The stories conveyed in The Canterbury Tales are observations on certain facets of the Church described by Chaucer. ... Chaucer presents these unethical pilgrims ironically as noble and pleasant with judicious characteristics. ... As with several of the pilgrims they are trying to appear to something they are not. ...

• Word Count: 676
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (MacKaye) introduces readers to a diverse group of travelers making the annual pilgrimage to Canterbury, seeking blessings from St Thomas á Becket. This group of pilgrims represented every social station of a still class-divided England. ... Through the characterization of the pilgrims, Chaucer points out weaknesses of the Medieval Catholic Church. ... His opinions are solidified throughout the tales by many examples of these traits. ...

• Word Count: 873
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate