The General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales

View other editions of The General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales.
View books by Geoffrey Chaucer.

AS students.. - Rated
I bought this book as i am currently studying the general prologue for my exams this summer. I found that the book was not the easiest book to use, however it does give you a lot of information at the back on what certain things translate as or meanings of phrases. There are a few problems with these because some are exaggerated or not entirely correct so you will probably need to buy another help guide. It does give you quite a good introduction to the prologue and it is good value for money, so i would say generally it is a good buy. I haven't however looked around so there may be something a little better on the market.

Here we meet the pilgrims travelling to Canterbury. - Rated
For many of us Chaucer's characters are familiar figures, such as, the Pardoner, The Miller to name two of his more unsavoury characters. Yet it is in the Prologue that we meet the entire company of disparate characters on their way to Canterbury. In the Prologue Chaucer seeks to describe the Pilgrims and their characters. Insight is given to their personalities by what they have to say of themselves and also the reactions of their companions. All too often the clearest indication to the true nature of the individuals' personality, is what others say about them.
The Prologue is necessary reading for anyone wishing to read The Canterbury Tales, as it sets the scene for what is to come. In many cases the description of the Pilgrim in The Prologue prepares the reader for the tale that they will tell.