Prologue to The Canterbury Tales summary

 

SUMMARY OF THE GENERAL  PROLOGUE

 

In the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer introduces the speaker of the poem as a man named Chaucer, who is traveling from London with a group of strangers to visit Canterbury, a borough to the southeast of London. This group of people is thrown together when they travel together on a trip to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket, who was murdered in Canterbury in 1170. The Prologue gives a brief description of the setting as they assemble at the Tabard Inn in Southwark to prepare for their trip. After the introductions, the Host, who owns the inn that they gather at and who is leading the group, suggests that they should each tell two stories while walking, one on the way to Canterbury and one on the way back, to pass the time more quickly. He offers the person telling the best story a free supper at the tavern when they return.

 

The Prologue begins with a  description of the Spring season.

“Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote

The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,”

(When April with its sweet-smelling showers Has pierced the drought of March to the root,)

 

Spring rain in April wets the ground and the roots hidden deep inside the soil absorbs this powerful liquid that gives forth life to its flowers. The sun shines down on these new plants and birds sing. People  also are in the mood to go on pilgrimages, especially to  the Canterbury Cathedral. The Canterbury Cathedral is  where the martyr, Thomas Becket’s relics are kept. The  poet himself is one of the pilgrims and he is residing at  the Tabard Inn in Southwark before undertaking the  journey to Canterbury. Around 29 other pilgrims also  arrive at the Inn and Chaucer decides to join their  company. The 29 pilgrims in the Tale are  Chaucer himself, the Knight, the Squire, the Yeoman, the Prioress, the Monk, the Friar, the Merchant, the Sergeant of the Law, the Clerk of Oxford, the Franklin, the  Wife of Bath, the Reeve, the Pardoner, the Host, the  Carpenter, the Franklin, the Cook, the Parson, the  Plowman, the Miller, the Shipman, the Physician, the  Nun’s Priest, the Second Nun, the Manciple, the Summoner and the Parson. He introduces each of  these pilgrims describing their physical appearance as  well as profession and social standing.

 

Harry Bailey was the host and he is  described by the poet as a stout  and bright eyed man  who finds a liking for the pilgrims and thus decides to  join them to Canterbury. In order to make the journey  more fun and quicker, he decides that each pilgrim must  narrate two stories on the way to Canterbury and two on the way back. He will judge which of them is the best  and reward them with a free meal at the Inn upon  returning. All the pilgrims accept the competition and they draw lots to decide who will be first to narrate the  story. The Knight gets the first lot and he begins his story cheerfully.

 

The General Prologue is often referred to as a portrait gallery of the 14^th century because it seems to be an exact caricature of an entire nation taking into account  the different sections of the society. The Prologue therefore appears  more like a commentary on English life in the middle ages. The thirty pilgrims Chaucer describes in the  Prologue belong to different classes and strata’s of the  society. The Prologue acquaints the readers with the  food, the hobbies and even the clothes worn by persons  of different ranks, positions and professions. Due to the  Peasant Revolt, a new middle class comprising of educated workers like lawyers, merchants and clerks were beginning to gain power and Chaucer himself was  a member of this emerging new middle class. The  Canterbury Tales both depict and also satirize  the conventions of the 14^th Century. The weaknesses or  flaws of the l4^th century monks and nuns are amusingly  displayed in the General Prologue. Chaucer also portrays  church officials who have an inclination for material things like  money, love etc. And so with this realistic depiction of the society of his times, Chaucer holds the mirror up to his times in “The Canterbury Tales”.

 

When the journey begins, the  speaker decides to describe the profession, social standing and physical appearance of each of  these twenty-nine pilgrims. It is with the Knight that the  poet decides to start describing first.

 

The Knight

The highest in social hierarchy and therefore the first story teller. Brave, worthy, hounourable and a noble man as well. He loves chivalry and is always ready to stand up for truth and honour. He has an outstanding reputation and was  considered as a generous as well as courteous person.  The Knight has traveled through many pagan territories  like Alexandria, Prussia, Morocco, Lithuania etc. and he  has been victorious as well in all these places. In all the  three duels he had undertaken, he had won and killed his  enemy. Hence, he is someone who is praised universally  for his courage. It was out of his love for God that the  Knight undertook such bold and daring feats and for  attaining glory or fame. His dressing is also described as  plain or modest and stained from his recent explorations.

 

The Squire

The speaker describes the Knight’s son who is a Squire. The Squire is described by the poet as a lively,  young and lusty knight in training who is depicted as both  a ‘lover’ and a ‘bachelor’. He has curled hair, is of a  moderate height and is quite quick in movement. He has participated in chivalric expeditions in Flanders and  Northern France. The Squire fights in hope of  impressing ladies and winning over their hearts. Unlike  his father, he was in his prime youth and therefore  always quite extravagantly and beautifully dressed in  embroidered clothes. He is always found singing or playing the flute all day. The Squire knew how to carry himself elegantly even while sitting on a horse or while  riding. He was capable of inventing songs and dances and also knows to love women passionately that most  nights he slept very little. Like his father, he too was a courteous person and was always willing to serve at the table or carve his father’s meat for him.

 

The Yeoman

The servant who accompanies with the knight and the squire. He puts on a coat and a hood of green also carries a weapon bow and sword. He is in charge of the knight’s woodlands and appears to be the ideal, simple and loyal peasant; yet he is so well equipped with elaborate weapons and perfect arrows that his simplicity may suspect.

