The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer: overview, context, prologue | Narrator: Barbara Njau

This video series provides a summary of all 24 stories in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. The text was written in medieval Middle English around 1387. Understanding the context and background is crucial for studying this text, including knowledge about Sir Geoffrey Chaucer and important issues that affected medieval England.

Geoffrey Chaucer, born in the 1340s in London, came from a wealthy family. He worked for royalty as a teenager and later served as a soldier and diplomat during the Hundred Years War. Known for his unique style of poetry written in Middle English vernacular.

Understanding the medieval period is crucial for analyzing characters and their relevance to historical events. This era, during which the Canterbury Tales were written, was marked by significant occurrences such as the Hundred Years War between France and England, the devastating Black Death pandemic, a feudal system in place, establishment of Magna Carta as a foundational government document, Wars of Roses conflict, and transition into Tudor period.

The feudal system in the medieval period had a rigid hierarchical structure. At the bottom were landless peasants who tilled and farmed the land. Above them were Knights who fought wars, followed by noblemen and church clergy. The king was at the top of this hierarchy.

The narrator, named Chaucer, has a divine right to rule over the land. However, it is important to note that he does not directly represent Geoffrey Chaucer's own thoughts and opinions. Chaucer deliberately kept his opinions ambiguous due to potential consequences if they did not align with the king's favor.

The characters in the story include a knight, who is noble and has fought many battles. There's also the Wife of Bath, a woman from England who has been married multiple times. The Pardoner grants papal indulgences but keeps profits for himself. The Miller often disobeys orders and is bald. Other characters include a nun, a monk who loves hunting, a friar who takes bribes, and the Summoner with leprosy.

The host is unpleasant and drinks often. He leads the group in sharing stories.

In this chapter, we are introduced to the different social classes in medieval society. Franklin is a free man but not a nobleman. The Reeve is a steward who steals from his lord. The Ploughman is a peasant and the Parsons brother. The Guild's men are part of the pilgrimage and resemble a labor union or group of craftsmen.

In the prologue, Chaucer joins a group of 29 pilgrims at the Tabard Inn in Southwark. They plan to travel from London Bridge to Canterbury and share stories along the way. The host suggests that each pilgrim tells two stories on the journey, with a free meal as a reward for the best story.