"Canterbury Tales": a brief summary. "Canterbury Tales" by Jeffrey Chaucer

"Canterbury Tales" is Jeffrey Chaucer's most famous work, which, unfortunately, remains incomplete. It was written at the end of the 14th century. The book is a collection of a number of short stories. All stories are told by pilgrims who go to Canterbury to bow to the holy relics of Thomas Beckett.

The work was successful already during Chaucer's lifetime, but all his merits were evaluated only in the era of Romanticism.

Jeffrey Chaucer, "Canterbury Tales": a summary

In spring, pilgrims flock to all the regions of England to the abbey of Canterbury to worship the holy relics. Once in Sauerka in a small tavern "Tabard" gathered a company of 20 people. They all belonged to different classes, but could find a common language. Among them were: Knight, famous for his exploits and valor; Squire, his son, who managed to achieve the favor of his lover, having received the glory of a faithful squire, despite his youth; The Knight's companion was Yomen, an excellent archer in the past; They were accompanied by Abbess Eglantine, who looked after the novices. Abbess was talking about something constantly with the Monk, who was a merry fellow and an avid hunter.

A brief summary ("Canterbury Tales") narrates about other heroes. Monk was accompanied by the collector of taxes Carmelite. Here was a rich merchant in a beaver hat. On the old nag in Canterbury the Student was also going, spending the last savings on books. The lawyer, Sheriff Franklin, Shapochnik, Dyer, Collie, Carpenter, Weaver, Skipper, Batk weaver, Doctor and Cook were going to bow to the relics.

Other heroes

Chaucer pays much attention to describing his characters. "The Canterbury Tales" (a brief summary of which we are now considering) was considered innovative because the author devoted so much attention to the elaboration of their images. This attitude to the characters was unusual for the literature of the 14th century.

In the tavern there are other characters: Priest, Plowman, Miller, Fist fighter, Econom, Majordom, Priest of the church court, Seller of papal indulgences.

All of the above were having fun, and when they were about to leave, the owner of the inn asked them to tell each other stories along the way to Canterbury. The pilgrims agreed. The first to tell stories by lot fell to the Knight.

The Knight's Tale

Begins with the history of the Knight, the main part of the work "Canterbury Tales." The summary tells that not so long ago Athens rules Theseus. He captured Scythia, the land of the Amazons, and married their leader Hippolytus. When Theseus returned home, he became aware of the attack of Creon on Thebes. Deciding to take revenge, he immediately went to the battlefield, leaving Ippolit and her sister Emilia in Athens. Theseus defeated Creon and captured the noble knights of Palamon and Arsith.

Years have passed. Once Emilia walked near the tower, where prisoners were imprisoned. Palamon and Arsit saw her and both fell in love. Here they began a fight, but realizing that they were still locked up, the soldiers calmed down.

At the same time, the famous military commander Perita, longtime friend of Theseus, arrived in Athens. Perity is bound by friendship with the captive Arsita. Upon learning that his friend was languishing in custody, the military leader began to ask Theseus to free Arsita. Theseus agreed, but ordered Arsita never to appear again in the land of Athens. Freed Arsit was forced, cursing the fate of separation from Emilia, to flee to Thebes. At the same time Palamon envied Arist, who was at large and now can find happiness.

Return to Athens

Describes that after the liberation of Arsit years passed, a brief summary. "Canterbury Tales" also includes stories about pagan gods. So, the Knight tells how Mercury came to Arsita in a dream, advising him to return to Athens. The knight decided to obey God. He entered the palace under the name of Philostratus as a servant. Arsit was courteous and became an approximate Theseus. At the same time Palamon manages to escape. He is going to go to Thebes to collect an army and go to war with Athens. Palamon hid in a grove where he met Arsita. The friends decided that only one worthy person should stay alive, and started the fight.

These sounds of battle attracted Theseus, who was passing by a grove. Seeing the fighters, he recognized the servant-deceiver and the escaped captive. Theseus, after hearing the explanations, decided to kill the brothers. But the tears of Emilia and Hippolyta softened his heart. Then he ordered the knights to fight for the right to be the husband of Emilia, for which the brothers will meet at the same place in a year. Hearing the sentence, the knights rejoiced.

The End of the Knight's History

The reader is transferred to the events that occurred one year after the meeting at the grove, a summary ("Canterbury Tales"). On the site of the battle is a large amphitheater, prepared for the fight. He was surrounded by the temples of Venus, Mars and Diana. When the soldiers appeared, the amphitheater was already filled with spectators.

Palamon brought with him a hundred knights, and next to him went the Thracian warlord Lycurgus. Against him came Arsit, who also led a hundred fighters, and accompanied by his Emetrius, the Indian ruler. The soldiers offered prayers, the patronizing gods to them - Arsit Mars, and Palamon Venus. And the beautiful Emilia appealed to Diana, so she gave her as a husband to someone who loves her more. The match began. In the battle, the warlord who will leave the stadium will lose. In the battle, Arsit won.

But on the way to the beloved Arsita attacked the fury, and the knight's horse crushed his master. These bloodied soldiers were taken to Theseus' tent.

Weeks passed, and Arsit did not recover, his wounds were inflamed. Feeling that he was dying, the knight called to his bride and asked her to marry his brother. After these words, he died. The knight was buried in the same grove where he received a mortal wound.

After the end of mourning, Emilia married Palamona. And they lived happily ever after. This ended the story of the Knight.

