An Intro to the Tales

The General Prologue sets up the outside frame of the story which is

Set in April The narrator and 19 travelers happen to meet at Tabard

Inn in Southwark, London They all are going tot ake a 60 mile, 4 day religious

journey to the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket Cathedral in Canterbury

Harry Bailley, the innkeeper, decides to join them. Each suggests that each pilgrim tells 4 stories, 2 each way

Although all 120 were not written, about 20 were and they cover many different genres of Medieval literature.

The different types are Romance: a narrative in metrical verse; tales of love, adventure, knightly

combat, and ceremony. Fabliau: stories based on trickery and deception; often involves adultery Myth: a story originating in classical literature Breton Lais: a type of fairy tale; set in the Brittany province of France; contains

fairies, elves, folk wisdom, and folktales Beast Fable: animals personify human qualities and act out human situations;

usually teaches a lesson Sermon: a Christian lesson Exemplum: a story which teaches a well-known lesson Miracle Story: one in which a saint or the Virgin Mary intervenes with a miracle in

response to the faithfulness of a follower Allegory: a tale in which persons represent abstract qualities; i.e., Death, Virtue,

Love Mock Romance: parodies, or makes fun of, the usual subjects of a romance

Why is it appropriate that the Knight ended up telling his story first?

Based on Boccaccio’s Teseide It is an anarchronistic love story about two

knights (Arcite and Palamon) who are imprisoned by the Duke of Athens, Theseus. They fall in love with his sister in law – Emily – at first sight. After getting out of prison, they end up in a tournament to win Emily’s hand in marriage. Arcite wins the battle, but dies, which means that Palamon marries Emily.

The Miller’s Tale, told after this, plays on many of the elements of The Knight’s Tale

The Monk was suppose to tell the next story (ll 10-11). But what happened?

“By armes and by blood and bones,/ I can a noble tale for the nones/ With which I wol now quite the Knightes tale” (ll 17-19)

What does it mean to “quite” (repay) the Knight’s Tale?

“And therfore, whoso list it nought yheere Turne over the leef, and chese another tale, For he shal finde ynowe, grete and smaleOf storial thing that touchest gentilesse, and eek moralitee and holinesse:Blameth nought me if that ye chese amis.” (ll 68-73)

Translates to“Therefore, who likes not this, let him, in fine, Turn over page and choose another tale: For he shall find enough, both great and small, Of stories touching on gentility, And holiness, and on morality; And blame not me if you do choose amiss.”

John – wealthy carpenter. Alison – very young and beautiful

wife of John Nicholas – poor scholar of astrology,

stays with John and Alison.

What is the theme of the story? “He knew nat Caton, for his wit was rude/ That

bad men sholde wedde his similitude;/ Men sholde wedde after hir estat, For youthe and elde is often at debat.” (ll 119-122)

Fabliau - why does this come after the Knight’s Tale? What does this demonstrate about The Canterbury Tales?

Love Triangles “tragic fall” of the “hero” Idealized courtly love v. coarse

quotidenne love Elevated style v. coarse language