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ENGLISH LITERATURE UPTO 1590
CONTENTS
14. "e Canterbury Tales
DR. MAHUYA BHAUMIK
The Canterbury Tales
OBJECTIVES OF THE MODULE: This module will focus on Chaucer’s landmark work, The
CanterburyTales and discuss its various aspects. It will focus on the social background which
was a significant influence that went into the composition of this particular work along with
other literary influences. It will also discuss the General Prologue which is an important part
of the Tales and the various groups of pilgrims. It will highlight Chaucer’s brilliance in the art
of characterisation with the employment of irony and humour.
INTRODUCTION:
The English stage of Geoffrey Chaucer is considered
as the stage of his greatest achievement when he
composed one of the landmarks of English literature,
TheCanterbury Tales. It deals with the pilgrims who
are going to pay a visit to the tomb of Thomas Becket
at Canterbury and during the course of this journey
meet at the Tabard Inn in Southwark where they are
telling tales from diverse literary and folk sources to
while away their time. Harry Bailey, the Host of the inn
agrees to go along with the pilgrims and act as the master of ceremonies. Chaucer, with
his keen power of observation and having great knowledge about human
character, chooses the pilgrims from all ranks of the society from the chivalrous knight to
the humble ploughman. This gives Chaucer the opportunity to blend his literary knowledge
with his observant nature. Almost all the characters- knight, esquire, doctor, merchant, ship-
man, monk, friar, parson, miller, reeve, farmer, prioress- have been delineated by Chaucer in
such details that it seems as if Chaucer has drawn his characters based on his experiences of
real life.
with his observant nature. Almost all the characters- knight, esquire, doctor, merchant, ship-
man, monk, friar, parson, miller, reeve, farmer, prioress- have been delineated by Chaucer in
such details that it seems as if Chaucer has drawn his characters based on his experiences of
real life.
INFORMATION B0X
Pilgrimage was a common feature of medieval times and the shrine of St. Thomas Becket
at Canterbury was one of the most popular English pilgrimages. There are even references
that the Venetians organized package pilgrimage to the Holy Land which included food,
transport and tolls. In The Canterbury Tales the pilgrims assemble at the Tabard Inn in
Southwark at the southern end of London Bridge, the only bridge across the river Thames
at that point of time.
SOCIAL BACKGROUND:
It is interesting that in The Canterbury Tales only a few characters like the Knight, the Par-
son and the Plowman are delineated by Chaucer as ideal figures without any tinge of irony.
The Knight is the representative of the highest forms of chivalry while the poor Parson is a
Christian in the truest sense of the term. Again, the Plowman is not only good-hearted but
also enormously hardworking. Considering the contemporary social background these char-
acters are too good to believe, particularly keeping in mind that it was the age of Black
Death, Peasants’ Revolt and the Statute of Labourers. Moreover, corruption was rampant in
the Church. In this kind of situation chivalry was a farce and all kinds of privileges were be-
ing enjoyed by a chosen minority while the common masses were immersed in misery,
plight, economic deprivation and diseases. Considering these social and economic issues
Chaucer’s portrayal of the Knight, the Parson and the Plowman as almost ideal figures might
suggest that these are nostalgic portraits through which Chaucer might comment obliquely
on the troublesome issues of his contemporary times without being overtly critical about
those.
GENERAL PROLOGUE:
The General Prologue, probably written during the late 1380s, not only introduces the
characters and sets the scene, but also explains the entire scheme of the Tales:
This is the point, to speken short and pleyn, That ech of yow, to shorte with oureweye, In
this viageshaltelle tales tweye To Canterbury-ward, I mene it so, And homward he shaltel-
lenothere two, Of aventures that whilom hanbifalle.
The initial plan was to make each pilgrim narrate two tales
during the journey to Canterbury and another two tales
while coming back. However, the plan could not be fully exe-
cuted because it was too ambitious a project. The General
Prologue introduces twenty-six pilgrims, the five guildsmen
being considered a group. Apart from them, the second Nun,
the Nun’s Priest, the Host and Chaucer himself also joined
the pilgrimage. There is reference to another character who
erature, brilliant use of irony, humour and spontaneity. Chaucer’s followers lacked both his
range of vision and the technical skill and it was only after the arrival of Shakespeare into the
English literary scene that Chaucer’s unique combination of broad genial humour, penetrat-
ing insight into characters, range of knowledge and sheer technical mastery could be com-
pared with.
you can view video on The Canterbury Tales
Reference
Baugh, A. C. Literary History of England: The Middle Ages. London, 1967
Bowden, M. A Commentary on the General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. New York,
1967
Hussey, S. S. Chaucer: An Introduction. New York, 1981
Philips, Helen. An Introduction to the Canterbury Tales: Reading, Fiction, Context. Bas-
ingstoke, 2000
Rowland, B. A Companion to Chaucer Studies. Toronto, 1979
Ruggiers, P. The Art of the Canterbury Tales. Madison, 1965
Whittock, T. A Reading of the Canterbury Tales. Cambridge, 1968
Historical context for The Canterbury Tales: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ep-
KYZURHB8
A reading of the Prologue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE0MtENfOMU
Animated adaptation of The Canterbury Tales: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3z-
UoNG_P_0
The Knight’s Tale: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVPoWnjJd8g
The Canterbury Tales– Audio Book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4Be9pQtQPU
English Literature upto 1590 Copyright © by Dr. Mahuya Bhaumik. All
Rights Reserved.