Miller's Story

Now let us turn to Miller's story and give it a brief summary. "Canterbury Stories" - a work that includes completely different in content and subject novels. Thus, the Miller's story is completely different from the story of the Knight.

Once there lived a carpenter in Oxford, a master of all trades. He was rich and allowed his spongers. Among them was a poor student nicknamed Duska Nicholas. The carpenter's wife passed away, and he married a young girl named Alison. She was so beautiful that she fell in love with everyone, except for the student.

Somehow, when the old carpenter was not at home, Dushka Nicholas asked Alison for a kiss, which the girl promised to give him at the first opportunity. Nourished a passion for Alison and the debauchee Absalom, the church attendant. However, the girl most liked the student.

The trick of a student

"The Canterbury Tales" narrate how Nicholas decided to outwit the carpenter. Having arranged in advance with Alison, he, being stocked with provisions, did not leave his room for several days. A good carpenter worried about the health of the young man and when he did not open the door, he ordered her to be knocked out. In the room, the carpenter discovered Nicholas, who was sitting motionless on the bed. The old man shook the young man's shoulders in fright, after which the student asked in a sepulchral voice to leave them alone with the carpenter.

When this was done, Nicholas revealed to the carpenter a terrible secret - on Monday, that is, the next day, the world expects a flood that will be compared to what was under Noah. The student had the same divine revelation, according to which he must save himself, the carpenter John and his wife. Nicholas ordered the carpenter secretly from all to buy three barrels, which the chosen will climb when the downpour begins. The old man dashed in horror at the orders of the student, saying nothing to anyone.

Decoupling

Night has come. All three climbed into the barrels. When the carpenter fell asleep, the lovers got out of the shelter and headed to the bedroom where they decided to spend the rest of the night. Absalom, noticing that the carpenter was missing, decided to visit the windows Alison. Hearing his request for a kiss, the girl decided to play a trick. Alison pokes his bare ass out of the window, who kisses Absalom. Realizing that he was deceived, the cleric decides to take revenge. He goes to the blacksmith and takes the red-hot opener.

Returning, Absalom again asks for a kiss. This time Nicholas decides to play a trick and pokes his ass out of the window. Then Absalom strikes him so hard that the skin bursts.

From the cry raised by the student, the carpenter wakes up and decides what began later. But in the end, he falls with the barrel. The whole house runs to his cries. Everyone is laughing at the old man, who was waiting for a worldwide flood. So a cunning student was able to deceive the carpenter and get his wife.

The Doctor's Story

Moves to the story of the Doctor Jeffrey Chaucer ("Canterbury Tales"). Once in Virginia lived Virginia, a noble knight, who became famous for his generosity. He had a single daughter who could match the beauty of the goddesses. The story that will be told here happened when the girl turned 15 years old. She was pure thoughts, reasonable and beautiful. There were not those who would not have admired her at the meeting, but the girl avoided merry feasts and brazen chevaliers.

The tragic outcome

Now he takes the reader to Rome J. Chaucer. "Canterbury Stories" (a brief summary is presented here) is a work that very often refers to the theme of love, and this novella has not become an exception. Once, Virginia's wife and her daughter went to the temple. Here the girl saw Appius, the district judge, and desired her. Realizing that the girl does not approach, he decides to act by cunning. He called for a notorious villain Claudius, with whom he made a deal.

A few days later, Claudius entered the court where Appius was sitting and declared that the Virginia knight had stolen his slave girl, who now calls her daughter. After hearing the accusation, Appius summoned Virginia to the court, and then obliged him to return to Claudius his property, that is, "slave". Returning home, Virginia told all the daughters and decided to kill the one to get rid of shame. After this, Virginia took out a sword and cut off the girl's head, which he brought to the judge's chamber, where Claudius was waiting.

Upon seeing the offer, Appius was angry and ordered to execute Virginia, but the people became indignant, shouted into the court and released the knight. Appia was imprisoned, where he committed suicide. Claudius was banished from Rome for life.

The Story of the Economist of the Crow

The Canterbury Tales come to an end. The summary of the chapters sets out the story told by Econom.

In ancient times, Apollo, also Phoebus, lived among people. He was cheerful, bold, handsome, strong, able to play various instruments and sing. Phoebus lived in a beautiful house, where in one of the rooms stood a golden cage, in which lived a crow of white color with a wonderful voice. In the same house lived the wife of Apollo, whom God loved and was jealous, so he did not let out of the house. However, all the thoughts of the girl were occupied by another man. And when Phoebus left for a long time, his wife's lover entered his house. When Apollo returned, the crow, who saw the lovers, told everything to her master. Then Phoebus took his bow and killed his wife.

A curse

Interesting stories are presented in his book by J. Chaucer ("Canterbury Tales"). After the murder of his wife, Phoebus began to regret this. In a fit of anger he broke his bow and rushed to the crow, accusing her of lying. Then he cursed the bird, condemning her forever to be black, and replaced the beautiful voice with an ugly croak. Since then, all the crows are black and loud croaking. Like a crow, a person should weigh his words so as not to be in the place of a white crow.

"Canterbury Tales": reviews

The work remains popular to this day. Readers note that despite the fact that the stories were written back in the 14th century, it is interesting to read them today. Particularly pleased is that each novel is written in a different style. In addition, it is noted how characterful and memorable Chaucer got characters.