The Canterbury Tales

by

Geoffrey Chaucer

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Canterbury Tales makes teaching easy.

The Canterbury Tales Symbols

Springtime

The pilgrimage begins in April, when all of nature is starting to flower and people are experiencing reawakening of both religious and sexual zeal. Springtime appears as a symbol of both courtly and erotic love… read analysis of Springtime

Clothing and Appearance

What the pilgrims wear is often a very important sign of their characters. Outward appearance indicates who one is in medieval society. The Knight’s armor is stained from battle, indicating that he not only talks… read analysis of Clothing and Appearance

Literary Allusions

Many characters use literary allusions from the Bible and classical mythology. The pilgrims use literary allusions to make themselves seem more authoritative as tale-tellers. Chaucer also uses this effect to enhance the literariness of his… read analysis of Literary Allusions