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123 Canterbury Tales Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" is a masterpiece of medieval literature, consisting of a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims journeying to the shrine of Thomas Becket. With its rich characters, intricate narratives, and social commentary, this work offers a plethora of essay topics to explore. Whether you are studying Chaucer for academic purposes or simply have an interest in medieval literature, here are 123 essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your own analysis of "The Canterbury Tales."

  • The role of satire in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • Chaucer's portrayal of women in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The theme of religion in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The use of irony in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • Chaucer's critique of the Church in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The concept of courtly love in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • Social class and its impact on the characters in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The influence of medieval society on the narratives in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • Chaucer's portrayal of knights in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The use of allegory in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The role of storytelling in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • Chaucer's commentary on marriage in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The representation of pilgrimage in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The significance of dreams and visions in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The portrayal of the clergy in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The representation of merchants in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The theme of deception in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • Chaucer's portrayal of the Miller in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The role of fate in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The use of humor and satire in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The portrayal of women's agency in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The theme of forgiveness in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The representation of aging in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The concept of masculinity in "The Canterbury Tales."
  • The role of fate in the Knight's Tale.
  • The theme of love and desire in the Wife of Bath's Tale.
  • Chaucer's critique of courtly love in the Franklin's Tale.
  • The portrayal of jealousy in the Merchant's Tale.
  • The use of irony in the Pardoner's Tale.
  • The role of power and corruption in the Summoner's Tale.
  • The theme of revenge in the Reeve's Tale.
  • Chaucer's exploration of morality in the Nun's Priest's Tale.
  • The portrayal of masculinity in the Knight's Tale and the Miller's Tale.
  • The representation of women's agency in the Wife of Bath's Tale and the Clerk's Tale.
  • The use of narrative structure in the Pardoner's Tale and the Franklin's Tale.
  • Chaucer's commentary on marriage in the Merchant's Tale and the Wife of Bath's Tale.
  • The portrayal of social class in the Reeve's Tale and the Miller's Tale.
  • The theme of justice in the Summoner's Tale and the Pardoner's Tale.
  • The role of fate in the Knight's Tale and the Franklin's Tale.
  • The representation of masculinity in the Reeve's Tale and the Miller's Tale.
  • The theme of love and desire in the Wife of Bath's Tale and the Clerk's Tale.
  • Chaucer's critique of courtly love in the Merchant's Tale and the Franklin's Tale.
  • The portrayal of women's agency in the Nun's Priest's Tale and the Wife of Bath's Tale.
  • The use of irony in the Pardoner's Tale and the Miller's Tale.
  • The role of power and corruption in the Summoner's Tale and the Reeve's Tale.
  • The theme of revenge in the Reeve's Tale and the Miller's Tale.
  • Chaucer's exploration of morality in the Nun's Priest's Tale and the Clerk's Tale.
  • The portrayal of masculinity in the Knight's Tale and the Clerk's Tale.
  • The representation of women's agency in the Wife of Bath's Tale and the Franklin's Tale.
  • The use of narrative structure in the Pardoner's Tale and the Clerk's Tale.

These essay topic ideas and examples are just a starting point for your own exploration of "The Canterbury Tales." Remember to analyze specific characters, narratives, themes, and literary techniques to deepen your understanding of Chaucer's work. Good luck with your essay writing!

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The Canterbury Tales Research Paper

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Geoffrey Chaucer

Canterbury tales, works cited.

Geoffrey Chaucer the author of the book The Canterbury Tales was among England’s best poets. He was born at around 1340 in London. His father was a wine businessman and an assistant of King Butler. Geoffrey Chaucer’s life is not so understandable especially when we try to look at his early age that is from child hood until the time he started schooling.

Geoffrey became skilled at reading a number of languages such as French, Italian language, and even Latin. His skills as a diplomat as well as a public servant are alleged to have been obtained during his enthrallment with the public not forgetting the basics of his English knowledge.

During the year 1359 to 1360 Geoffrey Chaucer made a trip with the military of King Edward for war in France for the period of one hundred Years. He only came back to England later when the agreement of Bretigny was made and the King was compensated with a lot of money. Geoffrey Chaucer got married with Philippa Roet who was one of Queen’s ladies. He was blessed with four children this were two boys and two girls.

With a lot of pressure to take care of his family and other responsibilities Geoffrey Chaucer still remained in magnificent in his peripatetic services to places like Italy, Spain and even Flanders. However his peripatetic services had an immense influence on his occupation. Geoffrey Chaucer early scripts were mainly subjected by the customs of the French people who were more interested loved poetry so much. (Chaucer 43)

In most of his work Geoffrey Chaucer noted down using Middle English which was a type of English that was used quite many years back. Geoffrey Chaucer was given the title as being one of the earliest English poets who used poems in iambic pentameter apart from creating them effectively using vernacular language.

Geoffrey Chaucer has also been able to write quite a good number of poems such as The Book of the Duchess, House of Fame, The Parliament of Fowls and The Legend of Good Women. Unfortunately Geoffrey Chaucer passed away on the 25 th of October, 1400 in London. His funeral was done at a place called Westminster Abbey nowadays named as the Poet’s Corner. (Dean 57)

The Canterbury Tales of is nothing but a combination of funny, vulgar, and even emotional narratives that are enlightened by a cluster of imaginary pilgrims moving to a holy place most probably at St. Thomas. The Canterbury Tales was written towards the end of the 14 th century and taken to be among the works done by the genius people in literature. This tales are in most cases notified as part of a story told by some kind of a group of people that are traveling.

Geoffrey Chaucer uses this tales together with the images of his characters to cover a sarcastic and significant description in an English community more especially the Church. Structurally this combination tolerates the control of Decameron by Geoffrey Chaucer in which rumors had to say that he was having transversely in his primary diplomatic operation toward Italy but then still peoples liked his tales. (Chaucer 110)

The Canterbury Tales was put in black and white during a chaotic instance in history. At the center of the Western division was the Catholic Church despite the fact that it was the only Christian influence in the whole of Europe. The Catholic Church became a topic of serious disagreement.

