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
The Monk's Tale
The Host asks the Monk for a merry tale, repeating his request for an upbeat story. Like the other pilgrims who have ignored the Host’s request, the Monk tells a series of tragedies. The tragedies all focus on the role that fortune and luck play in his life. The stories feature people or figures who were favored and then fell from grace, including Biblical figures like Adam, Samson, and Lucifer, as well as other famous figures like Hercules and Nero. It is difficult to see the point of the Monk’s stories. They suggest that wealth and power are no guarantee of a good life.
Sign up to continue reading The Monk's Tale >