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 Parson's Tale
The Host has made it clear that he expects all of the pilgrims to tell a story, but when he turns to the Parson, the Parson makes it clear that he will be giving them a sermon, not a fiction story. He gives a sermon about the renunciation of the earth in favor of Heaven. He talks about the many paths to Heaven, which include penitence, contrition, confession, and satisfaction. He explains the different ways one can engage in satisfaction, such as giving alms, fasting, or experiencing pain. He also discusses the seven deadly sins and admonishes the pilgrims to avoid them. Although it does not contain an actual story, the Parson’s tale is one of the longest tales in the entire collection. It gives a good overview of Middle Age theology. The underlying principle was that life on earth was simply something to be survived in exchange for life in Heaven.
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