One of the initial English religious groups by the name Lollardy that was guided by John Wycliffe is stated in the Canterbury Tales, as a precise event concerning people who collected cash in substitute for forgiveness from sin. They asserted to be gathering for one of the hospital found in England by the name St. Mary Rouncesval.

The Political conflicts disclosed how complex the chaoses were when Geoffrey Chaucer was writing Tales. Many of Geoffrey Chaucer’s close associates were executed hence forcing him to shift to a place called Kent at least to distance himself from what was going on in London.

The Canterbury Tales echo various visions facing the Churches in England. Subsequently the passing away of Blacks and many Europeans started to raise questions regarding the influence of the customary Churches, Some people decided to intense fewer trails and hence forcing them to start fresh Spartan tips which exposed the corruption church. A number of characters found in The Canterbury Tales are spiritual facts, and the very background of the movement to the Canterbury is spiritual. (Dean 66)

The superior group that was symbolized primarily by the Knights with his Squire was in Geoffrey Chaucer’s time sheered in customs of politeness and loyalty. Aristocracies were anticipated to be influential soldiers who could be mercilessly on the battleground nevertheless gallant in the Christian and the King’s square in their proceedings.

Knights were anticipated to shape up a physically powerful communal tie with the gentlemen who wrestled in conjunction with them. However a powerful tie with a woman whom they romanticized in order to reinforce their hostility was too dignified to accomplishment hence frequently its contradictory principles degenerate into brutality.

The Canterbury Tales also continually reveal the disagreement among classes. For instance the separations of three estates, the characters are separated to three different classes. Conferences are only followed in case the Knight starts the match with a tale, because they signify the uppermost communal class in the set.

But then when they are tracked by the Miller, in this case who are signifying an inferior class, it positions for them an arena for the Tales in order to be a sign of both esteem and pay no attention to the superior class policy. (Chalmers 45)

Geoffrey Chaucer’s characters convey very much different observations of certainty hence creating an impression of relativism. It is clear that diverse genres can give diverse readings of the globe but the way fabliau barely observes the procedures of God, even the saint’s existence centers on those that are at the cost of substantial certainty regions and sermons. The pure figure of unreliable people and tales leaves the Tales at a position we are not capable to land at any specific fact or certainty.

The diversity of Geoffrey Chaucer’s tales illustrates the extent of the skills that he has not forgetting his acquaintance with innumerable metaphorical appearances and linguistic approaches. Medieval institutions of public speaking during that time supported such assortment and hence separating literature into an elevated focus and stumpy techniques when considered by the concentration of metaphorical forms and terminology. (Chaucer 187)

One more fashionable technique of separation was approached from St. Augustine and this mainly paid some extra attention on spectators’ reply but fewer on the theme. This made Geoffrey Chaucer to separate his literature work into. Authors were given confidence to inscribe in such a method that makes them to be more intelligent on the speaker’s topic and even the audience themselves.

Geoffrey Chaucer moved liberally among all these styles to show no preferential treatment to anybody. He also not only regards the readers of his efforts as the audience, but also as travelers inside the tale hence generating a multi coated metaphorical mystery of uncertainty. From this many people take Geoffrey Chaucer and his works thus far exceeding the capability of any other particular medieval hypothesis to come across.

On the other hand, Geoffrey Chaucer keeps away from aiming any precise audience or public class of people who read his work, centering as an alternative on his own characters, however he uses their account with an ability that is comparative to their social conditions and education. Starting from even characters like Miller, he shows some astonishing metaphorical skills even though their topic is more of having some mass appeal. (Chalmers 98)

The terminology employed in the Canterbury Tales also plays a significant element as it is in the senior classes were they refer a female as a lady at the same time the inferior classes also make use of the word wenche with no exclusions. Sometimes the same word can be used to have a different meaning completely between the two classes.

Take for example another word pitee for the superior classes it is taken to be a dignified idea while on the other hand the in some parts it is used to refer to sexual association. However the Canterbury Tales shows some amazing talents among the words both in the inferior classes.

In conclusion we can say that there is no any other work proceeding to Geoffrey Chaucer that we can say is recognized to contain a set of collected works like the Canterbury Tales inside the skeleton of travelers traveling. It is understandable however that Geoffrey Chaucer sometimes had to borrow some segment of his narratives from previous narratives hence making his work to be more subjected by the common circumstances of the fictional globe in which he resided.

Telling of stories was the major amusement in England during that time, and the competition of telling of stories had been there over the years for a very long time. For example in the 14 th century there was a selected person in charge whose main work was to evaluate songs that were done in a group.

The victor of the songs could then be acknowledged with a crown. Likewise the victor of the Canterbury Tales was given dinner at no cost. It was ordinary for travelers who were traveling to choose one person as the head of service to direct in organizing their expedition.

Chalmers, Alexander. The works of the English poets. 8 th ed. England: J. Johnson, 2009. Print.

Chaucer, Geoffrey. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. England: Barron’s Educational Series, 1970. Print.

Dean, Larry. Canterbury tales . England: Houghton Mifflin, 1982. Print.

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IvyPanda. (2018, July 24). The Canterbury Tales. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-canterbury-tales/

"The Canterbury Tales." IvyPanda , 24 July 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/the-canterbury-tales/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'The Canterbury Tales'. 24 July.

IvyPanda . 2018. "The Canterbury Tales." July 24, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-canterbury-tales/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Canterbury Tales." July 24, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-canterbury-tales/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Canterbury Tales." July 24, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-canterbury-tales/.

The Canterbury Tales

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue–“Chaucer’s Tales”

“The Monk’s Tale”–“The Pardoner’s Tale”

“The Wife of Bath’s Tale”–“Chaucer’s Retractions”

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Why do you think Chaucer might have leavened with humor even the more serious and romantic of his tales (as in the squabbling gods of the Knight’s story)? How does humor seem to relate to Chaucer’s larger perspective on the world?

Chaucer left “The Cook’s Tale” unfinished. Write an ending for it based on the stories you’ve seen around it. What might become of Revelling [sic] Peterkin and his lowlife friends? What in the rest of The Canterbury Tales makes you think so?

