Canterbury Tales Prologue

Setting of the Prologue

29 pilgrims and Chaucer stop at The Tabard Tavern on the way to Canterbury.

Harry Bailly's Challenge

The Innkeeper offers a dinner prize for the pilgrim who tells the best tale.

Social Representation

Characters are presented in descending order, representing a cross-section of 14th-century society.

Literary Genres in Canterbury Tales

Includes mock-heroic, chivalric literature, parody, mockery, and satire.

Boorish

Rudeness of manner due to insensitivity to others' feelings.

Carbuncles

Big pimples considered a sign of lechery and drunkenness.

Fustian

A class of cotton fabrics usually having a pile face and twill weave.

Varlet

A page who serves a knight, or an attendant or servant.

Yeoman

An attendant or officer in a royal or noble household.

Entreaty

Earnest request or petition; supplication.

Gaudies

The largest beads in a set of prayer beads.

Solicitous

Anxious, concerned, careful, or particular.

Uncloistered

Released from confinement.

Estimable

Worthy of esteem; deserving respect or admiration.

Palfrey

A saddle horse.

Disdainment

A feeling of contempt or haughty scorn.

Well shriven

Completely forgiven through the rite of confession.

Prevarication

To speak falsely or misleadingly; deliberately lie.

Motley

Multicolored.

Hostelry

An inn or hotel.

Preferment

Advancement.

Prioress

A woman ranking next below an abbess.

Assize

A periodic trial session held in specific locations in England.

Sanguine

Cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident.