The Canterbury Tales

by Chaucer, Geoffrey; Coghill, Nevill

• ISBN13: 9780140424386
• ISBN10: 0140424385
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-02-04
• Publisher: Penguin Classics

Summary

With their astonishing diversity of tone and subject matter, The Canterbury Taleshave become one of the touchstones of medieval literature. Translated here into modern English, these tales of a motley crowd of pilgrims drawn from all walks of life-from knight to nun, miller to monk-reveal a picture of English life in the fourteenth century that is as robust as it is representative. Translated by Nevill Coghill

Author Biography

Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1342-1400) had a career in royal service as a member of the court and a diplomat. His literary work, notable for its range of genres, helped establish the English literary tradition.

Nevill Coghill (1899-1980) held many appointments at Oxford University. His translation of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde is also published by Penguin Classics.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Chaucer's Life -- Chaucer's Works	xi
The Canterbury Tales
[GROUP A]
The Prologue	3	(23)
The Knight's Tale	26	(62)
Words between the Host and the Miller	86	(2)
The Miller's Tale	88	(20)
The Reeve's Prologue	106	(2)
The Reeve's Tale	108	(12)
The Cook's Prologue	119	(1)
The Cook's Tale	120	(6)
[GROUP B]
Introduction to the Man of Law's Tale	122	(3)
The Man of Law's Prologue	125	(1)
The Man of Law's Tale	126	(31)
Epilogue to the Man of Law's Tale	156	(1)
The Shipman's Tale	157	(13)
Words of the Host to the Shipman and the Prioress	169	(1)
The Prioress's Prologue	169	(1)
The Prioress's Tale	170	(7)
Words of the Host to Chaucer	176	(1)
Chaucer's Tale of Sir Topaz	177	(8)
The Host stops Chaucer's Tale of Sir Topaz	183	(2)
Chaucer's Tale of Melibee (in synopsis)	185	(4)
Words of the Host to the Monk	186	(3)
The Monks Tale	189	(25)
(Lucifer, Adam, Samson, Hercules, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Zenobia, King Peter of Spain, King Peter of Cyprus, Bernabo Visconti of Lombardy, Count Ugolino of Pisa, Nero, Holofernes, King Antiochus the Illustrious, Alexander, Julius Caesar, Croesus)
Words of the Knight and the Host	213	(1)
The Nun's Priest's Tale	214	(18)
Words of the Host to the Nun's Priest	231	(1)
[GROUP C]
The Physician's Tale	232	(12)
Words of the Host to the Physician and to the Pardoner	239	(2)
The Pardoner's Prologue	241	(3)
The Pardoner's Tale	244	(37)
[GROUP D]
The Wife of Bath's Prologue	258	(22)
Words between the Summoner and the Friar	280	(1)
The Wife of Bath's Tale	281	(12)
The Friar's Prologue	292	(1)
The Friar's Tale	293	(12)
The Summoner's Prologue	303	(2)
The Summoner's Tale	305	(17)
[GROUP E]
The Clerk's Prologue	320	(2)
The Clerk's Tale	322	(35)
Chaucer's Envoy to the Clerk's Tale	354	(2)
The Merchant's Prologue	356	(1)
The Merchant's Tale	357	(32)
Epilogue to the Merchant's Tale	388	(1)
[GROUP F]
The Squire's Prologue	389	(1)
The Squire's Tale	389	(20)
Words of the Franklin to the Squire and of the Host to the Franklin	407	(1)
The Franklin's Prologue	408	(1)
The Franklin's Tale	409	(28)
[GROUP G]
The Second Nun's Prologue	433	(4)
The Second Nun's Tale	437	(17)
The Canon's Yeoman's Prologue	449	(5)
The Canon's Yeoman's Tale	454	(24)
[GROUP H]
The Manciple's Prologue	475	(3)
The Manciple's Tale	478	(9)
[GROUP I]
The Parson's Prologue	485	(2)
The Parson's Tale (in synopsis)	487	(3)
Chaucer's Retractions	489	(1)
Notes	490