Pick two adjacent tales in which the tellers seem to get on each other’s nerves (there are plenty to choose from!). How do these tales play off each other? What similar ideas are being addressed differently in each, and how do the poem’s themes evolve through different tellers?

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Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales

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  • What is The Canterbury Tales ?

poem. A poet in a Heian period kimono writes Japanese poetry during the Kamo Kyokusui No En Ancient Festival at Jonan-gu shrine on April 29, 2013 in Kyoto, Japan. Festival of Kyokusui-no Utage orignated in 1,182, party Heian era (794-1192).

The Canterbury Tales

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The Canterbury Tales , frame story by Geoffrey Chaucer , written in Middle English in 1387–1400.

The framing device for the collection of stories is a pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury , Kent. The 30 pilgrims who undertake the journey gather at the Tabard Inn in Southwark , across the Thames from London . They agree to engage in a storytelling contest as they travel, and Harry Bailly , host of the Tabard, serves as master of ceremonies for the contest. Most of the pilgrims are introduced by vivid brief sketches in the “General Prologue.” Interspersed between the 24 tales are short dramatic scenes (called links) presenting lively exchanges, usually involving the host and one or more of the pilgrims. Chaucer did not complete the full plan for his book: the return journey from Canterbury is not included, and some of the pilgrims do not tell stories.

canterbury tales research paper topics

The use of a pilgrimage as the framing device enabled Chaucer to bring together people from many walks of life: knight, prioress, monk; merchant, man of law, franklin, scholarly clerk; miller, reeve, pardoner; wife of Bath and many others. The multiplicity of social types, as well as the device of the storytelling contest itself, allowed presentation of a highly varied collection of literary genres: religious legend , courtly romance , racy fabliau , saint’s life , allegorical tale , beast fable , medieval sermon, alchemical account, and, at times, mixtures of these genres . The stories and links together offer complex depictions of the pilgrims, while, at the same time, the tales present remarkable examples of short narratives in verse, plus two expositions in prose. The pilgrimage, which in medieval practice combined a fundamentally religious purpose with the secular benefit of a spring vacation, made possible extended consideration of the relationship between the pleasures and vices of this world and the spiritual aspirations for the next.

The Canterbury Tales consists of the General Prologue, The Knight’s Tale , The Miller’s Tale , The Reeve’s Tale , The Cook’s Tale , The Man of Law’s Tale , The Wife of Bath’s Tale , The Friar’s Tale , The Summoner’s Tale , The Clerk’s Tale , The Merchant’s Tale , The Squire’s Tale , The Franklin’s Tale , The Second Nun’s Tale , The Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale , The Physician’s Tale , The Pardoner’s Tale , The Shipman’s Tale , The Prioress’s Tale , The Tale of Sir Thopas , The Tale of Melibeus (in prose), The Monk’s Tale , The Nun’s Priest’s Tale , The Manciple’s Tale , and The Parson’s Tale (in prose), and ends with “Chaucer’s Retraction.” Not all the tales are complete; several contain their own prologues or epilogues.

Probably influenced by French syllable-counting in versification, Chaucer developed for The Canterbury Tales a line of 10 syllables with alternating accent and regular end rhyme—an ancestor of the heroic couplet .

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The Canterbury Tales

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The Canterbury Tales: Introduction

The canterbury tales: plot summary, the canterbury tales: detailed summary & analysis, the canterbury tales: themes, the canterbury tales: quotes, the canterbury tales: characters, the canterbury tales: symbols, the canterbury tales: theme wheel, brief biography of geoffrey chaucer.

The Canterbury Tales PDF

Historical Context of The Canterbury Tales

Other books related to the canterbury tales.

  • Full Title: The Canterbury Tales
  • When Written: End of the 14th century
  • Where Written: London, England
  • Literary Period: Medieval
  • Genre: Estate satire
  • Setting: The road to Canterbury, England
  • Climax: No climax: each Tale has its own climax, but the Tales as a whole are unfinished, and though they are interconnected in terms of characters and themes, there is not a single plot thread that develops throughout.
  • Point of View: Many different characters tell their tales, but the whole frame narrative is told through the eyes of Chaucer the pilgrim. It’s also important to keep in mind that the Tales are unfinished. Each pilgrim is supposed to get two tales––one for the road to Canterbury, and one for the way back––but several of the pilgrims don’t even get one story, and they never actually make it to Canterbury.

Extra Credit for The Canterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer Tweeteth. Though Chaucer likely did not foresee a digital future for the Tales , he has a very active social networking presence, particular under the Twitter handle “LeVostreGC”(https://twitter.com/LeVostreGC). The blogosphere has adopted Chaucer in sites such as “Geoffrey Chaucer Hath a Blog” (http://houseoffame.blogspot.com), which is written in a fake Middle English and features entries “written” not only by Chaucer but by his son and his contemporaries.

Chaucer Through the Ages. Since its first publication, The Canterbury Tales has never been out of print, and they have inspired countless adaptations and re-workings. In his Autobiography , Ben Franklin claimed, perhaps as a joke, that his last name came from Chaucer’s Franklin. The whole genre of the buddy road-trip movie can be traced to the structure of the Tales . Some recent adaptations have included the 2001 film A Knight’s Tale , featuring Paul Bettany playing Chaucer himself.

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Essays on The Canterbury Tales

The Canterbury Tales is a literary classic that has been studied and analyzed for centuries. Writing an essay on this work is important for several reasons. First and foremost, it allows the writer to delve into the rich themes, characters, and symbolism present in the text. Through the process of writing an essay, one can gain a deeper understanding of The Canterbury Tales and its relevance to literature and society.

Furthermore, writing an essay on The Canterbury Tales provides an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing conversation surrounding this influential work. By offering original insights and interpretations, the writer can add to the body of critical thought on the text and engage with other scholars and enthusiasts.

When writing an essay on The Canterbury Tales, it is important to first thoroughly read and understand the text. Take note of key themes, character motivations, and the historical context in which the work was written. This will provide a solid foundation for developing a thesis and supporting arguments.

