Man versus Himself- The Knight’s Tale
A big, fat fight between the two knights (Palamon
and Arcite) as they both fall in love with the same
girl who is Emily.
• Man versus Society
Rule of courtly love, which demands that a
knight put his love for his lady before
everything else.
CONFLICT
S • Man versus Man- Man versus Society
Rule of courtly love, which demands
that a knight put his love for his lady
before everything else.
• Man versus Religion- (The Man of Law’s
Tale) Christian and Muslim

indifference to the world.

SYMBOLISM
THE CANTERBURY TALES
SYMBOLISM • Money- greed.
• Pardoner- denials in life
• Alison(The Miler’s tale)- infidelity
• Theseus- is an embodiment of the ideal
Human Justice (The Knight’s Tale)
• Creon's tyranny- represents a worse
form of social disorder (The Knight’s
Tale)
SYMBOLISM • The Wife of a bath- stands for sexual
freedom(She believes that sexual
pleasure is a virtue and rejecting the
idea that wives should always obey
their husbands.)
• Lady Constance- She is portrayed in
poverty and in prosperity, in joy and
sorrow, in defeat and in victory.(The
Man of law’s Tale)
 THEMES
THE CANTERBURY TALES
THEMES • The rules of honor and conduct.
(The Knights tale)
• The instability of human life—joy
and suffering are never far apart
from one another, and nobody is
safe from disaster. (The Knights tale)
• The power of the meek and the poor
who trust in Christ. (The Prioress 'Tale)
THEMES • Love of money is the root of all
evil. (The Pardoner’s Tale)
• The gifts of fortune and nature are
not always good. (The Pardoner’s
Tale)
• Men had become carnal; they fell
into promiscuity and perversion.
(The Miller’s tale)
THEMES • The corruption of the church
teaches the punishment of greed,
lies, and manipulation, and how
one should repent for those sins.
(The Friar’s Tale)
• The greatness of the "blissful
Queen" (the Virgin Mary)is
profound.(The Prioress’Tale)
THEMES • Domination: The romance is also about
domination in regards to gender roles.
After dominating a woman by assaulting
her, the knight finds himself dominated
by women who make decisions about his
fate.(The Wife of a Bath’s Tale)
• The greatness of the "blissful Queen"
(the Virgin Mary)is profound.(The
Prioress’Tale)
 RELEVANCE TO
THE 21 CENTURY
ST

THE CANTERBURY TALES

 • Women in Society- the supremacy
of women(The Wife of a Bath’s tale)
RELEVANC • The celebration of International Women’s
E TO THE Day and Women’s History Month
21ST • September 21st is celebrated around
CENTURY the world as International Peace Day,
in honor of International Peace Day,
here are the top 15 most peaceful
countries, according to the GPI.
 • Many modern feminists see sexuality as a
form of agency and female
RELEVANC empowerment, but the Wife’s Prologue
engages with paradigms of clerical
E TO THE teaching that associate sexuality with sin.
21ST • Some women demonstrating their
CENTURY success in manipulating the marriage
system to their own advantage as means
to consolidate money and power.
 • Women are expected to appeal to,
rely on, and acquiesce to men's
RELEVANC strength, wisdom, and
E TO THE compassion. Men are expected to
21ST rule, maintain order, and use
CENTURY reason above other emotions.(The
Knight’s tale)
 • Young Iranians are rising up against
decades of repression as they protested
RELEVANC demanding an end to violence and
E TO THE discrimination against women as well
as an end to compulsory wearing of the
21ST hijab.(Thousands of Iranians have
CENTURY taken to the streets in protest since the
death last week of 22-year-old Mahsa
Amini)
 • Her doctrine on marriage is shocking to
her companions, evoking such responses
RELEVANC that the single man never wants to marry
(The Wife of a Bath’s tale)
E TO THE
• Love of money is the root of all evil
21 ST
(The Pardoner)
CENTURY • The gifts of fortune and nature are not
always good(The Pardoner)
• Immorality
 • Corporate greed (government by an oligarchy)-
The Pardoner’s tale
Deputies to accelerate oligarch asset forfeiture
RELEVANC efforts in response to Russia’s illegal war in
E TO THE Ukraine. Participants from Australia, Canada, the
European Commission, France, Germany, Japan,
21ST Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States
CENTURY discussed ongoing initiatives to tailor already
robust asset forfeiture tools and maximize the
impact of our joint work on Russian elites and their
cronies for their complicity in Putin’s illegal
invasion.
 •Christian Constance can
RELEVANC tolerate many ills,
E TO THE including grief,
21ST
CENTURY abandonment, and the
cruelty of Fortune.
REFERENCE
THE CANTERBURY TALES
REFERENC • Bowden, Muriel. A Commentary on the General Prologue to the

ES
Canterbury Tales, 2nd ed. NY: Macmillan, 1967.
• Derrida, Jacques. “Living On: Border Lines,” trans. James Hulbert,
in Deconstruction and Criticism, ed. Harold Bloom (NY: Seabury
Press, 1979), 75-176.
• Hodges, Laura L. Chaucer and Costume: The Secular Pilgrims in
the General Prologue. Boydell and Brewer, 2000. Also has two
other books on costume and clothing in Chaucer.
• https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/c/the-canterbury-tales/
summary-and-analysis/the-prioress-prologue-and-taleChaucer,
Geoffrey, et al.The Canterbury Tales. Bantam Books, 2006.
• Desmond, Marilynn. “The Vieille Daunce: The Wife of Bath and the
Politics ofExperience.”Ovid's Art and the Wife of Bath: The Ethics
of Erotic Violence, Cornell UniversityPress, Ithaca; London, 2006,
pp. 116–143.JSTOR.
THANK YOU AND
GOD BLESS!
PRINCES O. MENDOZA- REPORTER