The Canterbury Tales Group

Question:

chucksldy1
chucksldy1
Student
College - Senior

In "The Canterbury Tales", who will judge the storytelling contest, and what will the prize be?

Rate question:

Posted by chucksldy1 on Tuesday March 17, 2009 at 2:56 PM and tagged with canterbury tales, chaucer, general prologue, host, prize, storytelling contest, the canterbury tales.

Answers:


  1. robertwilliam

    eNotes Editor

    The tale-telling contest is the brainchild of the man who runs the Tabard Inn, in Southwark, where the pilgrims meet, who is usually referred to as the "Host". His real name is "Harry Bailey".  He talks to the pilgrims and proposes a game:

    ...as ye goon by the weye
    Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye

    The Host then stipulates the rules of a tale-telling contest:

     And which of yow that bereth hym best of alle,
     That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas
     Tales of best sentence and moost solaas,
     Shal have a soper at oure aller cost
     Heere in this place, sittynge by this post,
     Whan that we come agayn fro Caunterbury.
     And for to make yow the moore mury,
     I wol myselven goodly with yow ryde
     Right at myn owene cost, and be youre gyde;
     And who so wole my juggement withseye
     Shal paye al that we spenden by the weye.

    Each pilgrim has to tell two tales on the way to Canterbury, and two more on the way back. The Host himself will leave the inn and travel with them in order to judge the contest, and that, when they return to the tavern having been on their pilgrimage, the person he judges the winner will eat supper (probably at his tavern) paid for by all of the other pilgrims. Who will the winner be?

    That is to seyn, that telleth in this caas
    Tales of best sentence and moost solaas
    (797-8)

    Sentence is moral sententiousness, moral instruction. Solaas is entertainment value, fun. These are two totally different criteria. But the answer to your question is the Host. Incidentally, we never find out who won the contest!

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/canterbury/summary

    Rate answer:

    Posted by robertwilliam on Tuesday March 17, 2009 at 6:24 PM

  2. peep2010
    peep2010 Student
    High School - 12th Grade

    The host is the one that will judge the storytelling contest in "The Canterbury Tales" and the prize will be a great dinner when they return.

    Rate answer:

    Posted by peep2010 on Friday November 13, 2009 at 7:50 AM