The Canterburry Tales: Liberty Edition Summary

The Canterburry Tales
Liberty Edition Summary

Introduction:
The Canterbury Tales begins with the introduction of each of the pilgrims making their
journey to Canterbury: a Knight, his son the Squire, the Knight's Yeoman, a Nun, a Monk, a
Friar, a Merchant, a Clerk, a Man of Law, a Franklin, a Physician, a Summoner, a Pardoner,
the Wife of Bath, and Chaucer himself. The pilgrims decide to tell stories to pass their time
on the way to Canterbury. The Host sets the rules for the tales. Each of the pilgrims will tell
two stories on the way to Canterbury. The Host will decide whose tale is the best. They
decide to draw lots to see who will tell the first tale, and the Knight receives the honor.
The Knight’s Tale:

The Knight's Tale is a tale about two knights, Arcite and Palamon, who are captured in
battle and imprisoned in Athens under the order of King Theseus. While imprisoned in a
tower, they see Emelye, the sister of Queen Hippolyta, and they immediately fall in love
with her. Both knights leave prison separately. Arcite returns to the Athenian court as a
servant, and when Palamon escapes he suddenly finds Arcite. They fight for Emelye, but
their fight is stopped when Theseus finds them. Theseus sets the rules for a duel between
the two knights for Emelye, that will take place a year from that date. Before the battle,
Arcite prays to Mars for victory in battle, Emelye prays to Diana, and Palamon prays to
Venus to have Emelye as his wife. All three gods hear their prayers and argue over whose
should get precedence, but Saturn decides to mediate. During their battle, Arcite win, but
his horse killed him. Before he dies, he reconciles with Palamon and tells him that he
deserves to marry Emelye. Palamon and Emelye marry.
The Pardoner’s Tale:

The Pardoner's Tale concerns three guys who search for Death to kill him. They find an old
man who tells them that they may find Death under a nearby tree, but under this tree they
only find a lot of gold. Two of them send the third to the town to purchase food and drink
for the night and while he is gone they plan to murder him. The third boy poisons the
drink, intending to take all of the money for himself. When he returns, the two rioters
killed him, then drink the poison and die. The three guys find Death in the form of avarice.
The Pardoner ends his tale with a diatribe against sin, imploring the travelers to pay him
for pardons, and be absolved.
The Nun’s Priest’s Tale:

The Nun's Priest's Tale tells the story of the cock Chaunticleer and the hen Pertelote.
Chaunticleer was ill one night and had a dream that he was chased by a fox. He feared this
dream was prophetic, but Pertelote sayed she should find herbs to cure him. Chaunticleer
insisted that dreams are signifiers, but finally agreed with his wife. The next morning
Chaunticleer is chased by a fox while he is singing, but luckly the fox opens her mouth to
speak and Chaunticleer flew away.
The Wife of Bath’s Tale:

The Wife of Bath’s Tale is preceded by a prologue in which she tell her life with five
husbands. Her tale continues the theme of women’s desire to have more power than men.
A young Knight wanted a girl, but she did not. As a punishment for his act he has to
discover in a year what women desire most. The Knight unsuccessfully travel in the country
in search of the answer. One day he find an ugly old woman that promised to marry for the
right answer. When he has given the answer to the queen in court and secured his liberty,
the old woman demands that he marry her. The Knight decline and wish for something
else but the old woman wanted only to marry him. The Knight marries her secretly. At
night as they lie in bed, the Knight keeps on tossing and turning. The old hag asks him if he
would prefer her ugly and faithful or beautiful and faithless. The Knight allows her to
decide. The old woman have won power over her husband and rewards him by becoming
faithful and beautiful all the time.
The Clerk’s Tale:

The Clerk, an Oxford student who has remained quiet throughout the journey, tells the
next tale on the orders of the Host. The Clerk's Tale recounts a story about Walter, an
Italian marquis who finally decides to take a wife after the people of his province object to
his longtime status as a bachelor. Walter marries Griselde, a low-born but amazingly
virtuous woman whom everybody loves. However, Walter decides to test her devotion.
When their first child, a daughter, is born, Walter tells her that his people are unhappy and
wish for the child's death. He takes away the child, presumably to be murdered, but
instead sends it to his sister to be raised. He does the same with their next child, a son.
Finally, Walter tells Griselde that the pope demands that he divorce her. He sends her
away from his home. Each of these tragedies Griselde accepts with great patience. Walter
soon decides to make amends, and sends for his two children. He tells Griselde that he will
marry again, and introduces her to the presumed bride, whom he then reveals is their
daughter. The family is reunited once more. The Clerk ends with the advice that women
should strive to be as steadfast as Griselde, even if facing such adversity is unlikely and
perhaps impossible.

The Canterburry Tales: Liberty Edition Summary

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The Canterburry Tales

Liberty Edition Summary

The Knight’s Tale:

The Pardoner’s Tale:

The Nun’s Priest’s Tale:

The Wife of Bath’s Tale:

The Clerk’s Tale:

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