The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
General Prologue Analysis
The General Prologue states that each pilgrim will be responsible for a total of four tales, for a grand total of 120 tales. However, only 24 tales are actually included in The Canterbury Tales, and only one character, Chaucer himself, is assigned more than one tale. It is unclear whether Chaucer was prevented from finishing the tales, abandoned them, or decided to stop at 24 and intended to edit the General Prologue to reflect this change.
In addition to setting up the terms of the contest, the General Prologue introduces each of the pilgrims, many of whom are described in detailed and colorful terms. Their descriptions provide clues to the purpose and intent of the tales. The characters’ qualities as described in the General Prologue are described under “Character Analyses” below.
Finally, the General Prologue clarifies in detail when the pilgrimage is taking place: not merely in April, but at the beginning of April, halfway through the astrological sign of Aries. Throughout the Tales, various characters refer to astrological terms to set dates and describe various personal characteristics.
Contents
- Home
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Plot Summaries & Analysis
- General Prologue
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Knight's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Miller's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Reeve's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Cook's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Man of Law's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Friar's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Summoner's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Clerk's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Merchant's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Squire's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Franklin's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Physician's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Pardoner's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Shipman's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Prioress's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Tale of Sir Thopas
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Tale of Melibee
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Monk's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Nun's Priest’s Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Second Nun's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Canon's Yeoman’s Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Manciple's Tale
- Summary
- Analysis
- The Parson's Tale and Chaucer’s Retraction
- Summary
- Analysis
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Character Analysis
- The Host
- The Knight, the Squire, and the Knight's Yeoman
- The Prioress, the Second Nun, and the Monk
- The Friar
- The Merchant
- The Clerk of Oxford
- The Man of Law and the Franklin
- The Haberdasher, Carpenter, Weaver, Dyer, and Upholsterer
- The Cook
- The Shipman
- The Physician
- The Wife of Bath
- The Parson and the Ploughman
- The Miller
- The Manciple
- The Reeve
- The Summoner and the Pardoner
- The Canon and the Yeoman
- Themes, Symbols & Motifs
- Writing Style & Structure
- Important Quotes