Study Notes on The Canterbury Tales

The Canterbury Tales Overview

  • Composition:

    • Date: Composed between approximately 1386 and 1393.

    • Structure: A collection of 24 verse tales, some with prologues and epilogues, others with either one or neither.

    • Narrative Context: The tales are narrations by a group of pilgrims traveling to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket in Canterbury, originating from the Tabard Inn in Southwark, London.

  • Host: Harry Bailly, the inn's host, proposes a storytelling contest with a reward of a free supper for the best tale.

  • Author's Presence: Chaucer himself is one of the pilgrims, narrating both the General Prologue and the Chaucer's Retractions which conclude the tales.

  • Intended Structure: Chaucer likely planned for each of his 29 pilgrims to narrate two tales to Canterbury and two on the return, yet only 24 are present alongside the two by Chaucer himself.

  • Temporal Context: The pilgrimage is loosely structured, taking place over approximately five days, from April 16 to 20. The narrative captures a rich tableau of fourteenth-century life.

Pilgrimages in the Middle Ages

  • Popularity: Pilgrimages were a widespread religious practice during the Middle Ages.

  • Destination Examples:

    • Notable places included:

    • Rome

    • Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    • Boulogne, France

    • Cologne, Germany

    • Canterbury.

    • The Wife of Bath claims to have visited all these places along with Jerusalem three times.

  • Pilgrim Tokens: Pilgrims returned carrying relics, badges (like the shell for Compostela), and symbols (such as palm branches for Jerusalem visits).

  • Nature of Pilgrimages:

    • Often involved penitential practices, such as walking barefoot.

    • Risky due to potential dangers such as accidents, robbery, or drowning.

Purpose of the Pilgrimage to Canterbury

  • Significance of St. Thomas Becket: The pilgrims travel to worship at his shrine, which bears significance due to Becket's martyrdom in 1170 under King Henry II, resulting from conflict regarding church and crown authority.

  • Historical Context: Becket was executed by followers of the king, and his shrine was desecrated in 1538 under orders from Henry VIII during the Reformation.

Connection to Real-World Events

  • Realism and Allegory: While Chaucer incorporates real people (e.g., Harry Bailey and Roger of Ware) and actual locations (e.g., Deptford and Greenwich), the work is not strictly realistic. Characters embody both individuality and stereotype, blending allegory with realism, which reflects the complexity of the medieval period.

  • Contemporary References: Events like the Black Death of 1348 and the Peasant's Revolt of 1381 are mentioned but not extensively explored. The tales often present social realism while encompassing themes of misogyny and anti-Semitism prevalent in the era.

Chaucer's Innovations

  • Literary Language: Chaucer elevated the East Midland and London dialect to establish a literary language that paved the way for Modern Standard English.

  • Poetic Form: Chaucer innovated the use of iambic pentameter—a ten-syllable line of alternating unstressed and stressed syllables—effectively utilizing this meter to create a conversational rhythm that facilitates lengthy narratives.

    • Structure of The Canterbury Tales: The work employs closed couplets, also known as heroic couplets.

Character Representation

  • Three Estates of Medieval Society: Each character in The Canterbury Tales reflects the divisions of society, represented by:

    • Nobility: Includes the Knight and his son, the Squire.

    • Clergy: Comprises the Prioress, Monk, Nun, Friar, Parson, Pardoner, and Canon.

    • Commoners: Features a range of characters including the Miller, Reeve, Cook, Man of Law, Shipman, Physician, Wife of Bath, Summoner, Clerk, Merchant, Franklin, Yeoman, and Manciple.

  • Chaucer's Indulgence: At the conclusion of the tales, Chaucer expresses a plea for understanding any shortcomings, attributing them to his ignorance and not intent, marking the end of the compilation with a prayer for mercy on his soul.

Narrative Framework of The Canterbury Tales

  • Pilgrimage Structure: The overarching framework of the tales is that of a pilgrimage—common in world literature but uniquely utilized by Chaucer to provide a setting for storytelling.

  • Literary Influences: While Chaucer's approach is original, he draws inspiration from earlier literary precedents such as Dante and Virgil in the Divine Comedy and Boccaccio's Decameron.

  • Comparative Analysis: The similarities and differences between Chaucer's tales and Boccaccio's are noted, emphasizing character portrayal and narrative style.