Don't know what the Canterbury Tales are?
It's a series of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer. It is told in the perspectives of a group of pilgrims on their way to St. Augustine's cathedral in Canterbury, England. These aren't the Pilgrims that came over on the Mayflower to America to escape religious persecution. "Pilgrims" is used in this case to describe people on a religious journey to some sacred place for the purpose of worship. That journey is called a pilgrimage, therefore making the people pilgrims.
Anyways in the Prologue of the story, after all the characters meet at The Tabard, an inn, the innkeeper takes it upon himself to act as a guide for the journey. At the start of the trip, the Host suggests that each traveler tell a tale to help pass the time. The Host would act as judge and at the end of the pilgrimage will decide who told the best tale. That person would then win a free meal at The Tabard when they all get back from Canterbruy.
Each person tells a different tale. Some are personnal experiences, while others seek to teach something to the audience.
To see some parts of the actual text, go to my "Acknowledgements" page and click on the "Official Geoffrey Chaucer Webpage." |
