Prologue to the canterbury tales

Representation of 14th century England in prologue to the Canterbury tales.

1. ASSIGNMENT Topic- ‘Representation of 14 th century England in the Prologue to The Canterbury tales.’ Name- Piyush kr. Banerjee M.A (English) sem. 1 Paper-Medieval to 17 th century poetry. Teacher- Amrita ma’m

2. PROLOGUE TO THE CANTERBURY TALES BY GEOFFREY CHAUCER REPRESENTATION OF 14 TH CENTURY ENGLAND IN THE PROLOGUE

3. PROLOGUE TO THE CANTERBURY TALES Was written by Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400) in between 1387 and 1400. Considered one of the greatest works of the English language. The Prologue alone places Chaucer in the category of Shakespeare and Milton. He, along with 29 other pilgrims are going to visit the shrine of Thomas a 'Becket in Canterbury. They are all gathered at the Tabard Inn, where Chaucer meets the other 29 pilgrims and tells us about them in the Prologue . The work remained incomplete as Chaucer could not complete writing the no. Of stories he originally planned to.

4. CHARACTERS The Knight The Squire The Yeoman The Prioress The Monk The Friar The Merchant The clerk The Sergeant of law The Cook The Wife of Bath The Miller The Parson The Shipman The Summoner The Manciple The Pardoner Harry Bailey

5. PROLOGUE - PORTRAIT GALLERY OF 14 TH CENTURY ENGLAND His Prologue is a real picture gallery in which thirty portraits are hanging on the wall with all of their details and peculiarities. The pilgrims generally fall into three major divisions of the Medieval society- The feudal class The Knight and his Squire The Church The Nun and the Monk The Merchant or the professional class The Miller and the Doctor Nevil Coghill writes about the Prologue– “ It is a precise portrait of an entire nation, high and low, old and young, male and female, learned and ignorant, rogue and righteous...”

6. Chaucer, in his Prologue , has introduced the characters which form the part of the medieval society and represent various aspects of the society. John Dryden said- “[Chaucer] has taken into the compass of his Canterbury Tales, the various manners and humors of the whole English nation in his age. Not a single character has escaped him. All his pilgrims are severally distinguished from each other.....” Chaucer’s religious views are expressed through the characters of the Prioress, the Monk and the Parson. The characters in Chaucer’s Prologue are for all ages and for all lands.  

7. CHAUCER’S ART OF CHARACTERISATION Tim Brink wrote: “We receive such an exact idea of the men he (Chaucer) is describing that we can almost see them bodily before our eyes” Chaucer is the first great painter of character in English literature. The thirty portraits traced by Chaucer give us an excellent idea of the society at that time.  The different pilgrims represent different professionals. Chaucer has encompassed every aspect of the society through his characters which has the Knight, as well as the poor Parson, the Prioress, as well as the Sergeant of law. Thus, the characters in  The Canterbury Tales   are types as well as individual .

8. CONCLUSION The Prologue is a very precious historical document for someone who wishes to have a glimpse of the life of that time. Chaucer uses the technique of contrast in drawing the portraits of the pilgrims. We have the paragon of virtue in the Parson and the Ploughman and monsters of vice in the Reeve, the Miller and the Summoner . Chaucer presents a very positive picture of the ruling class. His religious ideal is seen through the character of the Parson.

9. Chaucer has been called an outstanding representative poet of his age because of the typical element in his characterization. “The Canterbury Tales” can help many students and people everywhere learn more about the life in the Middle Ages.