Chaucer’S “prologue to canterbury tales”

DISCUSSION
At the outset, it must be made clear that Chaucer at heart was a realist, and he revealed the 
truth about life as he saw it. Chaucer‟s realism primarily comes out in the setting of “The 

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Canterbury Tales” which is not only his masterpiece among the poet‟s own works but also 
the high point of all English medieval literature. The pilgrimage belonging to all classes of 
society journeying from London to the holy shrine of St. Thomas at Canterbury provides 
Chaucer a fitting opportunity to present realistically the picture of the real world of 
fourteenth century life. Chaucer imparts the solid touch of realism in the portrayal of his 
characters. Each character with the dress, manner and behavior is highly conducive to 
realism. Chaucer presents the variegated life of his age faithfully and realistically. 
a. Medieval Chivalry 
Chaucer‟s England was predominantly medieval in spirit, and the most outstanding feature of 
the middle Age was chivalry and knighthood. It is in “The Prologue to Canterbury Tales” 
that Chaucer reflects very clearly the chivalric spirit of the medieval times. Chaucer reflects 
the fading chivalry of the middle Age represented in the character of the Knight, and the 
rising chivalry of his own times reflected in his young son, the Squire. 
The Knight is a true representative of the spirit of medieval chivalry which was a blend of 
love, religion, and bravery. He has been a champion of not fewer than fifteen mortal battles 
in the defence of religion. 
At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene, 
And foughten for oure feith … 
(Prologue: 61 – 62) 
However, it is in the Age of Chaucer that the spirit of true chivalry was breathing its last. The 
Knight was the true symbol of the old world of knighthood that was losing its ground giving 
place to a new conception of chivalry represented by the Squire, who, in spite of his military 
exploit, was a man of happy-go-lucky nature. He has as much taste for revelry as for 
chivalry. He is “a lover and a lusty bachelor”. He is singing and fluting all the day. 
Syngynge he was, or floytynge, al the day 
………………………………………….. 
He koude songes make and wel endite 
(Prologue: 91 – 95)