Medieval Poetry

You share much in common with your family and friends, but have you ever found yourself in a group of people with very different backgrounds and personalities? In 14th-century England, Geoffrey Chaucer imagined a group of travelers who span the diverse social classes of English society. Through the collection of tales that the pilgrims tell, you can glimpse both the typical—and atypical—types of people who lived during the medieval period.

Essential Questions

• What does The Canterbury Tales reveal about society in medieval England?
  
• How do authors employ characterization in literature?
  
• How can identifying allusions help you to understand literature?