It is also crucial to engage with existing scholarship on The Canterbury Tales. This can help to situate your own analysis within the broader critical conversation and ensure that your essay offers a fresh perspective.

In terms of writing tips, it is important to craft a clear and focused thesis statement that articulates the main argument of your essay. Use specific examples from the text to support your points, and consider the implications of your analysis for the broader understanding of The Canterbury Tales.

Additionally, pay attention to the structure and organization of your essay. Ensure that your ideas flow logically and that each paragraph contributes to the overall argument. Finally, proofread your work carefully to eliminate any errors and refine your prose.

By taking the time to write a thoughtful and well-researched essay on The Canterbury Tales, one can gain a deeper appreciation for this classic work and contribute to the ongoing scholarly dialogue surrounding it.

What Makes a Good The Canterbury Tales Essay Topics

When it comes to writing an essay on The Canterbury Tales, choosing the right topic is crucial. A good essay topic should be thought-provoking, engaging, and relevant to the themes and characters in the text. To brainstorm and choose an essay topic, consider the different themes and motifs present in the tales, such as love, honor, religion, and social class. Think about how these themes are portrayed through the characters and their interactions. Additionally, consider the historical and cultural context of the text and how it relates to contemporary issues. A good essay topic should also be open to interpretation and analysis, allowing for in-depth exploration and discussion.

Best The Canterbury Tales Essay Topics

  • The Role of Women in The Canterbury Tales
  • The Use of Satire in Chaucer's Tales
  • The Portrayal of Religious Figures in The Canterbury Tales
  • The Concept of Love and Marriage in the Tales
  • Social Class and Power Dynamics in The Canterbury Tales
  • The Influence of Medieval Society on The Canterbury Tales
  • The Symbolism of the Pilgrimage in the Tales
  • Chaucer's Critique of Feudalism in The Canterbury Tales
  • The Theme of Deception and Trickery in the Tales
  • The Concept of Redemption and Forgiveness in The Canterbury Tales
  • The Representation of Different Professions in the Tales
  • The Role of Fate and Destiny in The Canterbury Tales
  • The Use of Irony and Humor in Chaucer's Tales
  • The Influence of Courtly Love in The Canterbury Tales
  • The Concept of Morality and Ethics in the Tales
  • The Portrayal of Nature and the Supernatural in The Canterbury Tales
  • The Role of Storytelling and Narrative Technique in the Tales
  • The Influence of Religion and Religious Institutions in The Canterbury Tales
  • The Theme of Justice and Retribution in the Tales
  • The Impact of The Canterbury Tales on English Literature and Culture

The Canterbury Tales Essay Topics Prompts

  • If you were to join the pilgrimage to Canterbury, which character from The Canterbury Tales would you be and why?
  • Write a modern-day adaptation of one of the tales, setting it in a contemporary society.
  • Imagine a conversation between two characters from different tales, discussing their views on love, honor, or religion.
  • Create a new tale to be added to The Canterbury Tales, following Chaucer's style and themes.
  • Write an analysis of the portrayal of women in The Canterbury Tales, discussing the different perspectives and roles of female characters in the text.

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales: The Enigmatic Chaunticleer

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Situational Irony in Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Pardoner's Tale'

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Portrayal of Social Classes in The Canterbury Tales

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Hypocrisy and Corruption in The Canterbury Tales

Analysis of the narrative in chaucer's the canterbury tales, an analysis of humor in the canterbury tales, why the canterbury tales should not be banned, the hints of feminism in the wife of bath in geoffrey chaucer's the canterbury tales, correlation of the knight’s tale and miller’s tale by g. chaucer, analysis of chaucer’s storytelling techniques, chaucer’s unpretentious study of the scholar’s character, chaucer and perception of women, the impact of christianity on women’s acceptable behaviour in canterbury tales, the wife of bath: analysis from the biblical viewpoint, analysis of the wife of bath as honest, literature's first feminist in the wife of bath's tale, the medieval perception of rape as depicted by geoffrey chaucer, chaucer’s prioress: idealism vs. reality, the power of monarch in the wife of bath, allegory in the wife of bath, analysis of chaucer’s depiction of pardoner in the pardoner’s tale, perception of contemporary society expressed in the canterbury tales, merchant’s tale: analysis of genre and main ideas.

1387 - 1400

Geoffrey Chaucer

A collection of 24 Middle English stories

Satire, Poetry, Fiction, Anthology

The Pardoner, The Wife of Bath, Troilus, The Miller, The Knight, The Narrator

It is believed that Geoffrey Chaucer has been influenced by the French style of syllable-counting for the heroic couplet writing style.

A pilgrimage, the journey of repentance, a rebirth, and the new start of life.

One of the most important aspects of the Canterbury Tales is that it is written in Middle English and not in French, which was the language common at the time. It has made it one of the most important works of medieval literature related to the 14th century CE. Considering the Norman Invasion, Chaucer's work is a great cultural and linguistic literary heritage.

The Canterbury Tales contain the stories that are revolving around the 29 pilgrims as they make their journey from London to Saint Thomas Becket's shrine in Canterbury. While the tales are different, Chaucer is keeping high morals and heroism. It deals with love that remains the same, talks about the lust that gets a person in trouble, religious challenges, and the ways how honesty and honor are valued.

  • Belonging to the middle-class parents, Chaucer actually started his career as a diplomat, yet ended up as a gardener.
  • The Narrator is never named and probably belongs to the pilgrimage as the anonymous person.
  • The characters are equal, according to Chaucer, which means that none is better than the others.
  • Each character in the Canterbury tales represents particular views of the era.
  • The final destination that the pilgrims have chosen is the Tabard Inn.
  • The original copies of Canterbury Tales have been made available in print in 1477.
  • Chaucter originally planned to write about 120 tales, yet only 20 of them have been written.
  • “If gold rusts, what then can iron do?”
  • “No empty handed man can lure a bird”
  • “Purity in body and heart May please some--as for me, I make no boast. For, as you know, no master of a household Has all of his utensils made of gold; Some are wood, and yet they are of use.”
  • “Love will not be constrain'd by mastery. When mast'ry comes, the god of love anon Beateth his wings, and, farewell, he is gone. Love is a thing as any spirit free.”
  • “Yet do not miss the moral, my good men. For Saint Paul says that all that’s written well Is written down some useful truth to tell. Then take the wheat and let the chaff lie still.”

