Reader’s Guide to “The Canterbury Tales”

Although Chaucer wrote in the vernacular, he wrote in the middle ages, far from modern speak. In addition, this is a work of poetry. That being said, with the right source and translation, the Tales is a bearable read. Expect to be challenged, yet entertained.

Each tale offers a glimpse into the world that Chaucer lived. There are many different interpretations of the Tales in which these glimpses are disputed. Some tales, such as the Knight’s Tale, draw on stories that were well known in Chaucer’s day. In this instance, the Knight seeks to shorten the length of his tale by summarizing the less important parts of the narrative. Although it may seem to you that some of the tales could have been further shortened, be thankful that these efforts were taken. If you look closely enough, even sometimes being hit over the head with such topics, many of the tales deal with risque subjects such as sex and corruption in the church.