Chaucer In Canterbury Tales

THE PROLOGUE TO CANTERBURY TALES AS THE PORTRAIT GALLERY OF 14TH CENTURY ENGLAND

Geoffrey Chaucer was the greatest poet of middle ages and known as the father of English Literature.

The fourteenth century England is significant because the devastation of the Black Death and the Peasant’s Revolt, the Hundred Years War with France and the great economic and social changes took place during this medieval century. Renaissance was also in the early stages of development.

Chaucer’s most famous work to date is The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales which is a portrait gallery of 14th century England during these tumultuous events that shaped the history of the world.

The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales gives us the background of the behaviour of the pilgrims who are part of the entourage. All these pilgrims represent the “English society” of the fourteenth century.

Manciple: The Manciple was also educated in the field of the law and tells a tale about how appearances are often deceiving.

Summoner: The Summoner is another immoral pilgrim not true to his profession, for he does not truly summon impious people to church. He chooses whom to select and is often paid off by sinners. His tale is in reaction to the Friar 's strong anti-summoner tale and is presented as a satirical parody.

Cook: The Cook is one of the vulgar pilgrims of the journey who becomes involved with violence and arguments along the way. He is a commoner who does not hide his class and behavior and tells a short, incomplete fabliau.

Canon and his Yeoman: The Canon and his Yeoman join the pilgrimage in the middle of its course and bring a sense of mystery to the group. They heard glorious tales of the stories told en route to Canterbury and craved to be a part of that excitement. The canon does not reveal his profession and leaves the group as his Yeoman gives clues. He does not want to be discovered by any soul, so the Canon 's Yeoman remains with the pilgrimage and tells a tale about the fraud of a