The most important aspect of the Canterbury Tales is the high morals. A good example is the wife of Bath, which speaks of women's striving for dominance over men and the fact that providing women with dominance over men is not that bad after all. This way each story reflects an idea of living a different, more pure life. It also tells about how does the canterbury tales relate to modern society since we also talk about high morals, sincerity, and our inner pilgrimage to become a better person. It is the main importance of these tales.

If we do not count The Canterbury Tales as one of the most important English written literary works, it is often used as the allegory type essay where the college students can take at least one story to talk about love, honor, courage, fear, religion, and many other topics. It can be compared to the modern society where people want to achieve self-identity and become a different person.

One should see the most famous quote spoken by the Pardoner, which is "preaching against what I practice". The Pardoner is the reflection of hypocrisy. A great example is attacking the greed during the sermons and then asking people to give up their gold, so they could finally repent from their greed.

c. 1400, by Geoffrey Chaucer

Frame story

The tales (mostly written in verse, although some are in prose) are presented as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travel together from London to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. The prize for this contest is a free meal at the Tabard Inn at Southwark on their return.

The Canterbury Tales consists of the General Prologue, The Knight’s Tale, The Miller’s Tale, The Reeve’s Tale, The Cook’s Tale, The Man of Law’s Tale, The Wife of Bath’s Tale, The Friar’s Tale, The Summoner’s Tale, The Clerk’s Tale, The Merchant’s Tale, The Squire’s Tale, The Franklin’s Tale, The Second Nun’s Tale, The Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale, The Physician’s Tale, The Pardoner’s Tale, The Shipman’s Tale, The Prioress’s Tale, The Tale of Sir Thopas, The Tale of Melibeus, The Monk’s Tale, The Nun’s Priest’s Tale, The Manciple’s Tale, and The Parson’s Tale, and ends with “Chaucer’s Retraction.”

Social satire is the major theme of The Canterbury Tales. The medieval society was set on three foundations: the nobility, the church, and the peasantry. Chaucer's satire targets all segments of the medieval social issues, human immorality, and depraved heart.

Narrator, Host, Knight, Squire, Prioress, Second nun, Nun's priests, Monk, Friar, Merchant, Clerk, Man of law, Franklin, Cook, Shipman, Physician, Parson, Wife of Bath, Miller, Manciple, Reeve, Summoner, Pardoner, Canon

Probably influenced by French syllable-counting in versification, Chaucer developed for The Canterbury Tales a line of 10 syllables with alternating accent and regular end rhyme — an ancestor of the heroic couplet. The stories and links together offer complex depictions of the pilgrims, while, at the same time, the tales present remarkable examples of short narratives in verse, plus two expositions in prose.

It has been suggested that the greatest contribution of The Canterbury Tales to English literature was the popularisation of the English vernacular in mainstream literature, as opposed to French, Italian or Latin. Although perhaps incomplete, The Canterbury Tales is revered as one of the most important works in English literature.

“People can die of mere imagination.” “If gold rusts, what then can iron do?” “No empty handed man can lure a bird.” “Youth may outrun the old, but not outwit.”

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canterbury tales research paper topics

The Canterbury Tales

Introduction to the canterbury tales, summary of the canterbury tales, major themes in the canterbury tales, major characters of the canterbury tales, writing style of the canterbury tales, analysis of the literary devices in the canterbury tales, related posts:, post navigation.

The Canterbury Tales

By geoffrey chaucer, the canterbury tales essay questions.

The Prioress wears "a brooch of gold ful sheene / On which ther was first write a crowned A, / And after Amor vincit omnia" (General Prologue, l.159-162). Might "Love Conquers All" be the moral of the Tales?

This question asks you to consider the Tales as a whole work, and to trace the theme of love conquering all throughout the work. Remember that with a question like this, it is just as possible to disagree as to agree: just make sure you justify your answer with examples from the text.

Useful tales to look at might include The Miller's Tale, The Merchant's Tale, The Prioress' Tale, The Manciple's Tale, The Wife of Bath's Tale .

Choose one word (and its variants), and use it as a key to the interpretation of any one Tale.

This question asks you to follow the fortunes of a single word through any tale, and structure your argument around the repeated uses of this single word. You should start by highlighting all the moments in the tale that the single word appears, and talk about how its meaning changes or deepens as the tale progresses.

Useful tales to look at might include The Miller's Tale (suggested word: "pryvetee"), The Wife of Bath's Tale (suggested word: "clooth"), The Franklin's Tale (suggested word: "trouthe"), The Shipman's Tale (suggested word: "tail") or The Merchant's Tale (suggested word: "corage").

What do women most desire in the Tales?

This question asks you to look at the characterization and presentation of the female characters in the Tales (which could include characters within tales as well as female pilgrims). Remember to begin by examining the Tale from which the question comes.

Useful tales to look at might include: The Wife of Bath's Tale, The Miller's Tale, The Merchant's Tale, The Shipman's Tale, Melibee .

"The Wife of Bath is Chaucer's most completely drawn character." Do you agree?

This question asks you to compare the characterization of the Wife of Bath to any of the other characterizations in the Tales. Do you think the Wife is completely drawn? If so, why? If not, why not - and which character is better fleshed out?

Useful tales to look at must include The Wife of Bath's Tale .

"Men in the Tales are largely depicted as idiots, blindly and foolishy adhering to outdated, impractical codes of chivalry and honour." Do you agree?

This question asks you to consider the presentation of men in the Tales. Look at examples which support the quotation's argument, but also remember that Chaucer includes a variety of presentations - and that there is certainly justification in the text for taking the opposing view to the quotation.

Useful tales to look at might include The Knight's Tale, The Merchant's Tale, The Physician's Tale, Sir Thopas, The Franklin's Tale .

"Chaucer writes the Tales in pairs". Do you agree?

