The Canterbury Tales: Summary and Analysis

The Canterbury Tales: Summary and Character Analysis

• The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims journeying to Canterbury Cathedral.
• Written by Geoffrey Chaucer, considered the "father of English poetry."
• Chaucer wrote in Middle English, marking a significant development in English literature.
• The collection provides a unique glimpse into 14th-century English society and culture.
• The tales cover various themes, including satire, romance, and religious critique.
• Important historical and social context includes the Black Death (1/3 population loss), England’s use of English in Parliament, and Norman invasion (which introduced French language/culture affecting middle English).

Narrator of the Canterbury Tales

• The narrator is a devout Christian who is also keenly observant of social interactions.
• He describes the pilgrims' appearance, behavior, and narratives without judgment.
• His descriptions are detailed and engaging.
• The narrator is actively involved in the story structure and gives the pilgrim tales, yet is also a passive observer; observing the pilgrims without judgment, this means the reader can view the characters' behaviors with a more objective eye.
• The narrator rises early, ensuring full engagement with his tasks, while giving us a taste of how social life unfolds for the well-connected in society.

Character Analysis: Key Figures

• Knight:*
• A model of chivalry, demonstrating valor in combat (previous wars and crusades).
• Represents ideals of truth, honor, and faith.
• Modestly recounts his deeds and emphasizes ethical conduct.
• Dressed in suits of chainmail (hauberk) and sturdy, coarse fabric (fustian).
• Squire:*
• The knight’s youthful, energetic, and ambitious squire.
• Courteous and attentive, representing youthful ideals of romance and chivalry and embodying the idea of courtship and courting.
• Wears richly embroidered clothing, suggesting an aspiration to the knightly ideal.
• Yeoman:*
• A skilled forest ranger.
• Possibly of non-white origin.
• Wears St. Christopher medal, indicative of a devotion to travel and pilgrimage.
• Prioress:*
• Imitates French courtly manners, exhibiting a desire to be seen as elite.
• Critical of the Church in a subtle way.
• Observant of presentation and table manners.
• Wears a rosary of precious coral beads.
• Monk:*
• A dissolute monk who cares minimally for religious practices.
• Values comfort, hunting, and fine clothes over spiritual matters.
• Demonstrates a clear disregard for traditional monastic roles and practices.
• Friar:*
• A worldly friar who seeks to profit from his interactions with wealthier people and is not focused on fulfilling the duties of the church as well as he should.
• Takes donations while ignoring needs of the poor.
• Engaged in activities unrelated to his religious responsibilities.
• Focuses on earthly desires rather than on spiritual tasks.
• Merchant:*
• A wealthy individual, though in debt and prone to dissimulation.
• Wears extravagant attire that hides his concealed anxieties.
• Clerk:*
• A devoted student of books, valuing academic pursuits above wealth and status.
• Sergeant of Law:*
• Represents the legal power structures of the time.
• Skillful, well-read, and politically connected, suggesting that he has the power to manipulate the law.
• Franklin:*
• A prosperous, landowning lord, embodying the traits of hospitality, abundance, and physical well-being.
• Represents the upper-class values and pleasures of the time.
• Guildsmen:*
• Represent the rising merchant class (such as the Haberdasher and Carpenter), who are gaining power and influence.
• Cook:*
• A skilled cook. A skilled cook but does not take proper care of their health.
• Likely suffers from a disease (syphilis or leprosy).
• Shipman:*
• A merchant seafarer with questionable morals.
• Demonstrates an ambitious and possibly unscrupulous nature.
• Doctor:*
• A skilled physician, employing both legitimate and illegitimate medical practices.
• A mix of practical medicine and potentially fraudulent practices.
• Knows the four humors.
• Wife of Bath:*
• A spirited and knowledgeable woman.
• A skillful weaver, but with a complex love life and sexual experiences (5 marriages.)
• Represents a strong-willed figure within a traditional societal context.
• Parson:*
• A devout and benevolent parson.
• A truly religious figure and acts as an ideal model of how a parson should act.
• Represents spiritual ideals.
• Plowman:*
• A humble, honest worker.
• Miller:*
• A physically imposing, dishonest (cheating) miller, characterized by a lust for material pleasures.
• Manciple:*
• A shrewd food manager.
• Overcharges the lawyers, highlighting the importance of financial resources.
• Reeve:*
• A cunning, avaricious, and physically imposing steward who cheats his lord for personal gain.
• Summoner:*
• A corrupt church official and dishonest individual, taking bribes.
• Pardoner:*
• A dishonest church official who sells false relics.
• Host:*
• A wealthy host who organizes the storytelling contest.

The Four Humors

• A medieval medical theory which linked physical health with temperament.
• Based on the balance of bodily fluids (blood, black bile, yellow bile, phlegm).

Critique in the Canterbury Tales

• The Canterbury Tales criticizes various aspects of medieval life (including the clergy, the administration of law, and social customs.)
• Shows a critical evaluation of different social classes.
• Emphasizes the dangers of materialism and the corrupting influence of unchecked ambition.

Additional Themes

• The story critiques the excesses of certain social classes (those with money).
• Emphasizes the importance of good character over material possessions.
• The narratives demonstrate the folly of misplaced faith and blind trust.

Explore the rich tapestry of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, a collection of stories presented by pilgrims on a journey. This quiz delves into character analysis and the societal context of 14th-century England, highlighting major themes and the significance of the narrator's observations. Test your knowledge about this literary masterpiece and its impact on English literature.