Chaucer's Role In The Canterbury Tales

He continued to work on the tales through a number of changes in both his personal and professional life. He was made a Justice of Peace* in Kent, since he had moved from London. He also became a member of Parliament representing Kent in 1387. A year later his wife Philippa died of causes unknown to history. In 1389 Chaucer got a job as Clerk of the King’s Works. The task was to oversee construction jobs at buildings such as the Tower of London, Westminster Palace and St. George’s Chapel. He retired in the late 1390s and set aside The Canterbury Tales about the same time.22 
 Chaucer died on 25 October 1400 and was entitled to burial in Westminster Abbey because of his role as Clerk of the King’s Works. Chaucer’s status as the author of The Canterbury Tales was subordinate to his role as a loyal servant of the court at the time. That changed as time passed by. His job as Clerk of the King’s Works became less important after he had past away and being the author of the Canterbury Tales became more and more significant. In 1566, Chaucer’s tomb was moved to the South Transept of the Abbey. As memorials to other famous english writers such as William Shakespeare and John Milton joined him, the area would become known

The Canterbury Tales is a collection of 24 stories mostly written in verse although some are written in prose. The tales are presented as a part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims who travel together on a journey from Southwark to the shrine of Saint. 
 At an inn the narrator joins a company of twenty-nine pilgrims all of which have very different identities. Some examples of the characters are: the Knight, Monk, Merchant, Man of Law, Dyer, Cook and Miller. The pilgrims draw lots and determine that the Knight will tell the first tale.
 A brief overview of the plot in The Knight’s Tale: two knights, Arcite and Palamon is imprisoned by Theseus, duke of Athens. Both Arcite and Palamon fall in love with Theseus sister-in-law, Emelye, from their prison cells. Arcite is freed from the prison through the intervention of a friend but he cannot forget Emelye so he later returns in disguise and become a page in Emelye’s chamber. Palamon manages to escape from the prison shortly afterwards and the two knights meet and fight over Emelye. Theseus interrupt the fight and apprehends them. He then arranges a tournament between the two knights and their allies with Emelye as the prize. Arcite wins the duel but he dies after falling from his horse which results in Palamon marrying Emelye.2829 
 The narrator makes it clear that a knight is something that you should have