"Canterbury Tales"

"The Canterbury

Tales":

The Canterbury Tales is a collection of over 20 stories written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century. The Canterbury Tales is an unfinished narrative poem used the structure of the three orders of society. The tales are presented 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 Tales The prize for this contest is a free meal at the Tabard Inn at Southwark on their return.

PLOT:

In April,withe the beginning of spring,people of varying social classes come from all over England to gather (riunirsi) at the Tabrd Inn in preparation for a pilgrimage to Canterbury to receive the blessings of St. Thomas à Becket,the English martyr. Chaucer himself is one of the pilgrims. That evening, the Host of the Tabard Inn suggests that each member of the group tell tales on the way to and from Canterbury in order to make the time pass more pleasantly (piacevolmente). The person who tells the best story will be awarded ( premiata) an elegant dinner at the end of the trip. The Host decides to accompany the party on its pilgrimage and appoints himself as the judge of the best tale.



Shortly after their departure the day, the pilgrims draw straws ( sorteggiando bastoncini). The Knight, who draws the shortest straw,agrees (accetta) to tell the first story, a noble story about knights,honor and love. When the Knight finishes his story, the Host calls upon the Monk. The drunken Miller, however,insists that it is his turn, and he proceeds to tell a story about a stupid carpenter. At the end of his story, everyone roars with laughter, except the Reeve, who had one been a carpenter. To get back at the Miller, the Reeve tells a lowbrow (grossolana) story about a cheating( imbroglione) miller. At the end of the Reeve's Tale, the Cook, Roger, promises to tell a true story, but he doesn't complete his tale.


By now, the first day is rapidly passing, and the Host hurries the pilgrims to get on with their tales. Using the best legalese that he knows, he calls upon the Man of Law for the next tale. The Man of Law proceeds to tell the tale of Constancy. The Host is very pleased with the tale and asks theParson to relate another one just as good. The Parson declines,however,and rebukes the Host for swearing and ridiculing him ( The Parson), The Shipman braks in and tells a lively story to make up for so much moralizing.