KEY LITERARY ELEMENTS

SETTING

Chaucer employs the device of a springtime pilgrimage to the sacred shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury for the setting of his monumental epic. To make the journey a more enjoyable one, the Host proposes a story-telling competition. This ingenious framework enables Chaucer to create a score of narratives of differing literary styles ranging from courtly romance, Breton Lay, fabliaux, saintÂ’s legend, tragedy, exemplum and sermon to a beast fable. Chaucer uses a realistic setting instead of an idealistic one, thus imparting an air of authenticity to the tales and their tellers. In the Middle Ages, pilgrimage was a social as well as a religious event and the only time when people from differing social classes could mingle together. Thus the device of the pilgrimage also enabled Chaucer to draw representatives from across a wide range of society.

LIST OF CHARACTERS

The main characters of The Canterbury Tales are comprised of the procession of the twenty-nine pilgrims who traveled from London to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury and passed their long journey by narrating entertaining tales. The pilgrims and their tales represent a microcosm of medieval English society. These characters include the following:

Chaucer

The author of The Canterbury Tales and appears throughout the book as one of the twenty-nine pilgrims. He functions as the readerÂ’s guide and his ironic comments reveal the true nature of the assorted group. He tells the tales of Sir Topas and the tale of Melibee during the course of the journey. He finally identifies himself at the end.

The Knight

Chaucer describes the Knight as a "verray parfit gentil knight" (i.e. true, perfect, well bred) who had distinguished himself in many Crusades. All the wars fought by the Knight have been religious wars. In spite of being a brave warrior with various victories to his credit, the Knight never boasted of his success.

The Squire

The KnightÂ’s son, probably twenty years old. He is described as a "lover and a lusty bachelor" and is a worthy aspirant to Knighthood. Apart from being a warrior he also sings, composes melodies and writes poetry.

The Yeoman

The only servant accompanying the Knight on the pilgrimage. He is thoroughly knowledgeable about forestry and woodcraft and is a true forester.

The Prioress

A pious and saintly woman. However she is sentimental and strives to imitate courtly manners. She is a very sensitive woman who is gentle even with the three small dogs accompanying her in her journey. The attention that she gives to her appearance is an indication of her secret longing for a more sophisticated life.

The Nun's Priest

Mentioned in the Prologue as accompanying the Prioress. He tells the mock-heroic beast fable of Chaunticleer and Pertolete.

The Second Nun

Only fleetingly mentioned in the Prologue as one of the companions of the Prioress. She tells the tale of St. Cecilia.

The Monk

An "outrider" i.e. a Monk who rides around the abbey to tend its property. It is implied that the Monk is immoral and loves the pleasures of life. He loves hunting and women. His love for the various pleasures of life goes against his religious vows.

The Friar

A wanton and merry man. These are hardly the characteristics that befit a religious man. He is a "limiter" i.e. a Friar who is licensed to beg within a certain limited area. While hearing confessions he gave the best pardon to those who contributed the maximum amount of money. The author makes this statement in irony when he says that he is probably the only person who practices his profession most accurately.

The Merchant

He sports a forked beard and wears fine clothes. He is extremely pompous in his manners and opinions. He is so clever that nobody could gauge that he was actually in heavy debt.

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