Geoffrey Chaucer and his "Canterbury Tales", a collection of twenty-four stories told by various people who are going on a religious pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral from London, England

Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is a collection of twenty-four stories told by various people who are going on a religious pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral from London, England (Kane 44). Prior to the actual tales, however, Chaucer offers the reader a glimpse of fourteenth century life by way of the General Prologue. In this prologue, Chaucer introduces all of the characters who are involved in this journey and who will tell the tales (Gardner 108). Among the characters …

…Canterbury Tales gives an admirable description of the uncomplicated life of England in the Middle Ages. All levels of English life are described (Chute 26). In the group of pilgrims, Chaucer brings together all of the faults and virtues of man and the manners and morals of his time with exceptional clarity. Throughout The Prologue, Chaucer alternately praises or criticizes the travelers with cleverly drawn word portraits which provide insights into the life of his time.