The Canterbury Tales (Masterplots, Revised Second Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Geoffrey Chaucer
- Type of Work: Poetry
- Type of Plot: Romance, farce, fable
- Time of Work: Late fourteenth century
- Setting: Pilgrimage road between London and Canterbury
- Principal Characters: Chaucer, Harry Bailly, The Knight, Robin, Alison, The Nun’s Priest
- Genres: Short fiction, Poetry, Frame story, Narrative poetry
- Subjects: Husbands, Wives, Love or romance, England or English people, Adultery, London, Human behavior, Greek or Roman times, Pilgrims or pilgrimages, Middle Ages, Priests, Knights or knighthood, Chivalry
- Locales: London, England, Canterbury, England
The Story:
One April, a group of pilgrims gathered at the Tabard Inn in Southwark near London to embark on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Thomas at Canterbury. After dinner, Harry Bailly, the host, proposed a storytelling competition on the journey. The host would judge, and the winner would receive a dinner at the Tabard Inn. The following morning, as they departed, they drew lots to begin. The Knight drew the shortest lot and told his tale.
The Knight’s Tale. As Duke Theseus returned to Athens victorious over the Amazons with their queen, Hippolyta, as his...
[The entire page is 2156 words long]
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