Chaucer - General Prologue

A detailed Summary of Chaucer - General Prologue

Chaucer sometimes describes like characters together, but often his descriptions

seem to call for responses or judgements based on the contrasts between the

Write an essay that assesses the quality and function of this contrasting of

characters, with particular reference to two or three pilgrims.

In the Canterbury Tales,Geoffrey Chaucer provides us with a cast of

characters that illustrates a cross-section of society. A knight and his

Squire, a Lawyer and his wealthy landowner friend, a collection of

Clerics including a well-fed Monk and a half-starved Oxford Scholar

are just a few examples. While some of these pilgrims with similar

characteristics can be grouped into small sub-groups, for instance, the

Knight, Yeoman and Squire, Chaucer's descriptions appear to call for

judgements based on the contrast between the pilgrims as a larger

At first glance the Canterbury Tales can appear as a simple travel story

with a religious message, the work is really a study of humanity.

Chaucer presents us with stereotypical (though exaggerated) figures of

everyday life in fourteenth century England, and while hoping to

entertain us with these characters, also expects us to make

"Upon his heed a Flaundrissh bever hat," ( Merchant, 274)

uses his own education and knowledge to help the people of his parish.

that the Canterbury Tales is an illustration of humanity in all its forms.

Or with a bretherhed to been withholde;

"Ful thredbare was his overeste courtepy" (292)

eschange sheeldes selle." (280). The merchant's dishonesty is

follows the merchant being described as dishonest: "Wel koude he in

portrait. The Knight is the first pilgrim discussed in the General

Approximate Word count = 869
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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