Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales is a collection of 24 stories written in Middle English during the 14th century. The tales are framed as a group of pilgrims traveling from London to Canterbury, each telling a story along the way to pass the time.
Here is a list of the individual tales:
General Prologue: An introduction to the characters and setting of the tales.
The Knight’s Tale: A tale of chivalry, courtly love, and tragic destiny, featuring two knights who fall in love with the same woman.
The Miller’s Tale: A humorous story about a carpenter’s wife who cheats on him with a young scholar and a lustful clerk.
The Reeve’s Tale: A story about a miller who is tricked by two students, seeking revenge for his theft.
The Cook’s Tale: The beginning of this tale is missing in the surviving manuscripts.
The Man of Law’s Tale: A story about a Christian princess who is captured by a Sultan and converted to Islam.
The Wife of Bath’s Tale: A story about a knight who is given a year to discover what women most desire, and his eventual redemption through marrying an old woman.
The Friar’s Tale: A satire of a corrupt friar, who tricks a greedy summoner.
The Summoner’s Tale: A story about a summoner who is tricked by a lecherous old woman.
The Clerk’s Tale: A tale of patient Griselda, who is tested by her husband’s cruel treatment.
The Merchant’s Tale: A story of an old knight who marries a young and beautiful wife.
The Squire’s Tale: A tale of magical adventure, with elements of romance and chivalry.
The Franklin’s Tale: A story of a noblewoman who marries a squire, but is pursued by a knight who falls in love with her.
The Physician’s Tale: A tale of a noble Roman woman who is falsely accused of adultery and executed.
The Pardoner’s Tale: A story about three drunken men who seek Death to kill him, but end up killing each other.
The Shipman’s Tale: A bawdy story of a merchant’s wife who cheats on her husband with a monk.
The Prioress’s Tale: A tale of a Christian boy who is murdered by Jews for singing a hymn to the Virgin Mary.
Chaucer’s Tale of Sir Topas: A parody of chivalric romance.
The Tale of Melibee: A moral tale of a man who seeks revenge but is persuaded to forgiveness.
The Monk’s Tale: A series of tragic stories, featuring famous figures from history and mythology.
The Nun’s Priest’s Tale: A fable about a rooster and a fox.
The Second Nun’s Tale: A hagiographic tale of Saint Cecilia.
The Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale: A tale of alchemy and deception, featuring a Canon and his Yeoman.
The Manciple’s Tale: A fable about a crow who cheats a group of birds.
Each of these tales is written in a different style, tone, and genre, and together they provide a snapshot of medieval English society, its customs, beliefs, and contradictions.
Canterbury, like many other historic cities, has its fair share of ghost stories and legends that can give it a spooky reputation. The city is known for its dark and winding alleyways, ancient buildings, and atmospheric graveyards, all of which contribute to its eerie vibe.