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The opening section of Chaucer's epic poem, The Canterbury Tales, introduces the pilgrims who travel to Canterbury and their stories. The narrator describes the knight, the squire, the yeoman, the priest, the monk, and the friar in detail.
- The Parlement of Fowls
The Parlement of Fowls - The Canterbury Tales: General...
- Truth
Truth - The Canterbury Tales: General Prologue - Poetry...
- From Troilus and Criseyde
From Troilus and Criseyde - The Canterbury Tales: General...
- The Parlement of Fowls
Read the introduction to the famous medieval poem by Geoffrey Chaucer, who describes the pilgrims and their stories. Learn about the historical and literary context, the language and style, and the themes and characters of the General Prologue.
The narrator introduces the pilgrims who are going to Canterbury Cathedral, describing their appearance, character, and social status. He praises the Knight, the Squire, and the Yeoman, but mocks the Prioress and the Summoner.
The General Prologue is the first part of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. It introduces the frame story, in which a group of pilgrims travelling to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury agree to take part in a storytelling competition, and describes the pilgrims themselves.
Find the original Middle English text and modern English translation of The General Prologue, the first part of The Canterbury Tales. Explore the other tales and links on this web page.
Learn about the narrator, the pilgrims, and the journey to Canterbury in the introduction to The Canterbury Tales. Find out how Chaucer describes the characters, their social roles, and their stories in the General Prologue.
The Canterbury Tales: Prologue. Here bygynneth the Book of the tales of Caunterbury. Here begins the Book of the Tales of Canterbury. tyr there to seek 18: That hem hath holpen whan.