This question asks you to consider the structure of the Tales, and consider whether each Tale has a pair. It would be a good idea to examine some tales which do fall naturally into pairs, but also to consider some that do not - or perhaps, even fall into threes.

Useful tales to look at might include The Miller's Tale with The Knight's Tale or The Reeve's Tale , The Friar's Tale with The Summoner's Tale , The Shipman's Tale with The Wife of Bath's Tale and The Manciple's Tale with The Nun's Priest's Tale .

"It is no wonder that Chaucer retracts the Tales at the end of the work. They are quite simply blasphemous." Can we read the Tales as a religious work?

This question asks you to consider the theme of religion in the Tales. It is a difficult subject to precisely consider, and would be helped by some knowledge of the religious context of the later 1300s when Chaucer was writing. Don't forget to define "blasphemy".

Useful tales to look at might include: The Miller's Tale, The Wife of Bath's Tale, The Summoner's Tale, The Prioress' Tale, The Second Nun's Tale, The Parson's Tale .

"Women in Chaucer are idealized objects of desire." Write an essay about the presentation of women in the Tales.

This question asks you to consider the presentation of women across the Tales as a whole. Remember to include contradictory facets: there is nothing to say that Chaucer's writings are consistent from tale to tale. It might be best to choose two entirely contradictory examples (say, Cecilia in the Second Nun's Tale, and the Wife of Bath) and try and find some points of similarity.

Useful tales to look at might include The Wife of Bath's Tale, The Prioress' Tale, The Miller's Tale, The Reeve's Tale .

At what point does a joke become cruel? Write an essay about one Tale of your choice.

This question asks you to look at the comedy of the Tales and to decide whether you find it funny or cruel (or a combination of the two). Consider whether physical harm is funny, whether cruelty and comedy depend on events depicted or on presentation, and on how dissimilar tales are which you find very funny, and very cruel.

Useful tales to look at might include The Miller's Tale, The Reeve's Tale, The Summoner's Tale, The Manciple's Tale, The Physician's Tale, The Wife of Bath's Tale and The Merchant's Tale .

"Chaucer, though he features himself in the Tales, is adept at vanishing completely." Write an essay about the persona(e) of Chaucer.

This question asks you to focus on what you learn about Chaucer himself: remember that there are two Chaucers, one a character, one the author.

Useful tales to look at might include Sir Thopas, Melibee, The Man of Law's Tale, The General Prologue, the Retraction .

"What nedeth wordes mo?" Is language worthless in the Canterbury Tales?

This question asks you to write an essay about language in the Tales, and analyse whether or not you think it is presented as having value, as being worthless, or - more likely - that it is some combination of the two.

Useful tales to look at might include The Reeve's Tale, The Manciple's Tale, The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Knight's Tale, Chaucer's Retraction .

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The Canterbury Tales Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Canterbury Tales is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

chaucer's realism in canterbury tales with referance of characters?

This is a very involved question that demands more information than this space allows. Still you can find information on specific parts of the tale. Check out this link:

The Rape of the Lock as a mock epic?

The opening of The Rape of the Lock establishes the poem’s mock-heroic tone. In the tradition of epic poetry, Pope opens the poem by invoking a muse, but rather than invoke one of the mythic Greek muses, Pope leaves the muse anonymous and instead...

"And palmers long to seek the stranger strands" (line 13) translates to mean what EXACTLY

The above quote from The Canterbury Tales translates to mean something like "the pilgrims seek foreign shores".

Study Guide for The Canterbury Tales

The Canterbury Tales is the last of Geoffrey Chaucer's works, and he only finished 24 of an initially planned 100 tales. The Canterbury Tales study guide contains a biography of Geoffrey Chaucer, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

  • About The Canterbury Tales
  • The Canterbury Tales Summary
  • The Canterbury Tales General Prologue Video
  • Character List

Essays for The Canterbury Tales

The Canterbury Tales is considered one of the greatest works produced in Middle English. The Canterbury Tales essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.

  • "Love" in the Courtly Tradition
  • On Cuckoldry: Women, Silence, and Subjectivity in the Merchant's Tale and the Manciple's Tale
  • Vision, Truth, and Genre in the Merchant's Tale
  • In Private: the Promise in The Franklin's Tale
  • Feminism or Anti-Feminism: Images of Women in Chaucer's "The Wife of Bath"

Lesson Plan for The Canterbury Tales

  • About the Author
  • Study Objectives
  • Common Core Standards
  • Introduction to The Canterbury Tales
  • Relationship to Other Books
  • Bringing in Technology
  • Notes to the Teacher
  • Related Links
  • The Canterbury Tales Bibliography

E-Text of The Canterbury Tales

The Canterbury Tales e-text contains the full text of The Canterbury Tales written by Geoffrey Chaucer.

  • Life of Geoffrey Chaucer
  • The Knight's Tale
  • The Miller's Tale

Wikipedia Entries for The Canterbury Tales

  • Introduction

canterbury tales research paper topics

The Canterbury Tales: Essay Topics & Samples

Are you anxious because of the upcoming Canterbury Tales essay? Don’t be nervous—you will succeed with our help.

In this article, you will find catchy and effective essay topics, essential tips, and useful examples. Are you ready to compose an outstanding paper on Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales ? Take a look at our advice then.

Essay Topics

Essay sample.