 

The Prioress (nun)

Her name is Madame Eglantyne. She is modest, coy and courteous. She wears a gold brooch with ‘Love conquers all’ inscribed in Latin. She pretends to be of a higher aristocratic class, speaks French, sings and has acquired manners that are above someone of her station. She is hypocritical and cares more about animals than people. The prioress is accompanied by the nun, who is her chaplain.

 

The Monk

His character is marked by the complete contrast to his religious vocation. He cares little for the rule, instead devotes time for hunting and eating. Loves greater amount of food and wine. He finds the tavern (pub) more to his liking than monastery. He is large, loud and well clad in hunting boots. Like the prioress Chaucer gives him an ironic treatment.

 

 

The Friar

His name is Hubert. He is sensual, licentious and salacious person. Who seduces young girls and then arranges their marriages. He spends most of his times at bars and carries knives and pins in his sleeves. He accepts bribes, readily gives absolutions to people in exchange for money and avoids sick and poor people because they have no money to give. He is wanton, merry, unscrupulous and quite irreligious.

 

The Merchant

He is clever but arrogant and never let others become aware of his true financial status. The merchant talks of nothing, but business and thinks himself an expert on all matters related to trade. He represents the rising middle class.

 

The clerk of Oxford

A sincere and devout student of philosophy at oxford university, who is fond of erudition. Much of his study is devoted to the works of Aristotle. He is basically poor and spends all money on books. He is laconic in words, but when he does, his words are full of wisdom and moral virtue.

 

Sergeant of Law

A successful lawyer commissioned by the king. He is cautious and wise. He upholds justice in every dispute. He knows every statue of England’s Law by heart.  He projects an image of himself as busy and successful.

 

The Franklin

He is a wealthy landowner, who lives for his own sensual pleasure. He is a hedonist and compared himself to Epicurus and St. Julian as he is also jovial and hospitable. He has a white beard and a ruddy complexion and carries a dagger and a trinket bag of silk in his girdle. He has served as a justice of the peace and a member of parliament.

 

The  Guildsmen

The five guildsmen including Haberdasher (peddlers/ sellers of small goods), the carpenter, the weaver, the dyer and the tapestry maker. Though they have different trades, they appear as a unit. They represent the rising new middle classes.

 

The Cook

He works for the guildsmen and is famous for his culinary skills. He is quite able and experienced. The only detail provided about him is a crusty sore on his leg.

 

The shipman

The shipman is a huge, uncouth (lacking manners) man, who is an expert sailor. He rides his horse so poorly, it is obvious the man is much more comfortable on the sea than on the land. His skin has turned brown from years of sailing. He steals wine while the ship’s captain sleeps.

 

The physician

Well educated and thrifty person. He is very much fond of gold and makes a lot of money during the plague time. He has not studied the Bible the lacks the concern of mercy.

 

The Wife of Bath

She is one of the most famous characters in literature. Her real name is Alisoun. She is a professional weaver. She is gap-toothed, somewhat deaf and wears bright scarlet red stockings. She has been married five times and had many other affairs in her youth.  She was very much expert in the art of love making.

She makes a great show of being religious, takes part in charities. She is going to Canterbury to find her sixth husband.

 

The Parson

The parson is very poor, but holy and virtuous man. He is gentle, kindly and diligent. He preaches the gospel and practices what he preaches. Whatever little money he has, he gives to his poor parishioners.

 

The Plowman (ploughman)

Brother of the parson, honest and virtuous man like his brother. A member of the peasant class. He pays his tithes to the church and leads an ideal Christian life. He wears a tabard smock (sleeveless garment) that reflects his poverty.

 

The Miller

Chaucer pays a great attention to the physical appearance of the miller. He is huge, stout, brawny, broad and strong and has red beard. His nose has a hairy wart. He has a large mouth and nostrils. He wears a blue hood and white coat. He is an expert in wrestling and has animal like instincts. He is always drunken, brash and vulgar man. His manners and conversation are as coarse as his appearance.

 

The Manciple (steward)

He works at inns of court. He is in charge of getting provisions for the court. Though illiterate, he is smart and cautious. He is smarter than the thirty lawyers he feeds. He tricks his employers to earn maximum profit.

 

The Reeve

He works as a steward on an estate. He is an old, choleric thin man with shaved head and lean legs. He wears a blue overcoat and carries a rusty blade. He was earlier a carpenter and resents the miller’s tale. He distrusts people and keeps a check on everyone.

 

The Summoner

He is an officer at the church, who calls people for a church trial. He is extremely unattractive with his red complexion, pimples and infected skin. He had a bad breath and often gets drunk. He is lecherous and morally corrupt.

 

The Pardoner (a church representative sells pardons to common people)

The most evil of the pilgrims.  He has yellow hair, bulging eye ball, goat like voice and wears a small hat. He fools people to make money and carries a bag full of fake relics. He is greedy and hypocrite. He has an ambiguous sexuality. He also good at singing and preaching.

 

Previous University Questions

1.       1.Prologue to the Canterbury tales as the portrait gallery of the 14^th century England – Discuss?

   2.Comment about the social, political and religious backgrounds  represented in Canterbury tales?

3     3. Prologue to the Canterbury tales as a social chronicle?

4    4. Prologue to the Canterbury tales as the microcosm of the 14^th century England – Discuss?

5    5.  Comment about the use of realism in the Prologue?

6   6.   Comment about the  art of characterization?

7   7.  Role of humour, satire and irony in the Prologue?

     8. Comment on the pictorial quality in Chaucer?

9 9. Comment on the women characters in the Canterbury tales?

1 10.Examine the portrayal of characters in the Canterbury tales?

1  11. Comment about the ecclesiastical characters ?