1.7: Reading the The Canterbury Tales

From the Middle Ages to the Early Eighteenth Century · LibreTexts

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    An Introduction to the Canterbury Tales

    The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer are written in what is commonly known as Middle English. Here is a brief overview of what you can expect from the tales.

    Everything you need to know to read "The Canterbury Tales" - Iseult Gillespie

    Video produced by TED-Ed, all rights reserved. It is not openly licensed but freely available to all.

    Readings: "The Life of Chaucer" and "The Frame Narrative" 

    In order to have some context for this work of literature, please read "The Life of Chaucer" and "The Frame Narrative."

    “The General Prologue”

    We will begin our study by reading "The General Prologue," which introduces us to all of the pilgrims in this collection. In the following version of “The General Prologue” from the Harvard website, you will notice that each line contains the original words in Middle English on top and the translation below. 

    Here is a video that contains a reading of the first eighteen lines of “The General Prologue.” You can hear that, unlike the Old English of Beowulf, Middle English is similar enough to modern English that we can understand some of it, yet it is difficult for us to fully understand.

    The Opening 18 Lines of Chaucer's General Prologue Read in Middle English

    Video produced by The Nature of Writing, all rights reserved. It is not openly licensed but freely available to all.

    Reading: "The General Prologue"

     Now it’s your turn to read "The General Prologue.”

    Concepts and Questions to Consider

    As you read "The General Prologue," here are some concepts and questions to consider in preparation for our class discussion. These ideas are directly quoted from Professor Deborah B. Schwartz's webpage on "Chaucer's Three Estates."

    1. The characters described by Chaucer in the General Prologue have gathered at the Inn in Southwark prior to departing on a pilgrimage to Canterbury. What is the usefulness of this situation to Chaucer? 
    2. What sort of people went on pilgrimages? From what walks of life do the pilgrims come? 
    3. Note that Chaucer takes care to include representatives of all three traditional "male" and "female" estates (the Wife of Bath represents both "wife" and "widow," while the Prioress, a nun, is presumably a virgin). Look for an idealized portrait of each of the traditional (male) "estates." Which portraits are satirical? 
    4. Note also the portraits representing two new groups that were gaining prominence in the fourteenth century: the middle class and intellectuals (people trained as "clerks" -- i.e., "clerics" -- but who are not destined to a career within the church). Which pilgrims represent these new classes?
    5. Pay attention to the pilgrim portraits. As you read the various portraits, pick out a keyword or phrase to describe each pilgrim. Note that physical details frequently provide insight into character (in medieval times, physiognomy was believed to be revealing of character -- see also the concept of the four humours). What do the descriptions reveal about the pilgrims' characters? Which figures are painted in a positive or in a negative light? 

    More Information on the Three Estates

    For more information on the three estates, please visit this site: "The Three Estates of Medieval Anglo-European Culture: Nobility, Clergy, and Peasants."

    The Individual Tales

    After "The General Prologue," each pilgrim has his or her own prologue and then proceeds to tell a tale. Please keep in mind that these are two separate sections for each pilgrim. For example, in her prologue, the Wife of Bath provides details about her own life. Then she tells a tale. Her prologue is actually longer than the tale she tells and reveals much about her character and medieval society.

    Pilgrims' Prologues and Tales

    Here are links to four of the pilgrims' prologues and tales:

    The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale

    The Pardoner’s Prologue and Tale

    The Franklin’s Prologue and Tale

    The Knight’s Prologue and Tale

    Work Cited

    Schwartz, Debora B. "Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales I: the General Prologue." California Polytechnic State University, 25 Aug. 2006.

    This page titled 1.7: Reading the The Canterbury Tales was last modified on Fri, 31 Jul 2026 21:36:50 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Kelsey Ford.