  • The Canterbury Tales – a glance to Medieval England. Explain how Geoffrey Chaucer presents the social system of Medieval England through the characters’ description. What classes does he introduce in the book? Elaborate on the drawbacks of society by providing examples from the text.
  • The women’s role in The Canterbury Tales . How does the author portray the women in the book? Investigate the personality of the Wife of Bath . How does she look like, and what does she symbolize? Also, analyze her tale. What is the fundamental idea of the story? How does the Wife of Bath raise the issue of women’s desires?
  • The church corruption. Analyze the religious representatives in the book. How do the Monk, the Pardoner, the Summoner, and the Friar’s look like? What clothes and accessories do they have? Elaborate on their lifestyles. How do these characters reflect on the ecclesiastical brunch problems?
  • From light humor to harsh satire. How does Geoffery Chaucer mock the flaws of the social classes through humor and satire ? How do you think is such blatant ridicule of certain characters reasonable? Support your claims with examples and quotes from the book.
  • The significance of the Knight. Analyze the character of the Knight . How does he behave? What does his clothing tell about him? Compare the Knight to the other characters. To make the contrast more visible, draw a parallel line between the Knight and the Miller . Support your statements with the quotes from the text.
  • The Pardoner’s Tale and its relevance in the modern world. Briefly introduce the main characters of the story and their intentions. Why does a greedy nature drive them to commit cruel things? Compare the medieval times with the contemporary world. Is the Pardoner’s Tale still relatable? To make your essay even more dynamic, provide quotes from the text and real-life examples.
  • Finding common ground. Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales impress with the vast diversity of archetypes presented in the book. Explain how all the pilgrims manage to find common ground despite all their differences. What is the Narrator’s and the Host’s role in establishing a connection between the travelers?
  • Deceit as the core motif of the book. In The Canterbury Tales , the theme of lie and dishonesty appears in the prologue and numerous pilgrim’s tales. Why do the characters lie about their statuses? Explain how the travelers’ dishonesty characterizes the medieval society.
  • The Miller’s Tale crudity. Analyze the Miller’s story full of rude and dirty jokes. What is the core idea of the tale? How does The Miller’s Tale reflect his personality? Provide appropriate quotes from the text to highlight Miller’s arrogance.
  • The uniqueness of Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Explore the distinctive features of the book. Comment on its unusual structure. What literary devices does Chaucer use to connect all the stories into one piece of writing? Explore the significance of the prologue in The Tales .

Even when you have a good idea, composing a good The Canterbury Tales essay can become a struggle. There are too many characters and stories in the book, so getting confused becomes extremely easy. Besides, the paper’s format and reasoning can be tricky to figure out.

Below, you’ll discover the essay samples about Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales that can help you write your own:

  • “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer The Canterbury Tales is one of the most well-known collections of tales. The narrator tells a story of pilgrims who are on their way to Canterbury. In the present essay, the creation of characters is explained. The author identifies the instances of irony and humor and discusses exciting words.
  • “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” by Geoffrey Chaucer The Wide of Bath’s Tale is one of the best know stories from The Canterbury Tales . Besides an engaging plot, it provides insight into the role of women in that time through the tale. The essay discusses the main characters, the usage of irony, and the setting of the story.
  • “The Wife of Bath” and Chaucer’s Antifeminism Essay From The Canterbury Tales , it might seem that Chaucer is a feminist. His stories often portrayed men as immoral creatures. The present essay aims to answer whether Chaucer strived to highlight the topic of feminism in his works.
  • Human Issues in Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’ Canterbury Tales is the reflection of people’s daily life in the Kingdom of England in the 14th century. Surprisingly, the majority of topics discussed by Geoffrey Chaucer are still relevant nowadays. What are these issues? Why do we discuss them in the 21st century? Find out in this essay!
  • Marriage According to Geoffrey Chaucer and Jane Austen Marriage has always been a hotly debated topic. Therefore, many writers discuss this issue in their works. But what Geoffrey Chaucer’s and Jane Austen’s perspectives on marriage are? Read this essay to compare and contrast the opinions of two of the most outstanding English writers.
  • The Canterbury Tales: The Knight’s Tale Analysis What was The Knight’s Tale about? Are there any symbols, hidden context, or undiscovered questions? What’s the moral of this story? Find the answers to these questions in this paper!
  • Social Life in Canterbury Tales vs. Pride & Prejudice: Compare & Contrast Essay How do Geoffrey Chaucer and Jane Austen describe social life in their works? The author of this essay considers its aspects in The Canterbury Tales and Pride & Prejudice . Read it and find out some valuable insights.
  • Social Satire in The Canterbury Tales Wondering how Chaucer ridicules the flaws of society so masterfully? He applies satire for this purpose! Describing social problems in a satirical way, the author highlights the importance of their quick resolution. Check out this essay to analyze social satire in The Canterbury Tales in detail.
  • Character Analysis of the Knight from The Canterbury Tales The Knight is one of the central figures in The Canterbury Tales. Therefore, a clear understanding of his personality is vital for the comprehension of the entire book. Read this essay to get an in-depth analysis of the Knight.
  • Analysis of “The Miller’s Tale” from Canterbury Tales Among a wide variety of stories included in The Canterbury Tales , The Miller’s Tale turns out to be one of the spiciest ones. Why would Chaucer have such a story in his book? Search for an answer in the essay! Get a detailed analysis of The Miller’s Tale here .
  • A Criticism of the Church in Canterbury Tales Religion has always been a controversial topic. If we talk about its role in 14th century England, the church becomes another intriguing issue to discuss. Examine this essay to find out about the weak sides of the church in Chaucer’s time.
  • The Symbolism of Clothes in Canterbury Tales The way you dress up can reflect your personality. This is the case in The Canterbury Tales as well. Chaucer puts an emphasis on everyone’s clothing in the book. That’s why the author of the essay investigates the symbolic meaning of each character’s clothes. Check it out to gain some insights!
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Canterbury Tales Study Guide

Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales is an outstanding piece of literature that consists of fascinating stories about Pilgrims’ adventures. The book hides a lot of secrets behind its plot and famous prologue. Do you want to explore them? Take a look at our Canterbury Tales study guide! You will discover the...

The Canterbury Tales Summary & Analysis — Essential Stories

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The Canterbury Tales’ Characters: Chaucer’s Pilgrims Retold

The diversity of characters in The Canterbury Tales plays a crucial role in the book’s entire concept. Are you searching for The Canterbury Tales characters’ analysis? Do you want to learn more about the prologue characters? Explore our article and find The Canterbury Tales character chart and the answers to...

The Canterbury Tales’ Themes: Estates Satire & Deceit

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is an outstanding piece of English literature. It impresses readers with a wide range of themes that play a crucial role in understanding the book’s entire concept. Are you looking for the analysis of The Canterbury Tales themes? Explore the following article and dive...

