3.2 Structure and themes of The Canterbury Tales

The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer's masterpiece, uses a clever frame story. Pilgrims from all walks of life tell tales on their journey to Canterbury. This setup lets Chaucer explore medieval society through diverse characters and stories.

Chaucer's work is a goldmine of satire and social commentary. He pokes fun at different social classes and professions, exposing hypocrisy and corruption. The tales, written in Middle English, showcase Chaucer's linguistic skill and poetic mastery.

Narrative Structure

Frame Narrative and Pilgrimage

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• The Canterbury Tales employs a frame narrative, a storytelling technique where a larger story contains smaller tales within it
• Chaucer's frame narrative involves a group of pilgrims traveling from London to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury
• The pilgrims engage in a storytelling contest to pass the time during their journey, with each pilgrim telling two stories on the way to Canterbury and two more on the return trip
• The pilgrimage serves as a device to bring together a diverse group of characters from various social classes and occupations (knight, miller, nun, merchant)

Narrative Voice and Perspective

• Chaucer employs a first-person narrative voice through the character of Geoffrey, who is also a pilgrim on the journey
• The narrator's perspective is often ironic, allowing Chaucer to comment on and critique the characters and their tales
• The narrator's voice is not always reliable, adding complexity to the interpretation of the stories and characters
• Chaucer's narrative voice shifts between the frame narrative and the individual tales, creating a multi-layered storytelling experience

Satirical Elements

Social and Estate Satire

• The Canterbury Tales is known for its satirical elements, particularly its social and estate satire
• Social satire involves the critiquing and exposure of human vices, follies, and societal problems
• Estate satire specifically targets the three traditional estates of medieval society: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners
• Chaucer uses satire to highlight the corruption, hypocrisy, and moral failings of various characters representing different social classes and professions (corrupt Pardoner, hypocritical Friar)

Characterization and Medieval Estates

• Chaucer's characters are often caricatures or exaggerated representations of their respective estates or professions
• The Knight represents the ideal of chivalry, while the Miller is a crude and boastful commoner
• The Wife of Bath challenges traditional gender roles and societal expectations through her bold personality and life experiences
• Chaucer's satirical characterization exposes the discrepancies between the ideals and realities of medieval society, as well as the flaws within each estate

Language and Poetic Style

Middle English and Dialects

• The Canterbury Tales is written in Middle English, the form of English spoken and written from the late 11th to the late 15th century
• Chaucer's language reflects the various dialects and sociolects of his characters, adding to their realism and individuality
• The use of Middle English contributes to the work's historical and linguistic significance, as it captures the language and culture of the time
• Understanding the nuances of Middle English is essential for appreciating Chaucer's wordplay, puns, and subtle irony

Poetic Form and Rhyme Scheme

• Much of The Canterbury Tales is written in iambic pentameter, a poetic meter consisting of five pairs of syllables (iambs) per line, with the second syllable in each pair being stressed
• Chaucer employs various rhyme schemes throughout the work, including rhyme royal, a seven-line stanza with an ABABBCC rhyme scheme
• The poetic form and rhyme scheme contribute to the tales' memorability, as well as their suitability for oral performance
• Chaucer's mastery of poetic form and language demonstrates his skill as a writer and his ability to adapt his style to suit different characters and tales