The Canterbury Tales
by Geoffrey Chaucer
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Plot Summary
- Cast of Characters
- An Analysis of Major Characters
- Symbols and Themes
-
Summary and Analysis
- The General Prologue
- The Knight's Tale
- The Miller's Tale
- The Reeve's Tale
- The Cook's Tale
- The Man of Law's Tale
- The Wife of Bath's Tale
- The Friar's Tale
- The Summoner's Tale
- The Clerk's Tale
- The Merchant's Tale
- The Squire's Tale
- The Franklin's Tale
- The Physician's Tale
- The Pardoner's Tale
- The Shipman's Tale
- The Prioress' Tale
- The Tale of Sir Topas
- The Tale of Melibee
- The Monk's Tale
- The Nun's Priest's Tale
- The Second Nun's Tale
- The Canon Yeoman's Prologue and Tale
- The Manciple's Prologue and Tale
- The Parson's Tale
- Chaucer's Retraction
- Significant Quotations
- Key Facts
- Points to Ponder
- Discussion Questions
- Take The Quiz
- Further Reading
- Flashcards
- Biography of Geoffrey Chaucer
Chaucer's Retraction
At the end of the poem, Chaucer issues a retraction of most of his best work. He suggests that anything pleasing should be credited to Christ, and that anything that is displeasing is not because he wanted it to be that way, but because he lacked the ability to write better. He asks for a general prayer, and for Christ’s mercy and forgiveness. There is no explanation for why Chaucer felt the need to write the retraction, and many of the works he mentions are very spiritual in nature, negating the idea that he was retracting books that could be seen as blasphemous or heretical.
Sign up to continue reading Chaucer's Retraction >