Symbols in The Canterbury Tales: Clothes & Language

Do you know what helps to investigate the piece of literature deeper? What reveals the hidden context and highlights the author’s key ideas? These are the symbols! And The Canterbury Tales include a lot of them. Explore our article and find everything about them. Clothing The readers get to know...

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COMMENTS

  1. 93 Canterbury Tales Essay Topics, Prompts, & Examples

    The Knight: Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. The Knight is the narrator of the first tale in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. The Knight's character is the complete opposite of the knight in the Wife of Bath's Tale who rapes a girl. Literary Analysis on The Canterbury Tales.

  2. Canterbury Tales Research Topics

    Canterbury Tales Research Topics. Clio has taught education courses at the college level and has a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction. Geoffrey Chaucer's ~'The Canterbury Tales~' is one of ...

  3. 123 Canterbury Tales Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    Research > 123 Canterbury Tales Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. ... 123 Canterbury Tales Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" is a masterpiece of medieval literature, consisting of a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims journeying to the shrine of Thomas Becket. With its rich characters, intricate ...

  4. The Canterbury Tales

    Geoffrey Chaucer the author of the book The Canterbury Tales was among England's best poets. He was born at around 1340 in London. His father was a wine businessman and an assistant of King Butler. Geoffrey Chaucer's life is not so understandable especially when we try to look at his early age that is from child hood until the time he ...

  5. The Canterbury Tales Critical Essays

    I. Thesis Statement: The romance, the fabliau, and the beast fable are just three of the literary genres employed by Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales. By examining one tale in each of these genres ...

  6. The History, Discoveries, and Aims of the Canterbury Tales Project

    These experiments gave encouraging results, and Solopova and I joined with Norman Blake in 1992 to found the Canterbury Tales Project, with Blake as the first direc tor. The project aimed to carry forward the work done on the manu. scripts of the Wife of Bath's Prologue across all the texts of all the Tales. At.

  7. The Canterbury Tales Essay Topics

    Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of "The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

  8. The Canterbury Tales Topics for Further Study

    Write an essay exploring how these tales are similar to or different from the urban legends that frequently circulate on the Internet. Cite this page as follows: "The Canterbury Tales - Topics for ...

  9. The Canterbury Tales

    The Canterbury Tales, frame story by Geoffrey Chaucer, written in Middle English in 1387-1400. The framing device for the collection of stories is a pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury, Kent. The 30 pilgrims who undertake the journey gather at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, across the Thames from London.

  10. Literary Value and Social Identity in the "Canterbury Tales

    Robert Meyer-Lee's new monograph, Literary Value and Social Identity in the "Canterbury Tales" is a masterclass in literary criticism. It offers not only new interpretations of the Tales but a canny elucidation of the reasoning underlying its own readings. In close dialogue with more than a century of Chaucer criticism, Meyer-Lee responds to some of the central conundrums of the poet's ...

  11. Exploring the Research Paper of 'The Canterbury Tales'"

    These scholarship contributions just scratch the surface when examining topics related toResearch Paper Canterbury Tale . II. Historical Context of the Work The Impact of the Time Period on The Canterbury Tales. At its conception in 1380, The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer, was a product of the Middle Ages. This era saw drastic changes ...

  12. The Canterbury Tales Study Guide

    Brief Biography of Geoffrey Chaucer. Chaucer was born between 1343-5 to a well-to-do family of wine merchants in London. He served as a lower-level court official in a variety of roles throughout his life. Chaucer was captured by the French during the Hundred Years' War but quickly released on ransom. Shortly afterwards, he married Philippa ...

  13. The Canterbury Tales Essays and Criticism

    Source: David Kelly, Critical Essay on The Canterbury Tales, in Poetry for Students, The Gale Group, 2002. Kelly is an instructor of creative writing and literature at Oakton Community College in ...

  14. Essays on The Canterbury Tales

    Additionally, consider the historical and cultural context of the text and how it relates to contemporary issues. A good essay topic should also be open to interpretation and analysis, allowing for in-depth exploration and discussion. Best The Canterbury Tales Essay Topics. The Role of Women in The Canterbury Tales; The Use of Satire in Chaucer ...

  15. The Canterbury Tales

    The Canterbury Tales is known as the foundational English literary book of tales written in verse style by Geoffrey Chaucer. The author is famous as one of the pioneers of English poetry. The book was likely published around 1387 to 1400 when Chaucer joined the royal court. The stories, in verses, though some are in prose, present the social ...

  16. The Canterbury Tales Essay Questions

    Study Guide for The Canterbury Tales. The Canterbury Tales is the last of Geoffrey Chaucer's works, and he only finished 24 of an initially planned 100 tales. The Canterbury Tales study guide contains a biography of Geoffrey Chaucer, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

  17. The Canterbury Tales: Essay Topics & Samples

    The Canterbury Tales is one of the most well-known collections of tales. The narrator tells a story of pilgrims who are on their way to Canterbury. In the present essay, the creation of characters is explained. The author identifies the instances of irony and humor and discusses exciting words. "The Wife of Bath's Tale" by Geoffrey Chaucer.

  18. The Wife of Bath's Tale Essay Topics

    This is one of the most well known tales in Chaucer's work, and it deals with abiding literary themes that are highly likely to intrigue your students. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study ...

  19. The General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales as a frame narrative

    This paper deals with the narrative levels in The Canterbury Tales and investigates how narrative arrangements contribute to the narrative. Thus, the paper shows that narratives in different degees in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales function as (a) explanatory, (b) thematic and (c) actinal units.

  20. General Prologue of The Canterbury Tales Essay Topics

    On the other hand, Chaucer's language can be really difficult, and the work's premise and plot are complex and possibly unfamiliar to today's students. The General Prologue of The Canterbury Tales ...

  21. The canterbury tales Research Papers

    71-More than a pilgrim less than a wife: Harry Bailly in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales 1. Geoffrey Chaucer's pilgrims in his monumental work The Canterbury Tales have been widely treated by the scholars who produced copious articles and books on the countless matters focusing on each pilgrim.