Literature Review On General Prologue

The General Prologue is the first and most important part of the Canterbury tales. It establishes the framework of the entire stories in the Canterbury tales collections. Chaucer is the narrator in the prologue and introduces the readers to the travelers going to the pilgrimage to Canterbury. The prologue introduces the characters from the major characters to the minor ones describing their traits in details. Furthermore, the characters are described one by one in organized manner and how they are related to each other with their duties.
Chaucer First introduces the Knight, his son the Squire and their skilled servant the Yeoman. He farther introduces the Prioress who is the most described pilgrim who has a Nun with her and two priests. Next is the Monk who considers hunting to praying. The Friar follows, the merchant, the clerk and the sergeant of law who was with Franklin who is said to be mainly interested in food. The pilgrims are very funny character according to the way the narrator describes them. There are five tradesmen who are accompanied by their cook. Additionally, in the prologue the reader learns of the Shipman, doctor of physic and the wife of bath as the only woman besides the Prioress and her Nun. Moreover, there is the parson who is also accompanied by his brother the plowman. The prologue continues with the Miller, the Manciple and the reeve who is a manager of the farm. Lastly, the reader comes to learn of the Pardowner and the Summoner whereby one sells pardons while the other administers the church courts.
The general prologue of the Canterbury tales gives a descriptive account of 27 characters as pilgrims who are described fully. They were on their way to Canterbury and had to entertain each other stories one after the other to and from their pilgrimage.