Describe the narrative plan of CT. Who devised it? Refer to the lines in the GP.Critically examine the author's management of the plan. [MEG 101 CHAUCER]

Describe the narrative plan of CT. Who devised it? Refer to the lines in the GP.

Critically examine the author's management of the plan.

"The Canterbury Tales" is a collection of 24 stories, written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer in the late 14th century. The stories are framed within a larger narrative that takes the form of a pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. The pilgrimage is made by a group of 29 people, who are introduced in the General Prologue (GP).

Chaucer devised the narrative plan of "The Canterbury Tales," which involves each of the pilgrims telling two stories on the way to Canterbury and two stories on the way back, for a total of 120 stories. However, Chaucer was only able to complete 24 of these stories before he died.

The narrative plan is set out in the General Prologue, which provides a brief introduction to each of the pilgrims and their social status, occupation, and personality. Chaucer's skill as a narrator is evident in the way he uses these descriptions to create vivid and memorable characters. The pilgrims are a diverse group, representing a wide range of social classes and occupations, from the knight and the nun to the miller and the pardoner.

The structure of the narrative plan is also evident in the GP, where the Host proposes that each pilgrim tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and two stories on the way back. The Host suggests that the pilgrim who tells the best story will be rewarded with a free dinner upon their return to the Tabard Inn in Southwark, where the pilgrimage begins.

Chaucer's management of the narrative plan is both impressive and challenging. While the structure of the narrative plan is clear and well-defined, Chaucer was unable to complete all 120 stories as originally intended. Furthermore, some of the stories are left unfinished, and the overall narrative arc is incomplete. This has led to much debate among scholars about Chaucer's intentions and the purpose of "The Canterbury Tales."

Despite these challenges, Chaucer's skill as a writer is evident in the way he weaves together the individual stories to create a larger narrative. The stories are linked by common themes and motifs, and the characters interact with each other in interesting and unexpected ways. The pilgrims' journey to Canterbury becomes a microcosm of medieval English society, with all its diversity, tensions, and contradictions.

In conclusion, the narrative plan of "The Canterbury Tales" is a complex and ambitious work that showcases Chaucer's skill as a writer and his deep understanding of human nature. While the incomplete nature of the work poses some challenges for readers and scholars, it remains a fascinating and important work of English literature.