【正文】 the road to Canterbury Canterbury Tales Chaucer’ s s works consists of three parts: The General Prologue, 24 tales, two of which left unfinished and separate prologues to each tale with links, ments, quarrels, etc, in between. Framework Chaucer originally planned to have a group of 30 pilgrims with each to tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and another two on the way back. So the total stories of the collection would be 120, some 20 stories more than Boccaccio’ s. But Chaucer had actually pleted only 22 stories, with two more existing in fragments. The General Prologue Each of the pilgrims or narrators is presented vividly in the Prologue. The pilgrims are people from various parts of England. They are the representatives of various walks of life and social groups, with various interests, tastes and predilections嗜好 . Each of the narrators reveals his or her own views and character. Thus Chaucer created a striking brilliant and picturesque panorama of his time and his country. It is no exaggeration to say that the Prologue supplies a miniature of the English society of Chaucer’s time. Looking at his picture gallery, we know at once how people lived in that era. On the other hand, there is also an intimate connection between the tales and the Prologue, both plementing each other. The Prologue provides a framework for the tales. Significance of The Canterbury Tales the first to present a prehensive and realistic picture of the English society of his time and created a whole gallery of vivid characters from all walks of life in his masterpiece The Canterbury Tales Chaucer gives us a truetolife picture of the society of his time. Taking the stand of the rising bourgeoisie, he affirms men and opposes the dogma of asceticism禁欲主義教條preached by the church. As a forerunner of humanism, he praises man’s energy, intellect, quick wit and love of life. His tales expose and satirize the evils of his time., they attack the degeneration變質(zhì) of the noble, the heartlessness of the judge, the corruption of the Church and so on. Chaucer, for the first time in English literature, presents to the readers a prehensive realistic picture of the English society of his time and describes a series of vivid characters from all walks of life in The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer’s contributions Forerunner of humanism Chaucer affirms men’s and women’s right to pursue earthly happiness and opposed asceticism ( avoiding physical pleasures and forts). He praises man’s energy, intellect, quick wit and love of life and he exposes and satirizes the social vices, including the corruption of the Church. Founder ofEnglish Realism Father of English poetry Chaucer introduces from France the rhymed stanzas of various types to English poetry to replace the old English alliterative verse. He is the first to use the rhymed couplets of iambic pentameter, which is to be called the heroic couplet. Father of English language Chaucer is the first great poet who wrote in the current English. His production of so much excellent poetry is an important factor in establishing English as the literary language of the country. Chaucer uses London dialect in his writings and the contributes to making it the foundation for modern English speech. Popular Ballads Ballad is a story in poetic form to be sung or recited. Ballads were passed down from generation to generation. A ballad is a story told in song, usually in 4line stanzas, with the second and fourth lines rhymed. Robin Hood is a famous ballad singing the goods of Robin Hood. Robin Hood is a legendary hero of a series of English ballads, some of which date from at least the 14th century. The character of Robin Hood is manysided. Strong, brave and intelligent, he is at the same time tenderhearted and affectionate. The dominant key in his character is his hatred for the cruel oppression and his love for the poor and downtrodden. Another feature of Robin’ s view is his reverence for the king. Robin Hood was a people’ s hero as King Arthur was a noble’ s hero. Reviewing , the “ father of English poetry” and one of the greatest narrative poets of England, was born in London about 1340. 2. Apart from original poems, Chaucer translated various works of French authors, among them is the famous _________. a. The Canterbury Tales