Canterbury Tales2

A detailed Summary of Canterbury Tales2

In Chaucer's day women were thought of in lesser regard than men.

Their positions in the community were less noble and often displeasing. The

Canterbury Tales, written by Chaucer, is about a pilgrimage to Canterbury.

Along with the narrator (Chaucer), there are 29 other Canterbury pilgrims. Not

surprisingly, only three of them are women: the Prioress, the associate of the

Prioress, and the Wife of Bath. Each traveler is to tell two tales to make the

journey to Canterbury and back more enjoyable. The Host, Harry Bailey, is in

charge of the group and will decide what is in the best interest of them all. Thus,

the journey begins as do the tales.

Even though the times suggest women are weak and powerless over

men, Chaucer has a way of showing their capabilities through the stories.

Although, their abilities are not always positive. Disguised in the form of love

stories, Chaucer portrays how women easily lead men to their downfall. This is

most evident in the tales told by the Knight, the Miller, the Franklin, and the

In the Knight's Tale, two cousins fall for the fair Emelye. They are both in

love with her after glancing at her from a prison tower. Not only has Emelye's

Although The Franklin's Tale seems to be about chivalry and doing what

for Emelye gives her command not only over his actions, but also over his life.

Alison's husband has broken his arm with the fall. To add insult to injury, Alison

faith. For certes, what so any woman saith, we all desiren, if it might be, to han

to her husband is admirable, but at the same time it is causing the degeneration

nobility. He is now thought of as a lunatic when in fact he was taking heed of the

actions makes the story even more scandalous. In order to be alone for a night,

Approximate Word count = 1472
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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