# The Prologue explained — The Canterbury Tales

> Chapter companion for The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.

## What happens

The narrator describes the arrival of spring and the gathering of 29 pilgrims at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, ready to journey to Canterbury. The Host proposes a tale-telling contest to pass the time, offering a free supper to the pilgrim who tells the best tale. The pilgrims agree, and the Knight draws the shortest cut, thus beginning the first tale.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Estate

The Prologue introduces pilgrims from various social ranks, from the Knight to the Yeoman, highlighting the medieval estate system.

### Chivalry and True Gentility

The Knight is portrayed as a model of chivalric virtue—worthy, wise, and meek—embracing true gentility.

### Corruption and Hypocrisy in the Church

The narrator's description of the Prioress and other religious figures subtly hints at worldly concerns beneath pious exteriors.

## Character check-ins

### Chaucer

The narrator and pilgrim who describes the company and the setting.

### Our Host

The cheerful and authoritative innkeeper who proposes the tale-telling contest and serves as judge.

### The Knight

A worthy and honorable knight, recently returned from a voyage, who draws the shortest cut and will tell the first tale.

### The Squire

The Knight's son, a young and lusty bachelor, skilled in love, music, and jousting.

### The Yeoman

The Knight's servant, accompanying him on the pilgrimage.

### The Prioress

A lady prioress present among the pilgrims, called upon by the Host to draw a cut.

### The Clerk

A scholarly pilgrim, urged by the Host to set aside his shyness and draw a cut.

## Key lines

> When that Aprilis, with his showers swoot, The drought of March hath pierced to the root, And bathed every vein in such licóur, Of which virtúe engender'd is the flower;

When April's sweet showers have soaked the dry March earth, nourishing the roots and bringing forth flowers,

_The opening lines set the scene of spring's renewal, a traditional time for pilgrimage._

> A Knight there was, and that a worthy man, That from the timë that he first began To riden out, he loved chivalry, Truth and honoúr, freedom and courtesy.

There was a Knight, a worthy man who from the start of his career loved chivalry, truth, honor, freedom, and courtesy.

_The Knight is introduced as an ideal figure of chivalric virtue._

> This thing was granted, and our oath we swore With full glad heart, and prayed him also, That he would vouchësafe for to do so, And that he wouldë be our governour, And of our talës judge and reportour,

We gladly agreed and swore an oath, asking him to be our governor and judge of the tales,

_The pilgrims unanimously accept the Host's proposal and appoint him as their leader and judge._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/chapters/the-prologue
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/chapters