1. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

2. Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer ( ) wrote this story in the late 1300’s but never finished it.
He wrote in the native language or vernacular of the Medieval period in Britain called Middle English.

3. Format of the poetry
The Canterbury Tales are called a frame story, meaning that there are many stories “framed” in the larger story of the pilgrimage to Canterbury.

4. The Background of the Story
Twenty nine people that represent all aspects of Medieval society go on a pilgrimage to the cathedral at Canterbury in southeast England.
The story begins in Southwark at the Tabard Inn.
The owner of the Inn, suggest that each person tells a story to pass the time; best story will win a prize.
The Background of the Story

5. Pilgrim’s Route

6. The cathedral at Canterbury is the main cathedral of the Church of England.
The shrine devoted to the martyr Saint Thomas Becket is located at this cathedral.

7. Saint Thomas Becket was the archbishop of Canterbury.
In 1170 he was martyred by some knights of the king of England, Henry II, because they overheard complaining about Becket’s loyalty to the church at Rome over his loyalty to his king.

8. Canterbury Cathedral

9. How the story begins…
Chaucer’s characters are going to pay respects to this shrine as a part of a religious pilgrimage.
They all meet at the Tabard tavern to begin their journey.

10. Some of the characters
The host of the tavern or innkeeper is the man who suggests that the pilgrims each tell a story on the way to entertain the group.
Chaucer intended for each to tell two stories, but he only got to write one story apiece.

11. List of the Pilgrims The Host The Knight The Squire
The Knight’s Yeoman
The Prioress
The Second Nun
The Monk
The Friar
The Merchant
The Clerk
The Man of Law
The Franklin
The Weaver
The Dyer
The Carpenter
The Tapestry-Maker
The Haberdasher
The Cook
The Shipman
The Physician
The Wife of Bath
The Parson
The Miller
The Manciple
The Reeve
The Summoner
The Pardoner
The Canon
The Canon’s Yeoman

12. The Pardoner’s Tale
The Pardoner: An effeminate and shamelessly immoral man, the Pardoner is intensely self-loathing, yet devoted to his task of defrauding people of their money by making them believe that they have sinned and need to buy pardons.
His tale is an allegory about three rioters who find death through their avarice. The Pardoner uses this tale as an attempt to sell false relics to the travelers.

13. Pardoner’s Prologue
What does the Pardoner reveal to the other pilgrims?
What is his game?
What is surprising about this? Why?