The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
1400 • 80 pages
Ratings55
Average rating3.4
15
Ratings55
Average rating3.4
A collection of stories written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century. The tales (mostly in verse, although some are in prose) are told as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together on a journey from Southwark to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. In a long list of works, including Troilus and Criseyde, House of Fame, and Parliament of Fowls, The Canterbury Tales was Chaucer's magnum opus. He uses the tales and the descriptions of the characters to paint an ironic and critical portrait of English society at the time, and particularly of the Church. Structurally, the collection bears the influence of The Decameron, which Chaucer is said to have come across during his first diplomatic mission to Italy in 1372. However, Chaucer peoples his tales with 'sondry folk' rather than Boccaccio's fleeing nobles.
Reviews with the most likes.
I'd say it's more like 3.5 stars, but we round up in my family.
Some great stuff and some duds, and that's perfectly fine. When I was really in the mood for this book, even a dud story didn't bother me because the feeling of the rhymes carried me along; it was almost like listening to music in a foreign language, pleasant for the sounds if not the content. The great stuff was a treat no matter my mood, and at times I actually gasped aloud in shock and delight at the raunchiness.
Interesting idea of stories from a band of pilgrims but it got old fast.
I also read this for my English class. Although I didn't read every tale, the ones I read were actually pretty good. Some of the tales I could see the ending coming, ie The Pardoner's Tale. It's still one of my favorite though, including the tale the Wife of Bath told.
