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 Tale of Sir Topas
After the Prioress tells her story, the Host begins to tell some jokes to try to make people laugh. He then encourages the Narrator, Chaucer, to tell a funny story. Chaucer says that he only knows a single story, one he heard long ago. He tells the story of Sir Topas, a knight who lived in Flanders. Sir Topas was renowned as a hunter, archer, and wrestler. He was pursued by a number of women, but ignored their advances. One day, as he rests near a water hole, Sir Topas has a dream of the Elf Queen and decides to search for her. Sir Topas encounters a three-headed giant who threatens him and tells him that he has entered the Elf Queen’s kingdom. The giant threatens him, and they agree to have a duel. Sir Topas goes to his father’s castle and prepares for the battle with the giant. The Narrator does not complete his story because the Host interrupts him, complaining about Chaucer’s rhyming, and asks him to tell something in prose.
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