1. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
PowerPoint by Justin Lowry

2. History of Chaucer
Born somewhere between and died on October 25, 1400.
Chaucer married Phillippa who bore him 2 sons and a daughter.
He was fluent in French and Latin.
He wrote The Canterbury Tales from 1380s until the late 1390s.

3. Overview of his early life
He left home and became a page when he was fourteen.
As he got older, he work in the government, helping various rich men and kings.
He traveled to Italy a lot on business and met a Petrarch.
Here he became familiar with Italian stories and poetry.

4. About The Canterbury Tales
Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories. Two written in prose and the rest are written in verse.
All the stories are contained inside a frame tale which are told by several pilgrims.
Some of the tales are serious and others comical.

5. Themes and Genres
The themes of the tales vary, and include topics such as courtly love, treachery, and avarice.
Religious malpractice is a major theme.
Also, focusing on the division of the three estates (nobility, clergy, and commoners) are a big part of the tales.
The genres also vary, and include romance, Breton lai, sermon, beast fable, and fabliaux.

6. About the Story
Several pilgrims are traveling from Southwark to Canterbury to visit the Shrine of Saint Thomas Becket.
The people come from all layers of society.
They decide to entertain themselves to kill time and tell each other stories while riding on their horses.
Thus, The Canterbury Tales are born.

7. List of all the Tales The General Prologue The Knight's Tale
The Miller's Prologue and Tale
The Reeve's Prologue and Tale
The Cook's Prologue and Tale
The Man of Law's Prologue and Tale
The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale
The Friar's Prologue and Tale
The Summoner's Prologue and Tale
The Clerk's Prologue and Tale
The Merchant's Prologue and Tale
The Squire's Prologue and Tale
The Franklin's Prologue and Tale
The Physician's Tale
The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale
The Shipman's Tale
The Prioress' Prologue and Tale
Chaucer's Tale of Sir Topas
The Tale of Melibee
The Monk's Prologue and Tale
The Nun's Priest's Prologue and Tale
The Second Nun's Prologue and Tale
The Canon's Yeoman‘s Prologue and Tale
The Manciple's Prologue and Tale
The Parson's Prologue and Tale
Chaucer's Retraction

8. Tales incomplete
It was originally intended that each character in the story tell four tales (two on the way to Canterbury and two coming back)
If this had happened, there would have been a possible 120 total stories.
That would have been way more than the 24 stories actually written.

9. Significance of The Canterbury Tales
It is the first poem written in the English language.
It is therefore given much credit for inventing modern English.
It recorded words and phrases that were commonly spoken but were never put down on paper before.
Chaucer is considered the model and inspiration for the English poetry that followed him.

10. Works Cited
The Riverside Chaucer. Houghton Mifflin Co F.N. Robinson, ed.
"The Canterbury Tales: Critical Overview" Feb <
"The Canterbury Tales." 19 Feb 2008 <